Ex landlord harassing for money that isn't owed.

skeppnica

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

If she doesn't have any documentary evidence that she and the landlord agreed an "early surrender" of her fixed-term tenancy she is likely to be completely scuppered.

Who are the "Debt Collecting Agency"? This suggest the landlord has already received a judgement against your friend in court.

The LL put house up for LET as well as FOR SALE while she was living in it. In my eyes that voids any previous agreements.

So, basically she is scuppered because there is no signed piece of paper to prove anything? She probably would've and could've stayed in the house causing hassle to the LL, but she didn't. The house could've been let at any moment and my friend would've been rendered homeless.

Wasn't sure that all debt collecting agencies demand debt through courts judgement. Can they all do that?

RAS

Sorry

Can you actually read what you are told?

Is there any evidence that the LL put the property on the rental market (say on-line marketing giving date when available)?

Was the deposit registered? With whom? What has happened to it??

If not, then she can sue him for the deposit plus up to 3 times the value?

So have you checked whether it was registered??????????

I would suggest that the friend starts with what is called a "prove-it" letter sent to the debt collectors.

Bear in mind that landlords, debt collectors and EAs have no legal training and are sometimes completely wrong.

BitterAndTwisted

skeppnica wrote: »

The LL put house up for LET as well as FOR SALE while she was living in it. In my eyes that voids any previous agreements.

In your eyes perhaps but I think we're all trying to help your friend not acquire a CCJ for rent rightfully owed. There not being any documentary evidence of her and the landlord agreeing to any early surrender is putting your friend at serious risk.

Courts don't give a monkey's about verbal agreements, they will want to see hard evidence.

You say your friend lived in the property for some years, and then go on to mention another party having lived there as well.



Three questions:

When did your friend last sign a tenancy agreement? By the landlord claiming rent until this June suggests that she signed a renewal at some point. Is this correct?

The other person: was this a joint-tenancy?

Has the property been re-let since the landlord failed to secure a buyer?

[Deleted User]

the fact that the LL gave the tenant a reference could also help demonstrate she was leaving the tenancy by agreement. But to be honest, both parties are a bit suspect. Why was she prepared to accept this kind of treatment without doing anything about it?

BitterAndTwisted

It's likely that it's because the landlord hasn't been able to sell it or re-let it, so now he needs someone to cover the mortgage payments on it? The ex-tenant who was totally superfluous at the time is now quite handy

skeppnica

RAS wrote: »

Sorry

Can you actually read what you are told?

Is there any evidence that the LL put the property on the rental market (say on-line marketing giving date when available)?

Was the deposit registered? With whom? What has happened to it??

If not, then she can sue him for the deposit plus up to 3 times the value?

So have you checked whether it was registered??????????

I would suggest that the friend starts with what is called a "prove-it" letter sent to the debt collectors.

Bear in mind that landlords, debt collectors and EAs have no legal training and are sometimes completely wrong.

I'm sorry. I am all over the place at the moment. Have been looking for evidence and I have found a page on-line that has been removed by agent. Turns out it has been up for let on the 18th of December. My friend was still renting. I have a link to it but do not wish to disclose it for obvious reasons.

I can't do a check myself as do not have enough info to run checks myself. My friend will do this and get back to me as soon as.

Okay, I will suggest the "prove it" letter proposition to my friend. Thank you.

BitterAndTwisted

skeppnica wrote: »

Have been looking for evidence and I have found a page on-line that has been removed by agent. Turns out it has been up for let on the 18th of December. My friend was still renting.

That's OK we don't need to see the link to be persuaded that you're telling the truth.

Get that page printed out asap

skeppnica

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

That's OK we don't need to see the link to be persuaded that you're telling the truth.

Get that page printed out asap

I have done

skeppnica

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

It's likely that it's because the landlord hasn't been able to sell it or re-let it, so now he needs someone to cover the mortgage payments on it? The ex-tenant who was totally superfluous at the time is now quite handy

Looks like it. Which is totally unfair. If anything, he owes her deposit money +

dancingfairy

Well the landlord can huff and puff but at the end of the day to resolve this it would need to go to court. Your friend can then present their evidence.
Your friend might want to get uptodate credit checks to check whether any judgements have been registered against them (but hopefully it's all just hot air from the landlord).
df