Advice please mystery landlorD?!?

peter999

sultry33 wrote: »

thanks for replies.

the thing that is really worrying me is that at no time have they addressed this to me.

The landlord would know this surely.

i did call the supposedly ll number bt went to voicemail. i do not want to give them my details.

i think that if i can access the registry then anyone can and i checked back as had scribbled note from gas check man .. its the same company...

i remember telling him that i had not seen or heard from LL since i had moved in.. so maybe i forwarned him:rolleyes:

just wondered if the sec acts at bottom are correct?

Letters must be signed.
It's not addressed to you in person.

They are playing a game.

You need to pin down the situation before they try to stitch you up.

peter999

ooobedoo

I might be asking a really thick question, and I have no experience inthis at all but could you pay the money to the HB people and they can pay it directly to the LL???

exasperated_2

I don't understand why you haven't contacted the HB people yet? They are paying the bulk of your rent to the landlady, surely they would be made aware of any changes to the arrangement you have? If not, they should be made aware?

Alleycat

There are several things you can do as soon as possible:-

1) Contact the department that orginally organised the rental of this property

2) Contact your local Housing Department and ask to speak to an Advisor or a Private Sector Housing department (they may not be called this specifically but usually a local authority will have a department that deals with problems in private rented) and explain the situation. They can assist you in sorting this out.

3) If you do pay any money, make sure as a previous poster has suggested to pay via cheque, get a receipt and address the cheque to the Landlady rather than any other name or company.

4) Do a search via the land registry to try and locate your Landlady. You can also search to check who is the current owner of the property although the Private Sector Housing department may be able to assist you in this.

5) Continue to put the top up money aside in a separate bank account as I am sure that at one point you will need to pay it.

sultry33

Hi thought i would update all those that gave me advice, as to how it is now..

Well after the visit and letter a guy finally turned up and explained he was the agent (it was the gas man)
said that he needed to collect top up each week.. my bf explained that i was not happy paying him on the say so of the LL without a signed formal request or call..
He then left her num and again i called.. numerous times.. voice mail full.. sent texts.. no reply.
He "agent" called me and said he was coming round to collect rent.. i said im happy to pay but via direct debit only.. i said i dont carry cash..
he said it was not set up and would get back to me.. this was 19th july or there abouts... no contact since..

Then last week thursday i got scribbled note thrugh door saying as rent not paid for 8weeks i would be evicted.. then a number which i called.. voice mail full!!!!!
so sent another text saying that i would contact HB to see why no rent paid..
Hb have said that i need to fill in form then it will start again..

Today i receive recorded letter with LL full address and name and a notice to seek possesion..
court action will not start til 24th feb..
I do have some of the top up money as when i discussed it with agent he said i could pay it at £20 week plus monthly payment of £50
but i do not even have a tenancy agreement and i now may need to move urgently so im holding on to the money for now and will pay her when i have moved out..

im really worried now as
1. i have no tenancy
2. i sought to pay the top up so many times but no contact until now

any advice will be great.. i know you may think im bad for saying i will now keep some of the top up, but most rentals require at least £1000 upfront now, and i can pay LL back through court..and bank hopefully, rather than on the door!

Guy_Montag

Did you ever get the address of the Landlady?

PasturesNew

This is all very odd.
All of it.
Just odd.

sultry33

hi yes its on the back of the recorded letter.. yes i agree very odd.. been nightmare from the start

barnaby-bear

sultry33 wrote: »

Hi thought i would update all those that gave me advice, as to how it is now..

Well after the visit and letter a guy finally turned up and explained he was the agent (it was the gas man)
said that he needed to collect top up each week.. my bf explained that i was not happy paying him on the say so of the LL without a signed formal request or call..
He then left her num and again i called.. numerous times.. voice mail full.. sent texts.. no reply.
He "agent" called me and said he was coming round to collect rent.. i said im happy to pay but via direct debit only.. i said i dont carry cash..
he said it was not set up and would get back to me.. this was 19th july or there abouts... no contact since..

Then last week thursday i got scribbled note thrugh door saying as rent not paid for 8weeks i would be evicted.. then a number which i called.. voice mail full!!!!!
so sent another text saying that i would contact HB to see why no rent paid..
Hb have said that i need to fill in form then it will start again..

Today i receive recorded letter with LL full address and name and a notice to seek possesion..
court action will not start til 24th feb..
I do have some of the top up money as when i discussed it with agent he said i could pay it at £20 week plus monthly payment of £50
but i do not even have a tenancy agreement and i now may need to move urgently so im holding on to the money for now and will pay her when i have moved out..

im really worried now as
1. i have no tenancy
2. i sought to pay the top up so many times but no contact until now

any advice will be great.. i know you may think im bad for saying i will now keep some of the top up, but most rentals require at least £1000 upfront now, and i can pay LL back through court..and bank hopefully, rather than on the door!

It's OK you do have a tenancy - if there isn't a written one you have an implied tenancy and are protected in law.
Contact shelter/CAB for guidance - you do need to pay the rent to avoid eviction but you do also need information supplied by the landlord to do this - CAB/shelter or local council private rentals officer will help you - do try to get the arrears paid as possession on the grounds of non-payment will not be granted if not in sufficient arrears

Guy_Montag

sultry33 wrote: »

hi yes its on the back of the recorded letter.. yes i agree very odd.. been nightmare from the start

When did you get the address? Because, under section 48 of the 1987 Landlord & Tenant act rent is not lawfully due.

See this for more details, though that means going to court to prove it. Not something I'd like to do. Shelter are your best bet.

http://www.landlordzone.co.uk/landlord's_address.htm