Landlord won't give me my tenancy agreement?

wtang00

Hi all,

I asked my landlord for a copy of my tenancy agreement about 6 weeks ago, but has yet to produce it for me.

What are my rights? I've been living here for about a year now.

I've recently advised him by email and text that I couldn't pay my rent until I received this (I need it to secure funds for rent itself via uni summer grant).

Any advice from anyone..?

Will

19lottie82

wtang00 wrote: »

I've recently advised him by email and text

Put your request in WRITING , not email or text....

wtang00

He never provided me with an address... only a phone no and email address

FireWyrm

If I understand the law, you dont have to pay rent until he produces a tenancy agreement. You are entitled by law to know the address of your landlord for just this purpose. Is there a letting agent involved in this mess?

wtang00

It is a bit of a mess, I moved in hastily because of my course (which has now ended).

The guy I deal with isn't the actual house owner but acts on his behalf, so I assume this makes him the letting agent? Although he is a one-man-band with no office.

FireWyrm

Sounds like a right lash up. Dont pay until you get a tenancy agreement which has your landlord's actual postal address on it. Put the money aside in an account for when and if you need to pay arears.

In the meantime, did he protect your deposit?

wtang00

Yeah, the situation has only dawned on me now that I've asked for something official; its making me pretty anxious.

I have no idea about my deposit. I only paid £220 (my monthly rent is £367) but he didn't even give me a receipt or letter. I realise I should've asked for one, but at the time I was under such pressure to find somewhere to live it slipped my mind. Now my course is over though I am open to getting out if I have to.

I am setting aside the money to clear the arrears if need be, but I really need the tenancy agreement to secure long term funding for my rent. And I need it pretty soon.

I've already told him that I won't pay my rent until then.. any suggestions of what else I could do?

FireWyrm

There's not a lot more you can do. He'll contact you soon enough when the money stops hitting his account.

wtang00

You're probably right.

Thanks for the advice though, at least I feel comfortable with what action I have taken so far.

Thanks again,

Will

mrcow

FireWyrm wrote: »

There's not a lot more you can do. He'll contact you soon enough when the money stops hitting his account.

Hopefully it won't be with three of his mates and a baseball bat?

Why don't you just call him and ask if there's any problem?

jjlandlord

You cannot withhold rent just because your landlord does not want to send you a copy of the tenancy agreement (which he has no obligation to).

However, you can withhold rent until he provides an address in England or Wales (not necessarily his) for the purpose of service of notices.

In addition, if you request it in writing he would be obligated by Law to provide you with his address and the terms of the agreements (yes, I realize that 'terms of agreement' and 'tenancy agreement' are pretty close terms...)