Carpets in a rented house?

Flibsey

sequence wrote: »

You should be writing to the agent and LL describing the problems and their cause to cover yourself in any deposit disputes when you move.
Keep copies safe.

we have been.

theartfullodger

Flibsey wrote: »

never inspects and asking him round would be difficult as he's not a uk resident. ex-pat. ...............

Do you have an address in England/Wales for "serving notices" (that you've been given in writing - in tenancy agreement, letter, whatever)?? (Can be c/o letting agent, his Grannie, wherever..). If not rent is not due... but as soon as he gives address ALL outstanding rent becomes due .. (Landlord & tenant Act 1987 Section 48).

Has he provided evidence on agreement by HMRC that you don't retain 20% or rent for the taxman?? see..
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/cnr/nr_landlords.htm

G_M

theartfullodger wrote: »

Do you have an address in England/Wales for "serving notices" (that you've been given in writing - in tenancy agreement, letter, whatever)?? (Can be c/o letting agent, his Grannie, wherever..). If not rent is not due... but as soon as he gives address ALL outstanding rent becomes due .. (Landlord & tenant Act 1987 Section 48).

Has he provided evidence on agreement by HMRC that you don't retain 20% or rent for the taxman?? see..
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/cnr/nr_landlords.htm

Whilst true, the OP has said:

it's managed by an agent who never inspects either.

so I imagine both the tax and the address issues are covered by this.

Flibsey

yeah, way to blind me with science theartfullodger!! surely none of that is my concern? we do everything through the agent and yes we have an address for the agent but it's a virtual office company. basically our agent pays a fee to pretend this building is where his office is, for a phone answering service and to have his mail forwarded but doesn't actually have space there. sounded dodgy to me but aparently it's completely legal.

we generally contact the agent by email as it's easier than phone and he/she/it is more likely to reply.

sandraroffey

if it on the inventory, the landlord is responsible for it. take a picture of it and send to the agent.

theartfullodger

Er....no.

Just because there is an agent doesn't mean you've been given an England /Wales address for the Landlord : I used to rent an English property out when living in Scotland & it took me 2 years of emails to persuade them to put my address as c/o agent rather than my Scottish address. However if you are happy to pay rent when you may not need to, your shout.

Re. Tax HMRC info states Tenant (yes, you!!!) may be liable for tax if the paperwork ain't sorted. In your shoes I'd ask the agent to show you his evidence Landlord has- sorted tax affairs : they should have a copy of a document from HMRC. Don't be surprised if they look blankly at you and don't understand -

G_M

theartfullodger wrote: »

Re. Tax HMRC info states Tenant (yes, you!!!) may be liable for tax if the paperwork ain't sorted. In your shoes I'd ask the agent to show you his evidence Landlord has- sorted tax affairs : they should have a copy of a document from HMRC. Don't be surprised if they look blankly at you and don't understand -

Not quite artful.

If the tenant pays an overseas landlord direct (ie into their bank account), or pays someone else who's overseas, THEN HMRC may come after the tenant for the landlord's tax.

But if the tenant is paying the rent to an agent in Eng/Wales, then that agent is responsible for the tax and the tenant has nothing to worry about.

Flibsey

we pay the rent to the agent who is uk based.

theartfullodger

Flibsey wrote: »

we pay the rent to the agent who is uk based.

I fully appreciate that (& did before..). Question is, do you need to??? If no address for LL given in E&W rent is not due... regardless of who/where/what agent is... Your contract is with the Landlord, not the agent: The agent is just that, Landlord's agent..

Flibsey

wow so are you saying that legally we could get away with not paying the rent?! we have no address for the landlord. not even an email address.

(and no, I'm not planning on stopping paying the rent, just wondering lol!!)