Sick to death of novice, difficult landlord

top_drawer_2

hello,

I am a long time renter and have been renting a room in shared house for the past 2.5 years.

The landlady has been a problem from day 1 with treating the house like she still lives here, demanding I am available to deal with this or that issue at her beck and call, she still uses some parts of the house for storage despite that we have specifically said we would like her to move them (old paint, furniture junk stuff that just collects), as we would like to use the space to store our own things, she has a very bad (grasping, greedy) attitude.

But we put up with because she lives more than 40 miles away, we only see her occassionally as she doesnt like to actually "do" anything in the house unless she absolutely has too and then she will do it at a snails pace (in her own good time).

Anyway, she has pushed things too far this weekend and I want to leave. But I am wondering is there anyway I can make things awkward for her in me moving out. Frankly I am sick and tired of being nice, accomodating, willing making myself available for gas, electric man, collecting her mail, looking after the house as my own, dealing with issues without having to bother her and being treated like !!!!!! in return. I dont really want to go into it because its a long drawn out story so I hope I've given you an idea of what I have to put up with and maybe people could give me some ideas.

Issues are that she has never protected my deposit (despite being asked to several times) and I suspect she will start finding issues in order to try to keep hold of that money.

However, I am sick of being reasonable all the time and then still having to put up with so much !!!!!!.

Sorry its a bit of a rant but Im out of patience and moving is going to cost me more in monthly rental + time and effort. I know this is a bit of a landlords sympathy place but please have some empathy for someone who has always just wanted a quiet life and a nice home life.

TD

agrinnall

I don't agree that it's a 'landlords sympathy place' at all, in fact I would say that, while trying to be fair across the board, there are more posts providing help to tenants than there are to landlords. Your landlady sounds hopeless and getting out should make your home life better (as long as you take care not to move from frying pan to fire) even if you will have to pay a slightly higher rent. If she doesn't protect your deposit even after you give notice then you should really expect to be able to get it all back, even if you have to take her to court after you've left. Was there a dual signed inventory before you moved in? If not then she has very little chance of proving any retention even if she does belatedly protect your deposit.

go_cat

You say collecting her mail does she have consent to let ?

Basic questions

What sort of tenancy agreement do you have

Date of start of tenancy and end

Are you in England

top_drawer_2

agrinnall wrote: »

I don't agree that it's a 'landlords sympathy place' at all, in fact I would say that, while trying to be fair across the board, there are more posts providing help to tenants than there are to landlords. Your landlady sounds hopeless and getting out should make your home life better (as long as you take care not to move from frying pan to fire) even if you will have to pay a slightly higher rent. If she doesn't protect your deposit even after you give notice then you should really expect to be able to get it all back, even if you have to take her to court after you've left. Was there a dual signed inventory before you moved in? If not then she has very little chance of proving any retention even if she does belatedly protect your deposit.

I find that tenants are expected to be whiter than white but if they are in a REALLY bad position then they will get help. Landlords do tend to get a bit much leeway in the suggestions, there is a thread from a landlord re:cats and tenants. One person suggests asking for £500 more deposit!! Its a cat for gawd's sake, children cause far more hassle/noise etc.

TD

top_drawer_2

go_cat wrote: »

1) You say collecting her mail does she have consent to let ?

Basic questions

2) What sort of tenancy agreement do you have

3) Date of start of tenancy and end

4) Are you in England

1) Unlikely. Her sense of being allowed to do exactly as she wishes is enormous.
2) Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement is written across the top of my contract.
3) I moved in on 25/10/09
4) Yes

TD

theartfullodger

When did the initial fixed term end (date please??).

Has there been any renewed tenancy agreement signed since the initial one??

Was any deposit protected and were you served with the "prescribed info" regarding it??

Your landlady sounds even more badly informed than I was when I started as a Landlord. Sorry, you & everyone else really shouldn't have to put up with twits like this...

Have you ever written to her asking her to change her behaviour??

Does the tenancy agreement have any areas "excluded" for her storage (eg "the locked top bedroom is not included") or does it in any other way allow her to store stuff??

Cheers!

Artful

top_drawer_2

theartfullodger wrote: »

1) When did the initial fixed term end (date please??).

