How to get hold of Landlords contact details

MB69

I am trying to find the address for my landlord. The house is managed by an agent. If i ask them, are they by law required to provide me the details?

In my contract, his address is not complete. He is in the forces and he is based in Germany. But I know he has a UK address, either wife or relative.

What can I do if the agent refuses to give me the details?

Cheers

theartfullodger

a) If you have not been given an address for him in England & wales "to serve notices" then the rent is not due... (but he's probably got address c/o agent). (Landlord & Tenant Act 1987 Section48...). ALL back rent becomes due when address provided..
b) Write to agent asking (politely, calmly, soberley..) for LL's address and refer agent to "Landlord & Tenant Act 1985 Section1". They have to reply within 21 days with his real address.. (Like drivers have to drive under 70mph in Britain..)
c) Look up the property of land registry for £4. see..
http://www.landregistry.gov.uk/
You will also find (from LR) if he has a mortgage & with whom. However the address may be the property (in which case chances are he either hasn't told his lender he is letting it or he is fiddling his taxes...). You can then compare the answer you get from LR with the one you get from agent.
d) Ask agent if he is withholding tax for HMRC as LL is non-resident - they should be withholding about 20% see..
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/cnr/nr_landlords.htm
... err... acctually, not sure what the situation is with forces members - they may be still "In Engerland"....
e) Ask neighbours, postie, Police, corner shop...
f) Why do you care?? If he is in Germany all you'll probably get is a BFPO
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BFPO
box number anyway/.....

Cheers!

Artful

PS You do have a Gas safety certificate??

MB69

Hi

Thanks for the reply. yes, the address to serve notices to is the agents address. But i am fed up of dealing with the agent and want to go directly to the LL!

yes, I do have a gas safety cert. Why?

BitterAndTwisted

So pay your four quid and look the property address up on the Land Registry site

Soniclord

Just seen this response, jeez that's helpful B&T ........

The land registry is useless, a waste of £4 IMO all it does is tell you (usually) that the landlords address is actually the adress your renting!!

G_M

Landlord & Tenant Act 1985

1 Disclosure of landlord’s identity.

(1)If the tenant of premises occupied as a dwelling makes a written request for the landlord’s name and address to—
(a)any person who demands, or the last person who received, rent payable under the tenancy, or
(b)any other person for the time being acting as agent for the landlord, in relation to the tenancy,
that person shall supply the tenant with a written statement of the landlord’s name and address within the period of 21 days beginning with the day on which he receives the request.
(2)A person who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with subsection (1) commits a summary offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale.

DVardysShadow

Soniclord wrote: »

Just seen this response, jeez that's helpful B&T ........

The land registry is useless, a waste of £4 IMO all it does is tell you (usually) that the landlords address is actually the adress your renting!!

That in itself is a result. See point c] in post #2

G_M

DVardysShadow wrote: »

That in itself is a result. See point c] in post #2

I disagree DV - many landlords get CTL/BTL but fail to notify Land Registry of their new address.

LR tends to be low on the priority list, or just not thought about, when LLs inform their bank, employer, DVLC, HMRC etc etc that they have moved.

So the LR having the rental property as the LL's registered address does not necessarily indicate anything untoward.