Unregistered Landlord threating Court

Movi

Hello,

I Started rent from this particular landlord 02/08/09 and did so with a verbal 2 week rolling contract, we knew the house was substandard as it didn't even have fire alarms etc and that the landlord was probably unregistered and evading tax, but we were both desperate to move from our homes and it seemed the only option.

We paid 480 deposit and 480 advance rent, now from what i hear the deposit should have been into an dpd account or and insurance policy which is obviously not the case.

But to the point i fell very ill in march of this year being hospitalized for 3 weeks, i therefore lost my job which put me 3 months in arrears - my share being 720 but i signed onto benefits and as soon as a lump sum came threw about month 4 i settled these arrears.

Everything was fine again until 15th august where i was again hospitalised, went threw 2 major surgeries and was only discharged on 1st december.

As soon as i was hospitalised and my housemate visited me in august i informed him to tell the landlord who was due that weekend that i would have to move out as i could barely speak at this point and i also got parents to vacate my possesions with the landlord having my 240 deposit i thought this would suffice as notice as it was only a 2 week notice period and i was very ill so wasnt that bothered about the deposit being as sick as i am.

The dilemma i am left with now is that the landlord has found my parents home address by probably opening my letters that were in the bin at his house, also he has sent a letter saying i owe him 600 pounds and he will take me to court if i don't pay. I don't understand this and am thinking about ringing him up and saying i will report him to HMRC for tax evasion and being an unregistered landlord!!!

Please help!!

Regards

Mo

silvercar

Are you in Scotland? As Scotland requires landlords to register. No requirement in England.

As for notice, if you pay the rent monthly you are obliged to give one months notice to end at the end of a rent period. So if you moved in on the 4th of a month, the rent period is from the 4th of one month to the 3rd of the next.

When exactly was notice given?

Also were you on a joint tenancy or separate tenancies. If joint the landlord could insist that you all need to move out for you to be released.

sooz

Where was the property, in England or Scotland?
How many people were renting the property?
What was the total rent per month?
Do you have anything in writing at all? Even a copy of the notice you gave?

Hammyman

am thinking about ringing him up and saying i will report him to HMRC for tax evasion and being an unregistered landlord!!!

I'm not registered because there is no requirement to be in England. Just because I'm not registered doesn't mean I'm not paying tax. And I can guarantee if I received a phone call like that, a Section 21 notice would be in return of post and hauled through court for rent not paid due to not giving minimum required notice, especially after putting up with no rent from the tenant for 4 months.

Instead of whining about it, you should be grateful you weren't evicted in May.

Also, it is YOU THE TENANT who has to give notice, not a friend or anyone else. It is you who has the tenancy, not your friend. What is there to stop someone maliciously giving notice? This is why it is the tenant. At the moment, it would appear that you have not given notice and rent is outstanding. Also the deposit is for damage and covering the cost of cleaning the mess left, not covering a rental period. It could be that the property was left in a right state and the landlord had to get it cleaned.

chris_m

Hammyman wrote: »

And I can guarantee if I received a phone call like that, a Section 21 notice would be in return of post.

Not much point in this case, they've already gone

Movi

This was joint tenancy and the other party also moved out at the same time as notice was given, house was left spotless and in same condition as moved in, also just a week before notice was given i gave landlord 300 as i knew i would be in hospital for several weeks.

Deposit of 240 should then have been returned but we were working on a rolling 2 week period, so i was only due to pay 120 but decided 240 would be fare which also did my house mate, so a full months rent was supplied.

I am in northern ireland, and have had very bad health problems, having lived in the house for only about 3 months this year, also notice was given as we were given a deadline to move out which was adhered to.

I think the problem is that landlord has not found new tenants and he expects us to cover his costs.

Movi

Just to add everything was verbal, and verbal notice was also stipulated which was given as housemate also moved out promptly...