I'm very uncormfortable with my landlord's requests. Please advise

Guest101

Bella* wrote: »

Of course.I am happy to pay a deposit. I just find it odd to have to trust someone I barely know to give me back £100, when they could easily pocket it and there would be no meaningful proof. Even if she gives me a receipt, she could always just claim she gave me the deposit back, and I couldn't really prove that she hadn't. I have only ever paid by bank transfer and had it put in a rent deposit scheme before this.

She must be earning over £15, 000 total a year from her lodgers.

£15,000 pa? how many rooms is she reanting out? That's a substantial amount.

On the plus side, it gives you some leverage with your deposit, ir return it to me, or i'll tell....

G_M

Bella* wrote: »

... I just find it odd to have to trust someone I barely know to give me back £100, when they could easily pocket it and there would be no meaningful proof. Even if she gives me a receipt, she could always just claim she gave me the deposit back, and I couldn't really prove that she hadn't.

As previously explained:

* you pay, and get a signed receipt from her
* she returns it, you give her a signed receipt

If she refuses to return it, you go to court
If she claims in court she has returned it, you ask her to show your signed receipt....

Bella*_2

Guest101 wrote: »

£15,000 pa? how many rooms is she reanting out? That's a substantial amount.

On the plus side, it gives you some leverage with your deposit, ir return it to me, or i'll tell....

I've just done an actual calculation based on each room, and she is making a minimum of £17, 760 pa. Two of the rooms may be worth a little more, so it could be a bit more. . She uses the lounge as her bedroom, so she clearly is trying to make as much income as possible.

That's a good point. It may be worth paying the deposit because she probably would think I'd blow the whistle if she doesn't give it back.

Bella*_2

All in all, looks best to pay the deposit by cash, with receipt, but give my month's notice at the same time because it's just not a situation I'm going to be comfortable with. Plus, I hate having that much cash on me, or in my room at any one time.

zzzLazyDaisy

If you are going to give a month's notice, there is not much point in paying the deposit as you will be asking for it back at the end of the month.

Werdnal

Bella* wrote: »

All in all, looks best to pay the deposit by cash, with receipt, but give my month's notice at the same time because it's just not a situation I'm going to be comfortable with. Plus, I hate having that much cash on me, or in my room at any one time.

But if you are going to give notice, why pay her the deposit at all?

Your fear of her kicking you out without a deposit is one thing; then you worry about paying her deposit with no proof; now you are going to tell her you are leaving and give her a deposit that you will be asking for back in a month - sorry, your logic is lost on me!

Bella*_2

Werdnal wrote: »

But if you are going to give notice, why pay her the deposit at all?

Your fear of her kicking you out without a deposit is one thing; then you worry about paying her deposit with no proof; now you are going to tell her you are leaving and give her a deposit that you will be asking for back in a month - sorry, your logic is lost on me!

I paid my rent to keep the roof over my head, because I didn't have anywhere else to go to. I got a receipt for it. I am going to give her a month's notice, but if she still wants the deposit even though I will be leaving, I will probably have to pay it, because otherwise she could ask me to leave with immediate effect, and I would have nowhere else to go to until I found a new place.

Bella*_2

zzzLazyDaisy wrote: »

If you are going to give a month's notice, there is not much point in paying the deposit as you will be asking for it back at the end of the month.

That's what I think, but if she's funny about it, and still wants it, I can't risk being asked to leave immediately, because I would not have anywhere remotely decent to stay at such short notice, and within my budget. Therefore, if she wants it, and is going to ask me to get out right away if I don't, I can't see I have a choice.

Strapped

Bella* wrote: »

Of course.I am happy to pay a deposit. I just find it odd to have to trust someone I barely know to give me back £100, when they could easily pocket it and there would be no meaningful proof. Even if she gives me a receipt, she could always just claim she gave me the deposit back, and I couldn't really prove that she hadn't. I have only ever paid by bank transfer and had it put in a rent deposit scheme before this.

She must be earning over £15, 000 total a year from her lodgers.

Yet she has to trust someone she barely knows in her home. Frankly, if you were my lodger I'd give you your marching orders if you started quibbling over £100 deposit. (Although of course I would give you a receipt).

Strapped

Bella* wrote: »

That's what I think, but if she's funny about it, and still wants it, I can't risk being asked to leave immediately, because I would not have anywhere remotely decent to stay at such short notice, and within my budget. Therefore, if she wants it, and is going to ask me to get out right away if I don't, I can't see I have a choice.

Sounds like you're cutting off your nose to spite your face to me. If she is tax dodging, honestly, what's it to you if you get a cheap room while you need one? (And I think it's probably equally likely that she's stashing some cash away while the divorce happens. Do you reckon she enjoys sleeping in her lounge?)