Got a letter from my landlord this morning...

Emmamumof2

bazzaboo wrote: »

Alasia how old are your toddlers? Just asking as on the clothes front why not check out your local bootsale? I always pick up good quality clothes ranging anything from 10p to 1Pound. My last bargain was a next wool coat for 75p for my 2yr old.It looked brand new too.I do the same with toys, all the pressies for my 2yr old were second hand but she didn't care one bit and I managed to get loads of toys for under a tenner.
Hope you can sort something out soon.

Alasia, how old are your kids? In the same spirit as the above post I am having a tidy out of my kids things over the coming week or so as my little girl (2) has just had a birthday and my Son is 5 in 4 weeks, I would love to help you out if I can.

I know nothing about the issues with your landlord and barring a claim for CTC when my hubby was made redundant last year dont really know that much about benefit entitlement, but I do 100% understand your desire to want to give your kids a nice birthday.

PM me if you are interested and in the meantime keep your chin up, it must be very difficult to face issues such as these on your own, no matter how they have come about, good luck!

alasia

You are not "wrong on that" - your LL *is* legally obliged to scheme register your deposit, and give you specific information, as I posted previously.

Does he arrange an annual gas safety check/certification for this property? (assuming gas boiler/appliances are there)

Did he provide you with a copy of an EPC ( Energy Performance Certificate) before you signed for the tenancy?

No EPC, not sure about the gas safety check as I have only been here for 9 months. He hasnt said anything about itso I will see what happens in September with regards to that.


As for my housing benefit claim; I forgot to say that when I collected the application form, I enquired as to whether I could return it without any proof of tenancy and was told that no, I couldnt. The actual words the person I spoke to used, were that I could only make the claim when I had got a tenancy agreement as otherwise it wouldnt be processed.

Now, on reflection she probably meant that I could send the form in anyway and it would only be processed when I actually sent them a tenancy agreement, but I misunderstood. My mistake, I know.

And I am not by any means trying to shift the blame from myself; but the landlord did promise me when I moved in that he would fix the back door (change it for upvc as it is just wooden and very draughty) and sort out the water pressure on the bathroom taps within 3 weeks of me moving in.

He didnt, and despite regular reminders he only recently got around to changing the taps upstairs - meaning that for 8 months I have had just a trickle of hot water upstairs.

There is also mould behind the sofa on the wall that has been there since I moved in, not sure what that is or if it can be fixed,but I told the landlord when I moved in anyway and nothing has been done.

Obviously this is no excuse for not paying the rent, but I feel a tenancy is a mutual thing and the landlord should be keeping to his promises regarding the maintenance of the property.

alasia

bazzaboo/emma:

Thanks, my children are almost 2 and nearly 3 (they are a year and 2 weeks apart...so no doubt someone will say I should have thought before having them so close together, but it was a joint choice that myself and my then-partner made).

I did take a look at my local car boot but it is always all fishing tackle and kitchen stuff...its not a very big sale but the only one I can get to easily.

I dont think birthdays will be a problem; if I can somehow put £10 away each week I will have enough to get them a toy or two each - and its ok saying I shouldnt do that, but they are toddlers and arent going to understand why they wont get a birthday this year...so I AM getting them something

I will have a look on ebay for clothes though...

Fiddlestick

alasia wrote: »

This is what I am having trouble working out...so any more help would be appreciated.

Look, I've read through this thread in it's entirety and whilst some posters have perhaps been a little blunt, they have told you the truth.

One thing that has came up many times is your benefit entitlement.

You claim that you are only entitled to x amount, but people have told you time and time again that you should be entitled to a lot more and time and time again have suggested that you get onto the local CAB and have this investigated.

So far I have seen no confirmation from you that you have actually done this.

So I ask - have you actually gone to the CAB and checked with their knowledgeable and helpful staff that you ARE getting everything that you are entitled to?

If not then why not?

Their help is free and you have nothing to lose.

I'm sorry if you think I'm blunt or it's not the sort of advice you are looking for but come on, you have to help yourself here a little bit and having read the thread, I can see no good reason why you haven't yet explored this possibility.

And don't come back saying that you are getting everything you are entitled to - GO AND CHECK

looby75

have you tried freecycle to see if anyone has any clothes they want rid of? I often used to put my sons stuff on there, it was still in good enough condition to wear but not quite immaculate enough to sell on ebay....I've seen loads of other people offer bags of clothes too

clutton_2

FREECYCLE FREECYCLE FREECYCLE - does what it says on the tin... sign up GET TOYS FOR YOUR KIDS FOR FREEEEEEE


WWW.FREECYCLE.CO.UK

HOW MANY people have now suggested this ???

