Landlord nightmare

UK007BullDog

You need to be careful about the part to withhold the rent. Some lenders ask the landlords for a reference especially if a FTB. If the reference is not perfect then there might be a problem and you would have to argue your case with the underwriters. If there is a big gap from getting your mortgage application in with all docs and the lenders get their checks in, to actually moving into your purchased property then you might be able to get away with it, but please do be careful on this.

Gorgeous_George

The OP has no reason to withold the rent. Equally, it may be that Jeremy has no reason to withold the deposit.

These two items are not linked. The bond is to safeguard the LL against damage to his property. The rent is payable for the time that the tenant stays in the property.

Why have you stayed for three years? One month's notice is required but if the property is uninhabitable you should be able to leave earlier.



GG

jodenice

Gorgeous_George wrote:

Why have you stayed for three years? One month's notice is required but if the property is uninhabitable you should be able to leave earlier.



GG

Its not that its unhabitable, although its fast getting that way. The landlord hasn't always lived below, it used to be a lovely old lady. As to why we stayed, its close to work, its convenient and if not cheap, I can at least afford to pay the rent. Also had some reluctance to move somewhere mid term as we knew we'd be getting a mortgage when our money came through.

I am worried about not getting my deposit, but purely due to the amount of emails I've had telling me that the landlord is short of cash. He's not said he won't pay me or that he'll withhold anything, I am just worrying a little bit in advance! and sharing my indignation about the whole poo throwing episode!

silvercar

Are you on a periodic tenancy or a fixed term tenancy? when did you last renew & for how long?

jodenice

Well we've only ever signed one contract for a year, in November 3 years ago. I gather from the agency that it just runs on and on unless we cancel two months in advance. we were never asked to sign anything again and I understood that this was fine.

jaype

Dead_Eye_Jones wrote:

I found LLs did everything to take a slice of that deposit and always was able to get it back, they know the law too so will normally cough up once you follow through on the advice handed out by the CAB. Its normally best to follow the appropriate legal route, it might not always work in the way it should but at least you will have done the 'right' thing and it wont come back to haunt you.

If he claims - or really doesn't - have any money then this really isn't the case. Our ex landlord failed to return our deposit, then moved from his address. I got a CCJ against him, but to track him down to try and reclaim the cash that even the courts said was mine, i had to resort to calling him on his mobile and pretending I'd found money he'd dropped outside his church, which I wanted to post to him. greedy git gave me his address, but then pretended he wasn't himself when he opened the door to the balliff and moved on again. I tried to put a stop on his bank account, but it didn't have anything in it... So beware. Jeremy could be bankrupt, be reposessed without you knowing it and you'd be out of pocket. Couldn't you claim you'd been living with your mum or something when you next need a reference? As long as you have proof of income, many agents know that references are barely worth the paper they're written on.

jodenice

Jaype - thanks for this. Remind me never to borrow a fiver and not to pay it back. You sound incredibly resourceful! Are you a detective in real life?

anyway, I will bear all of this in mind. I will pay rent as usual but will take photographs of all the things that are wrong (mould damp, stuck windows, water on walls) etc.

I was a little worried as when I first moved in I went to put items in the fridge. As i opened the door the whole fridge freezer came crashing to the floor, breaking the top shelf that housed the eggs. Upon further (horrified) investigation, it turns out that the house slopes forward and that the fridge freezer had been precariously balanced on some very small tiles in order for it to be straight. The slightest movement sent it flying to the floor.

When I phoned the agency, I was told (by my 'agent') ' well the landlord won't be pleased you've broken his fridge'.

I also have emails of requests or complaints from the day I moved in so i guess I can back up any problems.

lynzpower

When I phoned the agency, I was told (by my 'agent') ' well the landlord won't be pleased you've broken his fridge'.

UNbelievable!!!

jodenice

Ok he has now emailed me a horrible email and wants to inspect my flat immediately. I need to find out a few of my rights here. I'm not moving til February. i want to take pictures of the ever increasing mould.

Anybody know a good link for what exactly he and I are legally entitled to. Or can tell me?

barnaby-bear

jodenice wrote:

Ah that would be so great but unfortunately I clicked a little while ago when some of his mail got delivered to us (in fact all his mail and bank statements still come to us, I guess they think he still lives here) but also some came for downstairs to us by mistake and slowly, oh so slowly, the penny dropped. 8i asked him, he went bright red, i said 'so you've been calling yourself 'the landlord' to all my emails all this time and he mumbled something and scuttled indoors.

If I'd come along five minutes earlier I'd probably have caught him shotputting poo into the garden....

Mail and bank statements still coming? I'm betting he's not paying all the tax he should - go to the Eager Learner thread and towards the end you can pick up all the report your tax evading landlord numbers :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: he throws poo so drop him in some :T