Asking about getting a dog resulting in eviction

top_drawer_2

You could have been me aout 2-3 months ago. Lived in a shared house for 2+ years and made it homely and allowed her to take advantage of my willingness. She too took to being "overfriendly" and I had 2 small pets. She decided when I requested to move to a bigger room in the house that she had issues with the smell "attaching" itself onto her (knackered and badly fitted) carpet. She always implied I should be grateful for being "allowed" to live in her house and continued to treat it like she somehow still lived there.

When I requested she protect my deposit based on her making this and other claims as to how I was "damaging" her property - all untrue.

I moved and although its not perfect I can honestly say I am definitely happier than I have been in the past.

Have you looked around at other properties? I know moving is a huge undertaking especially when you are dealing with other stuff too. I found the actual biggest issue I dealt with was the moving day as I had FAR FAR more stuff than I realised. If there is anything I can do to help out please say so, I have no idea where abouts you are but Im in Lancashire and willing.
TD

G_M

As I said, write. If they don't want letters, tough! Have they provided you, in writing (usually on the tA) their address "for the serving of notices"? If not, you do not have to pay rent till they do!

The point I'm making is that the law requires them to give you a postal address so that you CAN write.

Do not enter conversations on the phone. If they ring, just say "oh, something boiling over on the stove - can you drop me a note? Gotta go" then hang up. Same if they come to the door. (And change the locks!)

DO NOT PAY CASH. Again, if they don't like it, tough. As long as you are paying the rent, you are fine.

As for leaving, yes both sides are committed till January. As you say, you can mutually agree an early surrender (see my link above), but tactically it would be better for them to suggest it so that you can 'reluctantly' agree in return for compensation. If YOU suggest it, THEY will want compensation from you.....

In preperation for them suggesting it (and so that you in a position to reluctantly agree, start quietly looking around at alternatives.

GotToChange

Artful - thank you for the link - very interesting and I wish LL could read it.

He has always been this way; would see me in the garden and say "Nice to see you looking after the garden for me" (ugh - almost killed my love of gardening.) So, it is nice to be able to "think" that, whilst I live here pay rent, it IS actually my property.

He HAS been in the house when I was out - but don't think he has done so recently (but I wouldn't know...). There is a clause in the TA that I am not allowed to change the locks and that he does not have to give me any notice re. work to be done, calling round etc etc.

Because he felt like it (and so close, obviously) he would just call round if he wanted to ask me something (not in a neighbourly way) and got so p***ed when I didn't get to the door (in the bath, not decent or something) - convincing himself that I was being ignorant; this seems to have snowballed in their minds to me avoiding them/things when it is simply not so. On one occasion when I didn't answer the door (not dressed/well/didn't even know it was him), he climbed over the fence - from his garden onto my back garden and walked breezily across the lawn to the patio doors - where I was standing, in my PJs with my mouth wide open in shock.
Crazy.

Mrs_Arcanum

Agree with GM and would only add, keep the letters short & to the point. Maximum 2 issues per letter and no digression or detail.

You should be able just to change the barrel on the lock. Keep the original & swap back when you leave.

top_drawer_2

Theyre playing mind control games with you. I'm guessing your not well off financially (none of us are but some more so), hence the behavior with the money - he knows how much difference a months rent to you is and is saying "I on the other hand can afford to squander it" !!!!!!!!!!


Its a form of bullying because they can and know they can. Get out now as it will not stop regardless of how reasonable, wonderful etc a tenant you are. In fact if I was you I would make sure to adhere to the law exactly and be as damm right awkward as physically possible. If they want you out then make them pay you to leave quietly, if they try to evict you then be as awkward as possible about it, if they end up wanting you to stay (they're onto a good thing with you - good longterm tenant who is someone they dont have an issue with living next door too). If they did they would have evicted you looooong ago!

GotToChange

top_drawer wrote: »

You could have been me aout 2-3 months ago. Lived in a shared house for 2+ years and made it homely and allowed her to take advantage of my willingness. She too took to being "overfriendly" and I had 2 small pets. She decided when I requested to move to a bigger room in the house that she had issues with the smell "attaching" itself onto her (knackered and badly fitted) carpet. She always implied I should be grateful for being "allowed" to live in her house and continued to treat it like she somehow still lived there.

When I requested she protect my deposit based on her making this and other claims as to how I was "damaging" her property - all untrue.

I moved and although its not perfect I can honestly say I am definitely happier than I have been in the past.

