My Rights as a Tenant

BitterAndTwisted

Do not stop paying your rent! You presumably have a tenancy agreement and this obliges you to respect the terms and conditions. Paying rent is one of them.

Just because the landlord perhaps has not gained consent from their mortgage-lender, no planning permission, not adhered to buildings regulations, not declared the rental-income for tax-purposes etcetera etcetera does not entitle you to stop paying the rent. People who ignore normal rules and regulations unlike the rest of us very often have a "flexible" attitude towards their tenants.

zzzLazyDaisy

This is a house in multiple occupation, which is not complying with the regulations. The council should come out and do an inspection if you make a complaint.

However the fact that he has not obtained the necessary planning consents does not prevent you from registering on the electoral roll. It is not about whether you occupy a separate dwelling, but whether you live at that address (if you were a lodger, you would still be entitled to register on the electoral roll at that address).

You should speak to Shelter to find out what your rights are in this situation regarding ending the tenancy, but you certainly should not simply stop paying rent without first obtaining specialist advice.

kier333

BigAunty wrote: »

Not that I'm excusing the landlords greed and failure to comply with planning regulations but I pay under £20 a week in energy bills for a 2 bed property with 6 radiators.

So double that for a studio sounds atrocious.

I wish it was 40pw, its £200 for 2 people pm

BitterAndTwisted

Two people in a studio? wth

debrag

kier333 wrote: »

London prices are steep, however, you are right its basically a big room with a small shower room and a a kitchen

What part? you can decent flats for much less.

Blackpool_Saver

get on to shelter, get this rogue dealt with, another landlord who thinks he is above the law

BitterAndTwisted

I would consider getting this rogue landlord dealt with once I had left after the fixed-term has ended. I would not be doing anything right now.

Where I live in North London a one-bed flat would cost about £200 a week plus CTax and bills.

G_M

1) If electricity etc is included, just buy an electric heater and plug it in
2) you want to register to vote? Contact the Electroal Officer at the council and put your name on the register

3) Planning / HMO etc. Tougher. Do you want a fight with the landlord? Do you want to risk being evicted? How concerned are you about the fire risks etc?You can report him to the council for running an unregistered HMO and they will investigate. LL will hate you, but may be forced to make changes/improvements, and may get fined. You may be homeless.

4) Rent. Stop paying? No. Deal with each issue as above, depending what outcome you want, but do not breach your contract by witholding rent.

Blackpool_Saver

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

I would consider getting this rogue landlord dealt with once I had left after the fixed-term has ended. I would not be doing anything right now.

Where I live in North London a one-bed flat would cost about £200 a week plus CTax and bills.

Isn't it awful how even now with all the supposed protection there is for tenants that the advice is not to 'deal with him/her' until after leaving, just shows who still has the upper hand doesn't it? but yes, I would probably do the same and just get away before doing it... I had a landlord who even came to my new house and harassed me after I had moved

zzzLazyDaisy

Sorry can't do multiple quotes!

In first post OP says:

'Included in my £1000pcm rent is council tax, gas, electricity and water rates.'

then later...

kier333 wrote: »

Yes its states clearly that the rent is 1000 pcm plus he charges 200pcm for gas, electricity, and gas and water rates, all inclusive we pay £1200 total as per the tenancy agreement. tenancy ends april

This is a significant discrepancy - surely OP knows what his outgoings are as per the tenancy agreement.

OP it would help us a lot if you told us what it is you want to achieve here....

• To leave the tenancy early and get back your deposit so you can find somewhere else to live?
• To be allowed to continue living there but not have to pay rent?
• To remain in the flat and continue paying rent, but have the issue of the fire escape resolved?

etc etc

If we know what sort of resolution you are looking for, we might be able to point you in the direction of information that may help you. As it is, we are just knocking ideas around.