Gas Safety Check and annoyed LL (him not me)

Norman_Castle

Entering the property without permission is a form of harrassment. http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/eviction/harassment_and_illegal_eviction_by_landlord/what_counts_as_harassment#0

My last two safety certificates have faults noted on them. If your heating or cooker was unsafe it would have been disconnected. Your landlord and family sound like a pain.

Some locks are very easy and cheap to change.

AFK_Matrix

GotToChange wrote: »

Great - and gratefully (as is all) received - advice Matrix.
I fear that it would be a swift way to homelessness.

Then to be fair why complain when the LL has a go at you? If you don't want to rock the boat then you just have to put up with the LL's behavior and breaking of rules. It sounds like he thinks he has you in a great place where your too scared to do anything about the issues so he can do exactly as he likes.

Its obviously entirely up to you if you want to sort these issues out and POSSIBLY (it isn't a given he will serve you a section 21 notice, you also don't state if you are on a AST or periodic monthly tenancy?) get given notice.

But if you want things to change and improve you need to start writing some letters and informing this LL what the RULEs are for being an LL

GotToChange

Norman_Castle wrote: »

Entering the property without permission is a form of harrassment. http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/eviction/harassment_and_illegal_eviction_by_landlord/what_counts_as_harassment#0

My last two safety certificates have faults noted on them. If your heating or cooker was unsafe it would have been disconnected. Your landlord and family sound like a pain.

You're right of course. Hence my "delay" in advising him - which was also due to the fact that I need to make two trips to the bank to get the rent out (over daily ATM limit), which I didn't do whilst he was away.
I have re-listened to his voicemail and he has said that I showed them no courtesy in not letting him know about the problems that the inspection flagged up and that he should not have had to wait four days (whilst he was away with the boy scouts) to find out by letter.
Ugh.
The lack of courtesy thing make sme smile though - as, last week, he (I didn't know it was him) hammered on my door like a police officer and scared me half to death. I have asked repeatedly that he call me first - or discuss on the phone maybe - so that I know that it is him - but he blatantly ignores this. I wrote a brief - polite, friendly, cutesy notelet - to ask again - so that I am not appearing to be ignorant. And yet....
...he did it again (because it was convenient for him as he just "stepped round when working on his garden"(?) Oh fine, then, if it's convenient for him I guess) a few days later. As I didn't know it was him until too late, I'm afraid I was a bit peeved that he seemed to have ignored my request.....so....
...an hour later, he called me on the phone and I answered - to have him tell me that the above-mentioned builder wanted to call "on his way home from work" to measure the landing window in about 30 minutes. This was not convenient for me - but after five years' waiting, could I really say anything? But what I couldn't understand was - why no call in the first place - and why wait an hour after knocking before calling me - giving me about half an hour's notice of the builder calling.

I have a tape measure and eyeballs - I could actually have done it - and I did ask if it needed to be done from the inside, and he stressed that it MUST be done from the inside. So, then - after I have been waiting an extra 50 minutes after seeing the builder arrive next door (?) - they show up - and the builder says "I need to do it from outside - I'll try not to scratch your car with my ladders". :mad:

Remember this is five years after the promise was made to do the window - which I must emphasise, is for the sake of the house, not me. I wonder just how much notice I will get when it comes to putting it in - and of course, it gets done "after work". (Confused)

G_M

It sems to me there is blame on both sides. Your landlord is somewhat obnoxious and proboby ignorant of landlord/teant law, but YOU are doing little to help yourself. You seem to just accept whatever he says and does. You need to start taking some responsibility, and standing up for yourself:

1) if he rings, don't talk to him! Just say you're busy; there;s someone at the door; the bath is overflowing; the cooker needs turning off - whatever. And ask him "Perhpas you could drop me a note. Sorry gotta rush. Bye"
2) Same if he comes to the door - don't get involved in discussion
3) He comes in uninvited? When you're out? i) change the barrel of your lock, keep the old one to replace when you eventually leave ii) drop him a polite note ("proof of postage") asking him to drop you a note asking for access when he needs it
4) STOP PAYING CASH! IT'S EASY! GIVE HIM A CHEQUE!
5) you want the window fixed? After 5 YEARS? Have you been writing to him? How often? Have you looked at the process for getting it done yourself and deducting cost from rent? Sorry but if you've allowed this to drag on for 5 years then it's a bit late now to start complaining....!