Doom_and_Gloom

alasia wrote: »

No EPC, not sure about the gas safety check as I have only been here for 9 months. He hasnt said anything about itso I will see what happens in September with regards to that.

Your depoit should be in one of the 3 deposit protection schemes that are out there. If your LL has not done this then you can claim up to 3 times the amount. However if you have no proof you paid this (a receipt of some kind) this could be difficult.

alasia wrote: »

As for my housing benefit claim; I forgot to say that when I collected the application form, I enquired as to whether I could return it without any proof of tenancy and was told that no, I couldnt. The actual words the person I spoke to used, were that I could only make the claim when I had got a tenancy agreement as otherwise it wouldnt be processed.

You could have put it in and added to the application with the agreement later however you get a limited time to do this (I think it is 2 or 3 weeks). Even if you had tried this due to the wait of you agreement you would have had to put in a fresh claim anyway so your landlord did himself no favours in waiting to give you an agreement. Saying this you should have pressured him into giving you one on the day you moved in or within a suitable time frame after you moved in at least.

alasia wrote: »

Obviously this is no excuse for not paying the rent, but I feel a tenancy is a mutual thing and the landlord should be keeping to his promises regarding the maintenance of the property.

You are right your LL should be keeping to his end of the agreement. LL's should fix things within a suitable time frame. Complaints are best done in writting by recorded delivery - always keep a copy for your own records so you know what you sent and when. Always date the letters you send and give a suitable time frame for the LL to do things before you 'take action'.

RAS

alasia wrote: »

I dont think birthdays will be a problem; if I can somehow put £10 away each week I will have enough to get them a toy or two each - and its ok saying I shouldnt do that, but they are toddlers and arent going to understand why they wont get a birthday this year...so I AM getting them something

That is £120 you can pay off your rent arrears.

For heaven's sake they are 2 and 3 years old. They will not be harmed if you get them a second hand or previously given but unused toy from

www.freegle.co.uk or www.freecycle.com if freegle does not operate in your area.

They will be harmed if you get thrown out of the house for non-payment of rent.

At the moment regardless of your landlord's defiency, even if you do not get chucked out before the tenancy agreement ends, you will have an appalling reference which will desparately reduce your children's housing options for the future.

Do you not care?

Please answer the following questions:

1. You have been repeatedly asked to check your benefits with CAB or another agency.

Have you done this?

You have been advised to contact your local councilor and ask them to speak to the Housing Department about back-dating your housing claim. Even if iot does not work, it is worth trying.

Have you done this

I think you have been previously advised to try freecycle and freegle.

Have you down this

alasia

I have been a member of the three local freecycle groups for about 2 years and nothing has come up yet...its all wanted ads or random stuff for sale (hutches, cupboard doors,etc).

And yes...I could put a wanted ad on there but if I dont want to get second hand toys for my childrens birthdays! Not when I can get things brand new small toys cheaply enough from ELC.

There is one ad selling girls clothes but the woman hasnt replied to my email yet.

They also usually want people to pick up the items as they are giving them away for free; and I dont have access to a car so they have to actually live within walking distance (otherwise a bus ticket costs me £4.80 and I could buy a brand new toy for that!)

you should have pressured him into giving you one on the day you moved in or within a suitable time frame after you moved in at least.

I agree. But he originally didnt want childrenliving in the house and kind of made me feel like he was doing me a favour letting me move in,so I didnt want to seem awkward or pushy. He still says even now that a TA wasnt necessary and that I forced him into giving him one.

On the phone the other day when I said I should have had reciepts for the rent paid, he said none of his other tenants get receipts,so why should I.

alasia

Please answer the following questions:

1. You have been repeatedly asked to check your benefits with CAB or another agency.

Have you done this?

You have been advised to contact your local councilor and ask them to speak to the Housing Department about back-dating your housing claim. Even if iot does not work, it is worth trying.

Have you done this

I think you have been previously advised to try freecycle and freegle.

Have you down this

YES!!! except the councillor thing...but the other 2 questions, yes I have.

There is also the entitled to website which had the same info the cab gave me..feel free to check yourself with my details.

ETA: people are posting it seems without reading what I have previously said...the landlord has said that if I satisfy him by paying off the arrears by the end of year (which I can just about do), then he will think about giving me a passable reference.

Ok so its not a guarantee but its something.

Im not sitting here saying I will buy my kids toys for their birthdays and not pay the LL back - hes getting £100 tomorrow, some more on monday and then £50-£100 every fortnight.
If I ever have the odd £10 spare he will get that too.