Hi-i need help

JannyH

The landlord's full address should be on the tenancy agreement. I suggest you don't withhold the rent as the landlord will be within his rights to serve a Section 21 on you, although this won't take effect until the end of the fixed tenancy period (presuming you are still within the initial term).

dancingfairy

Whilst you may feel that you are the only one with a landlord that is stupid enough/ greedy enough to do any/all of the following:
1) rent the property in serious disrepair - ceiling falling down, mould, doors, windows that don't close etc.
2) not declare that the property is being rented.
3) harrass/abuse the tenants, bribe the tenants, threaten the tenants
4) not register the deposit
5) not pay the mortgage, having threats of repossession
6) have dodgy conversions, not comply with planning, building control, legal requirements regarding heating ,sanitary ware, plumbing, safe electric, gas safety certificates etc.
7) try and rip the tenant off for too much water/gas/electric as the property hasn't been sorted with the correct meters
8) arriving unannounced etc.
9) Not paying VAT, and illegally pocketing the rent.

Um - I think that covers most landlord sins. Sadly they feature on here quite a lot. There are lots of decent landlords out there but unfortunately still far to many dodgy ones
Thankfully there are various organisations out there that can help you.
Your council /envoironmental health should be able to help with hazadous living conditions.
The police with threats of abuse/harrassment etc from the landlord
The council to help with emergency housing, perhaps deposits for an onward move, help with the relevant benefits etc.
Shelter
CAB
Legal aid centres/local solicitors (if the problem requires this which would be quite unusual)
etc

As has been said if you can document the main problems but be suitably vague if necessary people may be able to help you.
df

RaeR

sorry i didnt realise you werent supposed to pm people. Ok we have been here 3 years, never heard from LL only P.A. about a year ago other business went bust for some reason, and then i saw LL for about 2.5 months regular (whilst surveyors etc were coming) since then nothing, i emailed as it was coming closer to winter for the new address for LL and to send me number or call me as i had lost phone and therefore number, emailed again a few days later to make sure they had got email and also to ask would they allow me to apply for free insulation and warmfront again, no reply, emailed again in December once again no reply. I used to take any correspondence to other business but this is now closed down so not possible. People have said with hold rent to get LL to turn up but as silly is it sounds i darent. I just want to live safely and warmly and to not risk my kids being ill or injured, i just feel like i cant get it right............we moved here from a bad area worst one with the worst neighbours and was 5 years of hell from neighbours now i just feel like its been 3 years of hell because of disrepair etc, in a way i wish we had stayed put (was council) because at least we would be warm and have all repairs carried out asap and i would have always known how to contact them.............might be a good idea if we do get kicked out tbh im just at the end of my tether and in bits because my child has been hurt (if that makes sense?)

RaeR

I got kind of brave yesterday and wrote out a letter (which i intent on typing up, going to library and getting 2 copies) aswell of a list of repairs, but now its getting closer to a weekday (and therefore being able to post) and payday(meaning rent day) im starting to be a coward again and thinking i darent do it. Do i go to C.A.B still anyway? will they tell me anything i cant find out here? Why are LL so scary? Theyre just other people

dancingfairy

Maybe have a chat with the CAB - you never know they may be able to help or maybe try Shelter. It is unfortunate that you have not got a great landlord but you obviously did what you thought was right at the time.
Have a think through what you want to achieve - do you want to stay in the property or do you want a fresh start? Are you still in a contract or have you moved on to a rolling contract - if you are on a rolling contract then it is obviously easier for you or the landlord to give notice.
Unfortunately you can't control the actions of other people - you either stay where you are and ignore the repair issues, you try and flush the landlord out of the woodwork and try and get repairs done or you look at moving.
Maybe have a chat with the council - would you qualify for help from them- are you eligble for benefits ?can you get a loan to help with a new deposit?
Perhaps Shelter can suggest a way forward and talking things over may help give you a clearer perspective?
Best of Luck
df

dancingfairy

Oh and do you know where the rent you are paying is going? are you paying it into somebodys personal account or is it a company account? That might give you some ideas.
df

RaeR

i will reply to your questions in order
honestly i'd like to go back to a council house, i dont know if id be fully trusting of another private LL and start again,
it was a 6mth contract originally and was never renewed so i dont know?
i know i could a doorstep loan for a deposit (i wouldnt expect this one back, it isnt even protected)
rent goes into an account in name of LL so i think its a personal one.

thank you for you help x