Landlord requesting Cheques only

irishangel2011

Hi

I am moving into a rental property with a private landlord, it wasnt until after paying the deposit and then given the contract, that he requests 12 postdated cheques to cover each month of the rent. I questioned this and asked if I could not do standing order but he said no.

The problem is due to previous debt problems (now cleared) my credit history is not good, I use a basic bank account which I am happy with, and currently they are not willing to upgrade to a cheque account. If I pull out of this agreement I loose my deposit which I cannot afford to do.

I find this way of payment quite strange. What would be a good way to try and approach the landlord without having to explain about my past credit problems.

Any ideas appreciated.

ILW

He is probably going to assign the cheques to someone else to save having to declare the income.

theartfullodger

Odd:

He's probably/possibly trying to protect himself from your SO being cancelled...

Both of you may not be aware post-dated cheques if paid in will probably go straight through... and get paid & take the funds from your account.

Have you a copy of the tenancy agreement?? Unless it specifies "cheque only" (or, say, cash/cheque/bankers draft only..) then you can pay how you like in line with any restrictions.

However if you ain't getting the keys without giving him cheques then you're kinda stuffed.. If he's nervous of making sure he'll get the money & you tell him about credit problems in the past...

Having said all that, tell him, don't think there's another option...

Hope it works out..

Artful

ElleR

When I was a student we paid this way for our shared house to a letting agent. Never had any problems with it. It saved them having the rent going into their account split into 6 or us getting a joint account. If you can't get a cheque book you will probably have to come clean to your landlord.

irishangel2011

Well I was thinking of just saying I dont have a chequebook and would rather pay by dd or even transfer, when I questioned it previously he just said he works that way for all his tenants.

But he did accept the deposit by bank transfer.........

irishangel2011

Also I didnt think cheques where used that much anymore........to me there is alot more efficient ways of banking!

jjlandlord

irishangel2011 wrote: »

If I pull out of this agreement I loose my deposit which I cannot afford to do.

Why would you loose your deposit if you pull out?

From what you said this requirement of paying by cheque was not told to you when you agreed to let the property, and it seems it might not be in the contract you were given.
So basically the landlord is trying to change the conditions after you paid your deposit: You are entitled to a full refund if you pull out because of that.

noodles86

I would just say to the LL that you don't have a cheque book and the bank wont give you one and see what he says from their, I would offer to pay him cash each month? Or just leave the ball in his court. He never mentioned the cheque only thing before he took your deposit which is unfair.

irishangel2011

Ok thats interesting, I certainly didnt see nor did he mention about cheques until after the deposit was received.

noodles86

If it's helpful, I pay my rent to a member of LL's family (used to be cheque made payable to this person but they wouldn't bank them straight away and then I'd forget it hadn't come out and it would bounce!) now I pay by bank transfer to said member of family but not direct to the LL. If worse comes to worse maybe offer this I certainly wouldn't mention your credit history.

angrypirate

noodles86 wrote: »

If it's helpful, I pay my rent to a member of LL's family (used to be cheque made payable to this person but they wouldn't bank them straight away and then I'd forget it hadn't come out and it would bounce!) now I pay by bank transfer to said member of family but not direct to the LL. If worse comes to worse maybe offer this I certainly wouldn't mention your credit history.

In the mean time have you made an anonymous tip off to the inland revenue?