Worried about Landlord debt

Fallenrose

Hi, I'm currently living in a shared house, at the moment my landlord is my only other housemate (another tenant moved out a few weeks ago). I was never given an official contract to sign but pay my rent on time every month. The rent includes my contribution for all the bills. However I have recently realised my landlord has not been paying bills - he has had a court summons for non-payment of council tax and a debt collection agency keep ringing and asking for him.

I'm worried for two reasons and would like to hear what you all think ( I'm new to this forum - this is my first post).

Firstly - will it affect my credit rating? None of the bills are in my name- just his. I pride myself on being good with money and would hate it to affect mine!

Secondly - are bailiffs likely to be turning up on my door step? Would I have to prove what is mine so they wouldn't take it?

I'm currently having estate agent checks done so I can move into a property managed by a letting agents - I'm not happy living here anymore!

Thank you in advance!

jamie11

None of your landlord's bills can be linked to your credit file.

CIS

The resident landlord is solely responsible for the Council Tax payments due - you have no responsibility for these.

The Council will use a bailiff to collect Council Tax that is due if the landlord does not pay.

pmlindyloo

Have a look at this thread:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3198386

Most of your questions are answered her.

Come back if you have any further questions.

G_M

Fallenrose wrote: »

Firstly - will it affect my credit rating? None of the bills are in my name- just his. I pride myself on being good with money and would hate it to affect mine!

Secondly - are bailiffs likely to be turning up on my door step? Would I have to prove what is mine so they wouldn't take it?

Thank you in advance!

1st - No. You are fine.

2nd - Possible. Should be enough that you tell them it's your's. The risl is that you are not there when they come and your LL does not make it clear. At the very least keep all your stuff in your room.

Bear in mind that as it sounds like you are a lodger you have few rights. If the LL has defaulted on his mortgage too, he may be repossessed. Move asap.

Fallenrose

Thank you for all the advice! Hopefully I will be out by the end of June.

G_M - I'd not thought about defaulting on mortgage! Glad you mentioned it! I'm gonna be out as soon as I can!

Thanks again!

may_fair

Fallenrose wrote: »

Secondly - are bailiffs likely to be turning up on my door step? Would I have to prove what is mine so they wouldn't take it?

If they do turn up, you don't have to let them in. They have no right of entry and can't force their way in.

I'm currently having estate agent checks done so I can move into a property managed by a letting agents

Do not assume that renting via a letting agent means that the agent will manage the let (some agents are instructed on a find-only basis), or that, if they do manage the let, that they will do so competently and efficiently. Stories of bad letting agents are just as common as stories of bad landlords.

Fallenrose

The estate agents will be managing the property (I'd already checked) and according to the previous tenant (who I spoke to in person) they are very good. But I agree, you never can be sure!

G_M

may_fair wrote: »

If they do turn up, you don't have to let them in. They have no right of entry and can't force their way in.

/QUOTE]
This is true, but unfortunately the OP is presumably not there all the time and the landlord might let them in. Once they are in, control of what they do is very much harder.