We're moving house next weekend OH just got made redundant!

*Kat*

Should we tell the new landlord now before we mvoe in?

We didn't know he was being made redundant until last week. He is "employed" until the 31st of this month.

Should we tell the landlord now, or wait until we move in? :S

BitterAndTwisted

Your husband should make an application for LHA (Local Housing Allowance) when he signs on at the JobCentre. If he's entitled to any payment, and your earnings will be taken into account as well, then that money will be paid direct to him so the landlord will not know that he will be in receipt of it.

I would only talk to the landlord about your husband's redundancy once you know that it will affect your ability to pay the rent in full and on time.

G_M

Can you still afford the rent? If yes, what's the problem?

If not, seek to end your contractual obligation before you are committed and get into difficulties.

businessreader

Just a thought.
I would suggest you check the terms of the lease first of all. Ability to pay rent might not be the only word on the matter.
Presumably, the landlord agreed the let on the basis of information that your husband was employed. Would you rent a house from a landlord who was about to lose his company? If the landlord gets the impression that you were pulling the wool over his/her eyes then some valuable goodwill might be lost such as patience waiting for rent or even making good damage that wasn't strictly speaking the landlord's responsibility.
It is also possible that the landlord will be sympathetic to downward adjustment of the rent agreed at the time of the contract was made.
Landlords want to rent houses and most have evolved from the days when 'screwing' tenants and later putting up with long void periods in occupancy was acceptable. Good long-term occupancy, damage free and with decent people as tenants is what it's about.
Here's hoping the recent bad news about your husband's employment is short-term.

clutton_2

""most have evolved from the days when 'screwing' tenants and later putting up with long void periods in occupancy was acceptable."

what a ridiculous nonsense.....

pararct

Most landlords I have met are sharks and would rip off their own Grandmothers given half a chance.

I have always worked on a 'need to know basis'.

Does the landlord need to know at this point?
Only you can make that judgement. If the impending job loss will not impact on your ability to meet the rent then why tell him at all?

Don't forget there may be a discrepancy between when the LHA is paid and the day the rent becomes due. You may need to plan in advance for that.

businessreader

clutton wrote: »

""
what a ridiculous nonsense.....

And the fatual basis for your sceptism is what exactly.........?

Seeking to frighten the original contributor by ill-informed comment is hardly helpful, especially on a site with the word "expert" in its title.

BitterAndTwisted

pararct wrote: »

Most landlords I have met are sharks and would rip off their own Grandmothers given half a chance.

That might be your experience but I really, really doubt that it's true of the majority of landlords. Your own experience perhaps signifies a great deal more about you as a tenant than it does of landlords in the main.


Don't forget there may be a discrepancy between when the LHA is paid and the day the rent becomes due. You may need to plan in advance for that.

Another thing to bear in mind is that LHA is paid in arrears and most landlords quite reasonably expect their rents to be paid in advance, so I expect a lot has to do with how much you both have in savings to cover it. Presumably your OH will be receiving a redundancy payment from their employer of some description.

businessreader

Sorry pararct [well, not really] but I agree entirely with bitterandtwisted here. People like you who try to be devious about such matters make landlords suspicious of tenants. Remember, it's a contract or arrangement that cuts both ways.

pararct

businessreader wrote: »

Sorry pararct [well, not really] but I agree entirely with bitterandtwisted here. People like you who try to be devious about such matters make landlords suspicious of tenants. Remember, it's a contract or arrangement that cuts both ways.

Sorry to burst both your bubbles but you are both wrong as I have never been a tenant.....:cool:

I did however used to work in buildings maintenance in the private rental sector....

Many of the stories we read on this forum of landlords trying to do their own gas repairs or replacing white goods with known faulty items (if they can be bothered in the first place) are pretty typical in my experience.

Not all landlords can be painted with this brush but a significant amount of them can.

The OP needed independent advice not some that came from a VI background. The question here is can she/he meet their rental obligations. If she/he can then their private business is no business of the landlord.

If she/he cannot then the law exists for the landlord to seek redress.

poppysarah

I'd worry if you weren't going to be able to meet your rent payments - but I'd assume redundency pay will be there etc...

And I assume you've given notice... I'd move in and then perhaps leave it a week before telling the LL (especially if you have to claim LHA you should let them know sooner rather than later)