Bad landlord can I warn prospective tenants

Pumpkinbum

I am currently renting a lovely flat, unfortunately since we moved in last year the landlord has been a nightmare, letting himself in, being abusive, texting us at 4am, we have a new baby and the heating has not worked properly since we moved in and he has not and will not sort it out. We will obviously not be renewing our contract but I want to know if it is ok to warn prospective tenants what they are letting themselves in for, as I am sure that anyone who looks at the flat will want to rent it. I would hate for anyone else to go through what we have had to endure and I know that I would have liked the previous tenants to warn us.

G_M

letting himself in, change the locks
being abusive, put the phone down on him/close the door
texting us at 4am,switch off you phone at night?
we have a new baby and the heating has not worked properlyhave you reported this in writing? Have you contacted Enviromental Health?

Assuming you meet the prospective tenants, why not be honest? Just bear in mind if th LL hears he may not give you a glowing reference!

Remember too, you do not have to allow the LL to conduct viewings even after you give notice (which you don't need to give provided you move out when your fixed term expires.)

Annisele

I think the time to deal with issues like that is when you're still living in the property.

Landlord lets himself in? Change the locks. Landlord is abusive? Depending on the level of abuse, solutions range from a quiet word to a 999 call. Heating doesn't work? Follow Shelter's process for getting repairs done.

If you try and do anything about it now, you run the risk of looking vindictive - and if the LL really wants to escalate things, he can start accusing you of slander. Plus, you'd have to catch prospective tenants before they move in; once they've signed the tenancy agreement they're bound anyway.

While you still live in the place, you can certainly make sure that viewings only happen when you're there. You can speak to prospective tenants if they'll speak to you - but if you need reference from your current LL, I can't imagine he'll be too chuffed if you rubbish him.

Pumpkinbum

We have changed the locks on the advice of shelter.
Have had to deal with police over abuse.
I am assuming that LL will want to rent flat straight after we move out so viewing will happen while we are here. Our contract states that 24 hours written notice is required for viewings. Can we stipulate that they can only happen when we are here and only during daytime?
I would not even ask the LL for a reference as he is horrible.
There was also no inventory done when we moved in, our deposit is in an approved scheme but I am convinced that he will try by whatever means to keep some or all of our deposit.

lollipopsarah

Yep he will find a way to keep your deposit, a hard lesson to learn, but better luck next time.
Try contacting trading standards for advice too as they may well be interested in your LL, also the council may be interested in case he is breaking some regulations.
Sadly you only hear about bad LL/agents but there must be some good ones too.
xx

paddedjohn

even with the 24hr viewing clause in your contract, it has to suit you. If you are busy and dont want visitors then he can whistle, its your home to enjoy peacfully until you leave

girleight@

Actually I think if he didn't do an inventory then he will have difficulty keeping your deposit. I agree that he will try though but if it is in a scheme you can contest it and he will struggle to prove you have damaged anything without an inventory.

fallenwiccan

Also if you've changed the locks surely he can't do viewings without you there?

rentergirl

Pumpkinbum wrote: »

I am currently renting a lovely flat, unfortunately since we moved in last year the landlord has been a nightmare, letting himself in, being abusive, texting us at 4am, we have a new baby and the heating has not worked properly since we moved in and he has not and will not sort it out. We will obviously not be renewing our contract but I want to know if it is ok to warn prospective tenants what they are letting themselves in for, as I am sure that anyone who looks at the flat will want to rent it. I would hate for anyone else to go through what we have had to endure and I know that I would have liked the previous tenants to warn us.

Been there. The landlord could actually lie to them by claiming you are bitter at being 'evicted.' But you could be honest with anyone viewing the place. There are some sites springing up just for this situation, but legal concerns are many. Do you need a reference from him? He sounds horrible.

G_M

Pumpkinbum wrote: »

...
I am assuming that LL will want to rent flat straight after we move out so viewing will happen while we are here. Our contract states that 24 hours written notice is required for viewings. Can we stipulate that they can only happen when we are here and only during daytime?
I would not even ask the LL for a reference as he is horrible.
There was also no inventory done when we moved in, our deposit is in an approved scheme but I am convinced that he will try by whatever means to keep some or all of our deposit.

Remember too, you do not have to allow the LL to conduct viewings even after you give notice

If you want to restrict virewings to when you are present, write telling the LL/agent so - you've changed the locks already so that's fine.
If you only want viewings on Tuesdays/Weds between 6 pm and 8 pm, write and say so.
If you want NO viewings, write and say so.

It's YOUR home - you have a right to 'quiet enjoyment'.

No inventory will make it hard fo the LL o justify deductions from your deposit.

poppysarah

Do you have a copy of all letters you have sent to LL about repairs/changing locks etc etc?

If so sticking these up somewhere they can be easily read would be more useful.