Nightmare landlord

YUMMY_MUMMY_OF_5

HI ALL,BEEN LIVING IN PROPERTY FOR 19MTHS,HAD VERY LIMITED HEATING AND WATER FOR THE WHOLE TIME AND DESPITE LANDLORD SENDING 6 IN TOTAL DODGY PLUMMERS STILL NO HEATING AS WELL AS A HUGE LIST OF OTHER ESSENTIAL REPAIRSINCLUDING A GAS SAFETY CERTIFICATE SINCE MAY 2010 HE WILL NOT FIX,I HAVE NO CONTACT DETAILS FOR THE LL OR AN ADDRESS-TURNS OUT HE LIVES IN SPAIN AND COMES TO THE UK EVERY MONTH TO COLLECT THE RENTTHE TENANCY AGREEMENT WAS DRAWN UP BY A LETTING AGENT BUT THEY CLAIM THEY HAVE NO CONTACT DETAILS AND THEY DONT MANAGE THE PROPEERTY.GOT LHA INVOLVED IN NOVEMBER WHO ORDERED HIM TO REPLACE THE BOILER AND DO OTHER WORK-HE GOT ANOTHER DODGY PLUMMER TO REPLACE THE BOILER WHICH WAS FITTED INCORRECTLY AND DOESNT WORK AT ALL.TOLD HIM I WOULDNT PAY MY £1000PM RENT TILL HE FIXED ITAND HE GAVE ME A SECTION 21-WITH A FALSE UK ADDRESS ON IT.LOCAL LHA CANT TRACE HIM TO SERVE A HARRASSMENT NOTICE ON HIM AS HE HASNT CAME TO MY HOME SINCE SERVING THE NOTICE-HE HAS NOW HIRED SOME LOCAL HEAVIES TO EVICT ME,NEED SOME GOOD ADVICE ON WHERE I STAND.:cool: WOULD THE NOTICE BE LEGAL WITHOUT A VALID UK ADDRESS ON IT?

poppysarah

Move.

You know it's an option.

lynzpower

first things first

Have you contacted the environmental health team to help you deal with the heating hot water issues.

YUMMY_MUMMY_OF_5

poppysarah wrote: »

move.

You know it's an option.

i wish it was as simple as that-without a landlord reference i cant get another house!believe me ive tried.our lha waiting list is 3 yrs and the only other option is a hostel-not ideal with 5 kids.

YUMMY_MUMMY_OF_5

lynzpower wrote: »

first things first

have you contacted the environmental health team to help you deal with the heating hot water issues.

yes,they have been trying to contact him to serve the legal notices on him but cant trace him.i tried to hire a plummer to fix the new boiler but becaude it was fitted incorrectly 4 plummers have refused to even look at it.

tbs624

OP originally posted back in September - see here

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/36912516#Comment_36912516

OP - how do you know that the LL has "hired heavies to evict" you? Have you been threatened and if yes, have you got evidence/a witness?

Harassing a T/ attempting to evicting a T without due legal process are criminal offences and need to be reported to the police. You may need to be persistent - don't be fobbed off with any suggestions that "it's a civil matter"

Also, look back at the suggestions that many of us gave you in that first thread, including contact nos/websites/helplines etc

It's clear that you need to find somewhere new to live but get support from the appropriate places.

G_M

1) Heavies. Simple (though scary). This is illegal. Harassement is a criminal offence. Speak to the police. Do not wait till they come back, make a report now and get it logged. If they claim it is a civil matter, insist on speaking to a superior. Harrasement of a tenant IS a criminal offence.

2) Rent.
Under the requirements of section 48 of the Landlord & Tenant Act 1987 rent is not lawfully due unless the tenant has been given, in writing, an address in England and Wales at which notices can be served. This address should be on your contract. If not, rent is not payable.

3) Gas safety. Were the 'dodgy plumbers' GasSafe Registered? Did you ask? (I'm assuming the heating is a gas boiler of course). Always insist on seeing GasSafe ID before letting a plumber work on a gas boiler. Do you know who the plumber was? Contact GasSafe if other plumbers say it is unsafe. Or HSE.

4) Overseas landlord. Beware tax. YOU may well be liable for paying the Landlord's tax. You should be deducting it from the rent. Read here.

5) Local council Private Tenancy Officer and/or Environmenatal Health. Look them up and speak to them.

6) S21. Must have a valid address. Also it is invalid if your deposit is not registered in a scheme., so a) have you paid a deposit and if so b) is it registered? If you are not sure, read here and contact all 3 schemes and ask.

YUMMY_MUMMY_OF_5

my car tyres have been slashed - twice after I HAVE HAD UP TO dozen late night threatening phone calls from unknown numbers.aman visited my home on thursday 20th jan demanding i left the property asap or he would be back to do it himself as he was going to be moving in -i told him the lha were trying to contact the ll and he basically toldme he couldnt care less.the police have been informed

G_M

YUMMY_MUMMY_OF_5 wrote: »

my car tyres have been slashed - twice after I HAVE HAD UP TO dozen late night threatening phone calls from unknown numbers.aman visited my home on thursday 20th jan demanding i left the property asap or he would be back to do it himself as he was going to be moving in -i told him the lha were trying to contact the ll and he basically toldme he couldnt care less.the police have been informed

Contact your phone provider re nuisance calls. Report nuisance calls to the police too. Call 999 at first sign of a threat.

Check the Land Registry to see if the LL has a mortgage. (£4 for the deeds). Then call the bank and ask if he has permission to let. They won't tell you (data protection) but YOU can tel THEM he's renting the property out. They probobly don't know.

edit: I notice a lot of my advice duplicates advice you got back in Sept. What did you do then, with what result?

lynzpower

YUMMY_MUMMY_OF_5 wrote: »

yes,they have been trying to contact him to serve the legal notices on him but cant trace him.i tried to hire a plummer to fix the new boiler but becaude it was fitted incorrectly 4 plummers have refused to even look at it.

I believe that your ehp could do the work then reclaim from the LL later. However, i can imagine that they are not keen to do this if there is no address.

I guess you cannot get hold of him to ask for a reference
?

lynzpower

YUMMY_MUMMY_OF_5 wrote: »

my car tyres have been slashed - twice after I HAVE HAD UP TO dozen late night threatening phone calls from unknown numbers.aman visited my home on thursday 20th jan demanding i left the property asap or he would be back to do it himself as he was going to be moving in -i told him the lha were trying to contact the ll and he basically toldme he couldnt care less.the police have been informed

Honestly I think you have to let this one play out?

There may be some LLs ( your private lettings officer at the council may know) of a LL who would accept you without a reference. Not all Landlords need references, my current one did not ask for a reference ( although we did pay some upfront)