Tenancy: Checking my position before confronting landlady

Sally_Cinamon

Dear all

Our landlady of the last five months is turning out to be quite the bully, so before we give in to the list of demands that she has sent me I'm trying to get our ducks in a row.

If anyone could help with the following issues, I'd be very grateful:

1. Not long after taking over the tenancy I lost my keys. I had the locks changed and paid myself. The Landlady wants to be reimbursed for having changed the locks after the last tenant moved out (before we even knew the house existed, never mind took the tenancy over).

2. She wants four sets of the keys, although the contract states that she would retain 'a' set. She has not explained why she wants four sets, but I have asked and await her reply.

3. She wants the originals as the copies tend to decline in quality. Would it not make sense for the person who uses them most to keep the best keys? Again, I have asked for clarification and await a reply.

4. She doesn't want us to keep spares. If we are locked out she says she will provide the spares (from Cambridge to Norfolk) as this arrangement is quicker and easier. For whom? Certainly not for us if we can keep a set with the neighbours or at my office, ten minutes away.

5. There is a fault on our landline. BT have advised that an engineer needs to be sent out and that if the fault is within the boundary of the property there will be a charge of £130. Would the Landlady be responsible for this?

6. Bailiffs have started to come around to recover property for a previous tenant's debts. Although we show then id and they go away, this doesn't stop them coming from other companies. Is it reasonable to ask the Landlady to deal with this problem?

My husband and I have been private tenants for about 15 years and have always had good relationships with our Landlord/lady or agents. We would normally just go along with some of these requests to keep keep the peace and maintain the good relationship, but this woman is so bullying that we feel we need to stand up for ourselves where it is reasonable to do so.

Many thanks in advance.

Out,_Vile_Jelly

Send the LL a copy of the new keys saying they're the originals (how will she know if they're not?). If the contract says "a set" then she can't argue otherwise. Give a spare set to a trusted friend who lives nearby- again, how will the LL know?

LLs are under no obligation to provide a property with a landline so think it doubtful they would want to fund this. It does of course make the property more marketable to future tenants, so you could agree to split any costs.

There's not much a LL can do about debts run up by former residents at the property other than let you know their forwarding address if available.

DominicJ_2

2/3/4
You dont have to give the landlord keys, not even one key, certainly not four sets of them.

6
Unlikely to be anything you can do
Note
Debt Collectors are not Bailiffs

Ms_Speculatrix

I am having similar issues with a landlady trying to force me out of the house before my notice to quit expires so I have done a fair bit of research on tenants rights.

My best advice is go to CAB or your local Shelter.

from the best of my own knowledge I would say

The Landlady wants to be reimbursed for having changed the locks after the last tenant moved out (before we even knew the house existed, never mind took the tenancy over). Not your responsibility, this was before you took over the tenancy. If she had had to replace the locks herself because you locked yourself out fair enough, but you have already done this at your own cost.

She is only entitled to one set of keys at most. Even that is debatable and even then she is not entitled to enter the house without giving you a reason and 24 hours notice, you also have the right to reschedule if that is not convenient and if she does have the right to a key it only has to work.

There is usually a clause in a tenancy that prevents you getting any extra keys cut without permission. However, most of us do for the reason you describe.

The BT thing may be down to you as in most tenancies you are responsible for stuff like utility bills.

Write to the bailiffs/debt collectors, tell them the other tenants have left and ask them not to call again. If they do call back send another letter and remove their implied right of access to the house. They are not allowed to harass you especially not for other people's debts.

But essentially GET LEGAL ADVICE - CAB, Shelter or your local council.

Werdnal

Legally, you can change the locks whilst you have a valid tenancy agreement and not even give the LL a key, but for the sake of a quiet life, send her one set and tell her to refer to her tenancy agreement to verify that you have complied. Tell her you will returnt he rest when you leave.

As for debt collectors, LL has no control over this - she cannot camp on your doorstep and turn them away, and even if she wrote to every debt collection agency in the country, it wouldn't stop. Keep some valid ID and a copy of your tenancy agreement handy, to prove you are not the tenant they are looking for. Sorry, you will have to live with this one but it will stop eventually!



Ms S Your notice to quit - what form did that take? Did you serve notice on LL, or did they give notice to you?

There is no such thing as a Notice to Quit from her side of the agreeement - LL cannot make you leave, they need to seek court order to get you out. What have you actually recieved?

You may actually be moving out before you need to? If she is phoning and pressuring you, tell her this is harrassment and she should leave you alone until the end of the tenancy.

princeofpounds

1. Ridiculous. This is nothing to do with you.

2. She is not entitled to any keys no matter what the contract says. But it is reasonable to give her a set if you are not worried about your security so she can access the property for maintenance purposes.

3. See Q2, so you can give her whatever you want.

4. See Q2.

5. No, phone lines are not a fixture or fitting nor for use of energy or water.

6. No, this is not her problem.

GotToChange

Your local Council will have a (not sure of the official title) Tenancy Liaison Dept - which includes private tenants and landlords; you can check (some of) your rights with them - athough Shelter are good but it is so hard to get through to them - but more importantly, they can arrange mediation between the parties, which I think is a good route to take and am looking at myself.

Sally_Cinamon

Many thanks to everyone who helped me with this. The Landlady and I have spoken and, with some compromise on both sides, and with the advice I got here, I think it's all resolved and we're on friendly terms.

Thanks again.