So - either accept the staus quo and live with it (no more complaining) or start taking some grown-up action, and get your LL'tenant relationship onto a proper footing.

GotToChange

AFK_Matrix wrote: »

Then to be fair why complain when the LL has a go at you? If you don't want to rock the boat then you just have to put up with the LL's behavior and breaking of rules. It sounds like he thinks he has you in a great place where your too scared to do anything about the issues so he can do exactly as he likes.

Its obviously entirely up to you if you want to sort these issues out and POSSIBLY (it isn't a given he will serve you a section 21 notice, you also don't state if you are on a AST or periodic monthly tenancy?) get given notice.

But if you want things to change and improve you need to start writing some letters and informing this LL what the RULEs are for being an LL

Fair point - and I know that I am spouting off on here and yet reluctant to confront the issue. It just highlights to me the vulnerability of my situation and the power that he has over me and what (little) I feel I can do about it.
I have an AST that is renewed each year in January. Anyone want to take bets on what happens this time?
I do want some control myself - but this is easy to say and not so easy to do.

And yes, I am scared.


I have just been talking to my Bank (I have not had a cheque book for forever) - and this topic came up. It turned out that the guy I was talking to is also a LL. He said that "this" - which was mainly the cash issue and all its' associated difficulties (i.e. LL cuts his shrubs with nail scissors and washes and polishes - v e r y s l o w l y -all three cars when the rent is due) is no way to live.

AFK_Matrix

I don't doubt its scary but if you just sit there being scared then its going to be another 5 years till you do anything about it if the window is anything to go by.

Just sit down tonight and type out a letter, post it on here if you want to so we can have a look over it and see if its all good. And don't think your going to get turffed out the next day or anything it can take up to 3-4 months to get you out. I think the LL would be an idiot turfing out a tenant that's been there 10years and I assume has always paid the rent on time!!

We have given you all the advice you need to make your living conditions better but now I'm afraid its all down to you.

G_M

Do you want to stay, or move? If happy to move, start looking. And do NOT sign a new 12 month contract which you cannot get out of!)

If you want to stay, then hold off on too much confrontation till you've got his signature on your new 12 month contract. Then HE can't get out of it or evict you!). THEN take action and stop letting him walk all over you.

No cheque book? Either get one, or get a bank counter cheque/bankers draft each month. Or give the cash to your mum, friend, helpful boss, whoever and THEY can write a cheque for you. Come on - there are ways of doing this if you try!

poppysarah

GotToChange wrote: »

And yes, I am scared.

If you are actually scared of him then you need to be prepared to move.

If your contract is up in January then that's when you'll be going. So bear this in mind.

If he threatens you physically then ring the police. If you are just timid then make excuses and run away from him and write him a letter.

Shelter is there for advice if you need it.

wastedtalent

So when the AST comes around, you have 12 months of security signed up, homelessness cannot happen. Then enforce all of your rights.

theartfullodger

If your contract fixed-term ends in January then as you'll appreciate you can leave on at any time up until 23:59 on the last day WITHOUT giving notice, although giving notice with this clown probably makes sense, but I'd wait until 3 days before the end (out of spite..).

See..
http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/renting_and_leasehold/private_tenancies/assured_shorthold_tenancies#2

If you have a fixed-term tenancy (ie for one year) you will only be able to give notice during the fixed-term if your tenancy agreement says it is allowed. The length of notice you have to give depends on what your tenancy agreement says.

It is possible to leave on the day your tenancy ends without giving any notice, but this is not usually advisable. It is best to give your landlord notice if you can, especially if you have paid a deposit and need it back.