Have you looked around at other properties? I know moving is a huge undertaking especially when you are dealing with other stuff too. I found the actual biggest issue I dealt with was the moving day as I had FAR FAR more stuff than I realised. If there is anything I can do to help out please say so, I have no idea where abouts you are but Im in Lancashire and willing.
TD

Aw - thank you. Lancashire <- > Notts/S Yorks border -long ways methinks.

I think the "stuff" is what frightens me ( and certainly upset me when I was talking to Shelter, with all his mention of Hostels/B&Bs if I am made homeless); I am far from a pack rat (nowhere near Zen either) but have made this into a nice home and do have all the usual stuff that you associate with someone who has several interests and is studying; let alone waaaay too many clothes and cosmetics - and books - and CDs - and who has just rekindled a love of playing the piano.

I am just about (and have an Excel doc open as I write) to compile an absolute and utter inventory of everything I own - and what I plan to do with it/how much I need it/care about it - so that I am at least semi-prepared.

Sambucus_Nigra

GotToChange wrote: »

Artful - thank you for the link - very interesting and I wish LL could read it.

He has always been this way; would see me in the garden and say "Nice to see you looking after the garden for me" (ugh - almost killed my love of gardening.) So, it is nice to be able to "think" that, whilst I live here pay rent, it IS actually my property.

He HAS been in the house when I was out - but don't think he has done so recently (but I wouldn't know...). There is a clause in the TA that I am not allowed to change the locks and that he does not have to give me any notice re. work to be done, calling round etc etc.

Because he felt like it (and so close, obviously) he would just call round if he wanted to ask me something (not in a neighbourly way) and got so p***ed when I didn't get to the door (in the bath, not decent or something) - convincing himself that I was being ignorant; this seems to have snowballed in their minds to me avoiding them/things when it is simply not so. On one occasion when I didn't answer the door (not dressed/well/didn't even know it was him), he climbed over the fence - from his garden onto my back garden and walked breezily across the lawn to the patio doors - where I was standing, in my PJs with my mouth wide open in shock.
Crazy.

I don't think just because it's in the contract it supersedes the law...get yourself up to scratch with the current law, write back to them, change the locks and make sure you know what your rights are.

GotToChange

top_drawer wrote: »

Theyre playing mind control games with you. I'm guessing your not well off financially (none of us are but some more so), hence the behavior with the money - he knows how much difference a months rent to you is and is saying "I on the other hand can afford to squander it" !!!!!!!!!!


Its a form of bullying because they can and know they can. Get out now as it will not stop regardless of how reasonable, wonderful etc a tenant you are. In fact if I was you I would make sure to adhere to the law exactly and be as damm right awkward as physically possible. If they want you out then make them pay you to leave quietly, if they try to evict you then be as awkward as possible about it, if they end up wanting you to stay (they're onto a good thing with you - good longterm tenant who is someone they dont have an issue with living next door too). If they did they would have evicted you looooong ago!

Oh dear - have I given away my "reduced means" circumstances...:o

It is so much worse than I should go into, which plays into my own reluctance to move (and inability) - and of course he knows this (somehow, although I don't give them detail of my life - they assume a fair amount, some of it incorrect). There is an element of power/control (I remembered recently how, when I moved here, another of the neighbours told me that he bought the house so that he could control who he lived next door to..) and such a nasty side that surfaces with little to no provocation. It scares me more than a little, I am ashamed to admit.

The incident yesterday does feel, in retrospect, like bullying - but I cannot think of any other way to address the issues that wouldn't just make it (if it could be) a whole lot worse. It is all on their terms now.

GotToChange

I am not sure about the deposit being protected (who asked me this?) - but doubt it; it has never been mentioned since in moved in in 2000.

G_M

He HAS been in the house when I was out - but don't think he has done so recently (but I wouldn't know...). There is a clause in the TA that I am not allowed to change the locks and that he does not have to give me any notice re. work to be done, calling round etc etc.

CHANGE THE LOCKS!

it does not matter what the contract says, you have a right to 'quiet enjoyment' of the property - that means no untowrd intrusion/interference in your home-life.

OK, yes, he also has a right of entry (after 24 hours written notice or in an emergency) but since these rights can/may conflict, once you have made your position/objection clear, IN WRITING, he would need a court order to enforce his entry or to force you to change the locks back.

But of course he will never know you have changed the locks, because, having received your friendly but firm letter about writing first before coming round, he won't come round will he....?

And if he did come round and try his key, after receiving your letter, no judge would take kindly to any request from him since he has already tried to harass you!

THe contract clause about right to come round any time? Unenforcible! Over-ridden by the law. Ignore this clause and change the locks! You only need to change the barrel of a yale type lock (10 minutes and £5?) See here how. Keep the old barrel and keys and replace it when you move out.