2) Has there been any renewed tenancy agreement signed since the initial one??

3) Was any deposit protected and were you served with the "prescribed info" regarding it??

Your landlady sounds even more badly informed than I was when I started as a Landlord. Sorry, you & everyone else really shouldn't have to put up with twits like this...

4) Have you ever written to her asking her to change her behaviour??

5) Does the tenancy agreement have any areas "excluded" for her storage (eg "the locked top bedroom is not included") or does it in any other way allow her to store stuff??

Cheers!

Artful

1) The fixed term was for 6 months beginning on 25/10 so I guess around the 25 March 2010.

2) No.

3) No. I have asked I dont know how many times and each time she comes back with an excuse, then she was going to do it when we had a full house... then when her dog got better.... etc etc.


4) I've never written to her, but I have spoken to her directly about the various issues but she just cant see my point. Not so long ago she popped into my room while I wasnt there, this was after I specifically said that I was uncomfortable with the way she treats the house as if she still lives here. She still continues to behave in the same way she always; plonking her huge self down on the sofa, commenting on what Im watching on tv, peering over my shoulder when I'm on the computer. I feel like she thinks she is my mate or something.

5) None mentioned on the document I have here.

She did complete some sort of inventory agreement but didnt provide me with a copy and it was very basic.

TD

rentergirl

Collecting her mail? Ooh, she's being naughty, I suspect. I would return it to sender. I would also say that life is easier if she gives you a reference, but yep, the storage thing annoys many, many renters. You pay for the space, and they hog all the storage. She has to do repairs within a reasonable time. When something goes wrong, find the most expensive local quotes, and offer to sort out (as long as she agrees to being billed.) You might find she gets her bottom into gear, as it were.

G_M

Assuming this is a single standard 'joint and several' tenancy that you all signed (as opposed to individual ones - which would/could make this a HMO House of Multiple Occupation) then the answer is ... change the locks. The LL has no automatic right of access.

But the answer is to move out. This LL will never improve.

Answer the Qs above (start/end dates etc) and make sure YOU do things properly by giving correct notice. Failing to do so will just play into her hands.

I rarely suggest this, but consider not paying the final months rent.

Is it just you moving out? If you all have a J&S tenancy as asked above, and ONE of you gives notice, it ends the tenancy for ALL of you. What are the others planning todo?

G_M

top_drawer wrote: »

1) The fixed term was for 6 months beginning on 25/10 so I guess around the 25 March 2010.
24/4/10

2) No.

3) No. I have asked I dont know how many times and each time she comes back with an excuse, then she was going to do it when we had a full house... then when her dog got better.... etc etc. In writing? with copies kept?

4) I've never written to her, but I have spoken to her directly about the various issues but she just cant see my point.why have you kept it informl since it's been such a constant battle - should have been writing long ago Not so long ago she popped into my room while I wasnt there, this was after I specifically said that I was uncomfortable with the way she treats the house as if she still lives here. She still continues to behave in the same way she always; plonking her huge self down on the sofa, commenting on what Im watching on tv, peering over my shoulder when I'm on the computer. I feel like she thinks she is my mate or something.
change locks.

5) None mentioned on the document I have here. change locks

She did complete some sort of inventory agreement but didnt provide me with a copy and it was very basic.
did you sign it? Is it enough to describe the condition at the start such that sh can prove when you leav it is dirtier, more damaged at the nd?
TD

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top_drawer_2

rentergirl wrote: »

Collecting her mail? Ooh, she's being naughty, I suspect. I would return it to sender. I would also say that life is easier if she gives you a reference, but yep, the storage thing annoys many, many renters. You pay for the space, and they hog all the storage. She has to do repairs within a reasonable time. When something goes wrong, find the most expensive local quotes, and offer to sort out (as long as she agrees to being billed.) You might find she gets her bottom into gear, as it were.

She has had a redirect on it for months and then has mainly redirected most things, she came down on Sunday caused loads of hassle and took her mail with her.

I have other landlord references but two and half years is a long time ...

She promises things often but then never gets round too it or she will get her bum in gear but is very good at getting us to do it - like demanding we taking days off work to deal with the boiler because otherwise we would have had no heating etc.