Help!

G_M

Do you have an address for him? Have you been given his address in writing? If yes, write demanding the things below. If no, stop paying rent!

Write and ask for an EPC.
Write and ask for a gas safety certificate.
Write and ask for the tenancy agreement.
Write and ask for the deposit scheme details.
Ask for confirmation and evidence that council tax has been paid - the council might otherwise chase YOU as the occupant.

For help/support:
Health and Safety exec or private rental officer at Newham council private sector Housing Dept.

Edit:
Either this IS a HMO (see the Newham Council HMO definition and info page here), in which case it should be registered with the council. Contact them to check!

Or it is NOT an HMO, in which case you have the right to privacy and the LL should not be entering the property.

PasturesNew

ACon wrote: »

...landlord offered to give, I assume give not lend, some things, ....
My husband says we can;t take the things we still have here, washing machine etc, as its illegal, they're his things in law.

Your husband is 99% likely to be spot on - and your assumption it's "giving" is most likely entirely wrong. The LL was probably offering to furnish the property with some items he happened to have spare, for your use while you live there, but not for you to take.

PasturesNew

I had a mate who was renting a room in an HMO a few years back - and when he lost his job he was told to leave as there were no benefits claims to be allowed at the house ..... you should ask him for paperwork because you want to put in a claim for working tax credits .... and see his reaction. Make up any old benefit .... or reason.... watch his face pale.

Trixybella8749

ruggedtoast wrote: »

I imagine he probably does not have consent to let from his mortgage provider (meaning your tenancy isnt valid) and is pretending the house is his place of residence. He is probably fiddling the tax man as well if the OP is paying in cash.

If I can prove that he does not have consent to let and that therefore the tenancy isn't valid, can I leave at any time? Or because I signed the contract do I still have to remain within it until it runs out? Sorry, I just want to be really clear on all of this so I can present the facts to him when he comes to collect the rent this week if he takes issue with my giving a months notice.

Thanks!

G_M

I'm afraid the Consent To Let is a contractual matter between him and his mortgage lender. The fact that he may be in breach of his mortgage contract has nothing to do with the contract between him and you.

Sorry.

ruggedtoast

Trixybella8749 wrote: »

If I can prove that he does not have consent to let and that therefore the tenancy isn't valid, can I leave at any time? Or because I signed the contract do I still have to remain within it until it runs out? Sorry, I just want to be really clear on all of this so I can present the facts to him when he comes to collect the rent this week if he takes issue with my giving a months notice.

Thanks!

It means if he's repossessed the bank dont have to give you any rights as a tenant. Whether you can use that as leverage to get out of the contract I'm not sure. He doubtless wouldnt want the bank finding out.

Deepfatfriar

Sounds to me like he is operating some benefit fraud, hence cash only so it doesn't show on his bank account.

Have you checked the electoral roll to see who is "living" at your property ?



Looks like another case for Dominic Littlewood in his scrounger programme.

Deepfatfriar

You can also report benefit theft online and do it anonymously.

Next time he appears see if you can get his car number for example.

Did you actually sign a rental agreement ?

If he won't give you a copy I don't see how he can hold you to it.

I have no doubt he is a benefit fraudster.