Breaking rental contract - assualted by neighbour.

adouglasmhor

MikeyGB313 wrote: »

Hello All

On Thursday this week my neighbour decided to put a bag of dog poo through my door. Stupidly, i ran to see who it was and asked what the hell he was doing. Before any further words were said, in a rage my neighbour grabbed my throat trying to suffercate me to death. Apparently its because he is sick of picking up the dog mess that is around our flat (i dont have a dog) and we are noisey.

Only ever spoken to him twice before, never about the two things above.

Once I escaped, I phoned the police, who waited 24 hours to arrest for qustioning, despite him being downstairs in his flat and could come to my front door at any time. He is released with caution, despite admitting doing it.

As a result i have fleed my rental property as i fear for my and my girlfriends safety. From what i judge from my landlord (who just found out the neighbour is on medication) he wants me to follow normal procedure and give two months notice to leave. This is over £1000 that i cannot afford.

It is unteniable for me to continue living there and complete my contract. Is there any special legal way I can avoid the wooping payment?

Im currently crashing on peoples sofa's/floors as i have no where to go. Any advice?

Yes, stop being a and learn to stand up for yourself. Get judo or boxing lessons or something it's disgusting a grown man in good health being manhandled freely by a nutter.

Incyder

Incyder wrote: »

I would go back and carry on as normal now. Its unlikely to happen again now he has been arrested, dna taken, fingerprinted, photographed, cautioned. He probably feels a right idiot.

MikeyGB313 wrote: »

He put a note through my door saying sorrying for grabbing your neck heres a fiver for a drink!

See, he does feel an idiot and is sorry. I would return home and go about your normal life now.

auroan

Grow a pair and go home. He's not going to come knocking your door down. Just stay out of his way and when your tenancy is up look for somewhere else.

BitterAndTwisted

Fact: the landlord is under absolutely no obligation to release you from your contractual liability to pay the rent until the end of your fixed-term in July.

Opinion: your landlord has acted incredibly reasonably in agreeing to you giving two month's notice to break your contract. If you are determined to not return to the property you should ask for that agreement in writing.

Under the circumstances, considering that your neighbour has acknowledged how unreasonably they have acted and done it in writing, only a complete wuss would still be fearful of returning. You're not a small child and there are two of you, so I don't think there's anything to worry about now.

dantheman2010

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

a complete wuss would still be fearful of returning. You're not a small child and there are two of you, so I don't think there's anything to worry about now.

Thats a bit harsh. The OP has said the attack was unprovoked, whats stopping it happening again?

It would be worrying if it happened to anyone, that any knock at the door etc could result in the same thing happening again.

If the OP was a woman most people would say how terrible it is etc, why does it make a difference because its happened to a man. If he had not been at home then it could have happened to his partner. The OP is probably worried about the saftey of his partner being there at times on her own incase it happens again, this time to her, which is fair enough. I doubt anyone else would want their partner in the property on their own after being attacked on their own doorstep. And some people arent built/designed for fighting.

People are full of it when they say what they "would" do, but until you are in that situation you dont know what you would do.

princeofpounds

Hi, a shame people haven't been more helpful on the accomodation side.

Unfortunately, as you are in a fixed tenancy you can't escape your liability unless the LL agrees mutually. By offering 2 months notice the landlord is offering a fairly normal notice period that would seem to be a compromise betwee his legal duty (nothing) and his moral duty (help you). I suggest if leaving is your highest priority (and I wouldn't criticise you for this - no-one here knows the severity or aggressiveness of the attack nor the ongoing issues) you take up the offer. As suggested, make sure you get agreement in writing.

The suggestion of 'fleeing violence' to secure temporary local authority accomodation is a good option, but it's true that a private solution is usually better, even if it's just a sofa.