Evicted, locks changed, no notice...

Zelie

But why would the tenant be liable for repair? It's the landlord who has created the situation by taking the law into their own hands. Any subsequent damage would surely be their responsibility?

HappyMJ

lizzielondon wrote: »

would they be able to get a locksmith out without showing a tenancy agreement?

actually thinking about it- how can anyone ever prove to a locksmith they're authorised to change locks/ prove they own the property?

You can't...Usually once you get in you then prove to the locksmith you have some sort of permission to live in it by providing a copy of a bill or some sort of ID. There should be something somewhere. Then the locksmith will change the locks and give you a key.

ILW

Zelie wrote: »

But why would the tenant be liable for repair? It's the landlord who has created the situation by taking the law into their own hands. Any subsequent damage would surely be their responsibility?

I agree, it was more a question of gaining possesion first and then arguing the finer points later though.
That said, I think there is more going on here than the OP is saying.

poppysarah

Is there no way to break in? If you've not been lawfully evicted then it's still your home.

I don't carry letters on me with my address on when I go out - so a locksmith wouldn't be able to prove this was my house unless they could do a check on electotal roll using the id I do carry as proof of who I was.

ILW

Touche wrote: »

Got back from work tonight and found my locks had been changed!

I'm 6 days late with the rent. This is because my phone fell/shattered and I need to call the landlady to get her new bank details (she wanted the direct debit changing last month, got me to go round to hers and fill in the form with her new details, but the bank rejected it for "security reasons"... she took it to the bank herself as I was going on holiday). I have a backup of my phone which I was going to restore when I got it back from repair and was going to call her. At the moment I don't have her phone number or address... (I know, not the greatest organisation skills).

I assume that's why I've had the locks changed. Being late with rent and not contactable?!

On Wednesday of this week I knew someone had been into the flat as the post had moved onto the kitchen table and the locks on the front door had been locked differently to how I leave it usually. But there was no note left for me.

So I was stuck... in a city 150 miles from my friends/family with £10 in my pocket and no phone.

I went to the police station... they said it was 'a civil matter and couldn't offer any help'.

Luckily I had a tank of petrol... I've just driven back 3 hours to my parents house.

So where do I go from here? I really need my possessions! I really need to find a place to live! I really need some help!

I would have kicked the door in.

HAMISH_MCTAVISH

ILW wrote: »

I would have thought that as you still have a legal tenancy, you are within your rights to break in and retake possesion, as long as you undertake to repair any damage caused.

Exactly right.

Call locksmith, or alternatively apply boot to door then call locksmith.

Problem solved.

Without a legal eviction, you are perfectly within your rights to gain entry to your place of residence by any means neccessary.

It makes no difference if the lock is broken, or if someone has unlawfully changed the lock without telling you. (and in fact, you have no way of knowing which it is)

You can force entry if you have no other means of gaining access.

Just be sure you have documentation proving your residence there in the unlikely event the landlord is stupid enough to call the police.

HAMISH_MCTAVISH

poppysarah wrote: »

I don't carry letters on me with my address on when I go out - so a locksmith wouldn't be able to prove this was my house unless they could do a check on electotal roll using the id I do carry as proof of who I was.

Drivers license. The OP drives, so he should have changed his license.

Bet he didn't though......

poppysarah

HAMISH_MCTAVISH wrote: »

Drivers license. The OP drives, so he should have changed his license.

Bet he didn't though......

I don't carry mine with me when I go out.

surreybased

Hi,

Wonder how the OP is getting on? I really hope the LL gets hit with a serious financial penalty as a consequence.

Touche

surreybased wrote: »

Hi,

Wonder how the OP is getting on? I really hope the LL gets hit with a serious financial penalty as a consequence.

Hi,

I'm getting along ok thanks. It's actually my birthday today. I'm at my parents house with my brother, sister, aunt and cousins.

My girlfriend's dad has offered to put me up for a while close to work if I can't find anywhere. I should be ok though, I can sleep somewhere at work if I'm desperate.

I'm waiting for the estate agent that advertised the place last year to call me back with the landlady's number at the moment.

I've done a little internetting and have a clearer idea of where to go from here. Thanks for those that've helped so far.