Should I be Worried???

kitty_and_gucci_2008

Hi,

I recently veiwed a property with my wife and child a few weeks ago, the house was nice, so we gace the landlord 1 months rent, she didnt want a deposit. She gaves us a note stating she had received the money there and then. She said treat the home as your own, do anything you wish to it, she is fine as long as she receives the rent. She also said she would sort out a tenancy agreement.

She also gave us the keys to the property. Since then she has bourght us a sofa and got it delivered with her daughter and friend.

We have been having problems with the plumming/heating recently and she has sent out a plummer who was useless. He basically said that the shower needs replacing as it is not spraying the water out and that the landlord does not have to replace it, he even told the landlord that she does not need to replace it.

I rang her the other day to find out when the tenancy agreemetn is being sent out, to which she replied in the next few days as she is having family problems.

I rang her last night to discuss what happens next with the shower, and she has not returned my call.

Should I be worried?

Thanks.

MsDee

You shouldn't have moved into the property or paid anything until you received the tenancy agreement that you had time to read through.

This should be signed together when you did the inventory together (where everything in the property should be listed and detail should be recorded what state it is e.g carpert worn, wood peeling, cooker brand new, smoke alarm fitted etc)

In an ideal situation pictures should be taken and landlord and tenant sign back of each one so the issue of 'that wasn't like when I moved in' is avoided.

She 'didn't want a deposit' screams dodgy to me as she should have taken one months rent off you in advance and then put it into a TDS (Tenancy Deposit Scheme). Do you have a gas certificate? Did she check references for you, did you check her out as a landlady? Do you know where she lives, how did you find the property?

Call her again or send her an emai/letter (photocopy a copy for your reference) explaining your concerns about the lack of tenancy agreement/shower.

Or consider leaving the property - remember to do this correctly though - one month's notice in writing, etc when you do leave ideally she should come around and check the property has been well maintained in order for the deposit to be returned, but as you don't have a desposit I don't know how this would work, but there will be others along who will advise on this.


**edit - when any handyman comes to do work on property including gas, boilers etc always, always check they are corgi accredited.**

clutton_2

""She 'didn't want a deposit' screams dodgy to me as she should have taken one months rent off you in advance and then put it into a TDS (Tenancy Deposit Scheme)."

incorrect.. a landlord does NOT put the first months rent into a tenancy deposit scheme - he keeps it , its rent... a landlord does not have to insist on a deposit if he does not want to....

kitty_and_gucci_2008

Yes got a gas certificate, i know her address, have her bank details for the standing order.

Can we be kicked out so to speak anytime?

kitty_and_gucci_2008

she also said anything that you need to get rid of i.e fridge/freezer needs to be put into storage.

MsDee

clutton wrote: »

""She 'didn't want a deposit' screams dodgy to me as she should have taken one months rent off you in advance and then put it into a TDS (Tenancy Deposit Scheme)."

incorrect.. a landlord does NOT put the first months rent into a tenancy deposit scheme - he keeps it , its rent... a landlord does not have to insist on a deposit if he does not want to....

I didn't make myself clear apologies. I meant one month's rent given in addition for the deposit. Obviously the first months rent is rent, but I have always paid two months when renting and taken when I rented property out the equivalent of two months upfront. One for rent and then the same again for deposit - never met a landlord who has not taken a deposit though..

BitterAndTwisted

kitty_and_gucci_2008 wrote: »

Can we be kicked out so to speak anytime?

it's my understanding that even if there's no formal rental agreement drawn up and signed the landlord cannot give you notice until you have been in the property for six months minimum.

clutton_2

since the TDS schemes came in there are quite a few LLs who dont take deposits

Colincbayley

MsDee wrote: »

- never met a landlord who has not taken a deposit though..

Well you at least know of one now, ME! And I am no way 'Dodgy' as you put it.
I am a professional portfolio landlord, who has quality private, not ex council properties, in very good condition, in good areas, I follow all the rules and I DO NOT ASK FOR A DEPOSIT.
What's wrong with that?

MsDee

Colincbayley wrote: »

Well you at least know of one now, ME! And I am no way 'Dodgy' as you put it.
I am a professional portfolio landlord, who has quality private, not ex council properties, in very good condition, in good areas, I follow all the rules and I DO NOT ASK FOR A DEPOSIT.
What's wrong with that?

Nothing's 'wrong' with it at all I just wonder why you don't?? What would happen if sadly one of your properties were damaged or abused - you would not be out pocket correcting it?? I think if I met a landlord that didn't ask for a deposit I would be rather surprised that they didn't want one - each to their own though.

Colincbayley

MsDee wrote: »

Nothing's 'wrong' with it at all I just wonder why you don't?? What would happen if sadly one of your properties were damaged or abused - you would not be out pocket correcting it?? I think if I met a landlord that didn't ask for a deposit I would be rather surprised that they didn't want one - each to their own though.

Well what you said in your first comment was a LL that didn't ask for a deposit 'screams dodgy'
It would appear you are not very well informed and should think before making such absurd comments.

I have my own commercial reasons why I do not charge a deposit, and I have yet to be left out of pocket, although thank you for your concern.