Landlord not giving reference

dazzer1467

We have been in a private landlord for almost 2 and a half years and have always paid our rent on time,we got permission to paint our sons room and he inspected after we finished and said it was fine,we are now wanting to move into a house (we are in a flat at the moment),we are on HB and have no deposit,we have found another landlord that will take us on but they want a reference from our current landlord,i am aware that there is legal right to a reference and so i am wondering what else we could do ?

any advice would be gratefully received.

pmlindyloo

dazzer1467 wrote: »

We have been in a private landlord for almost 2 and a half years and have always paid our rent on time,we got permission to paint our sons room and he inspected after we finished and said it was fine,we are now wanting to move into a house (we are in a flat at the moment),we are on HB and have no deposit,we have found another landlord that will take us on but they want a reference from our current landlord,i am aware that there is legal right to a reference and so i am wondering what else we could do ?

any advice would be gratefully received.

Not sure where you have got this from. As far as I am aware landlords have no obligation to give a reference.

Why is your LL refusing?

dazzer1467

pmlindyloo wrote: »

Not sure where you have got this from. As far as I am aware landlords have no obligation to give a reference.

Why is your LL refusing?

Sorry i made a typo it was ment to say "isnt"

He is refusing to do it before he has inspected the property,once we have moved all of our things (we havent given notice yet) out we will be cleaning the property top to bottom including repainting any areas that need it,all we want is a reference saying we have always paid our rent on time and been good tenants

mrginge

dazzer1467 wrote: »

Sorry i made a typo it was ment to say "isnt"

He is refusing to do it before he has inspected the property,once we have moved all of our things (we havent given notice yet) out we will be cleaning the property top to bottom including repainting any areas that need it,all we want is a reference saying we have always paid our rent on time and been good tenants

Sounds reasonable tbh
How will he know if you're good tenants before he has inspected the property?

Not ideal for you but i can see the LLs point.

dazzer1467

I understand that but all i am asking for is for him saying we have paid the rent on time and havent been a problem,i understand that he cant give a FULL reference until he has inspected the property but isnt that is normally done once the tenants have moved their belongings out and are returning the keys ?

pmlindyloo

Have you asked him if he would write that you have always paid your rent on time and has had no reports of any anti social behaviour?

Or/plus you could invite him round, show him that you haven't trashed the property and advise him of the cleaning etc you intend to do.

dazzer1467

pmlindyloo wrote: »

Have you asked him if he would write that you have always paid your rent on time and has had no reports of any anti social behaviour?

Or/plus you could invite him round, show him that you haven't trashed the property and advise him of the cleaning etc you intend to do.

yes i have but am waiting for a reply,i am just wondering what options i have if he doesnt give me anything as without even a basic reference i cannot move anywhere.

vectistim

You could offer him a form of words along these lines:

Dear Sirs

Re Dazzer1467, Buck House, London SW1A 1AA

I can confirm that Dazzer1467 has been renting Buck House from me since January 1st, 1189, at a monthly rent of four groats. I can further confirm that during the tenancy the rent has been paid promptly and is up to date as of today's date. Since Dazzer1467 is still in occupation I can not comment on the condition he will leave the property in at the end of the tenancy; although it was acceptable at the last inspection on October 12th, 1492.

I trust this is sufficient information.

Yours faithfully

A Landlord Esq.

dazzer1467

vectistim wrote: »

You could offer him a form of words along these lines:

Dear Sirs

Re Dazzer1467, Buck House, London SW1A 1AA

I can confirm that Dazzer1467 has been renting Buck House from me since January 1st, 1189, at a monthly rent of four groats. I can further confirm that during the tenancy the rent has been paid promptly and is up to date as of today's date. Since Dazzer1467 is still in occupation I can not comment on the condition he will leave the property in at the end of the tenancy; although it was acceptable at the last inspection on October 12th, 1492.

I trust this is sufficient information.

Yours faithfully

A Landlord Esq.

Thank you! just hope he is willing to sign it !

benjus

Personally I think the landlord is being unreasonable... what is the point of a reference AFTER you've moved out? Unless you're buying a place, you need somewhere to rent to move TO.

It's only a reference, anyway... it's not like you're asking him to be a guarantor. What has he got to lose?

vectistim

benjus wrote: »

Personally I think the landlord is being unreasonable... what is the point of a reference AFTER you've moved out? Unless you're buying a place, you need somewhere to rent to move TO.

It's only a reference, anyway... it's not like you're asking him to be a guarantor. What has he got to lose?

I believe there is fear amongst some that they will be sued if there is a future problem, eg: Landlord A has a terrible tenant that they are desperate to get rid of, so they provide glowing references to try and help get rid. Landlord B reads this spiffing reference and then offers a tenancy to the terrible tenant. B then does some digging and finds out the information in the reference was not entirely accuate and then seeks recompense.
I have no idea how often this happens, or if any successful legal actions have followed, but I suspect this might be the concern.