URGENT: Greedy landlord gone OTT..?

blue_monkey_2

Oh my god, surely this is not serious. Don't pay a penny and tell your girlfriend if she doesn't move then you'll dump her. How on earth is she going to get you to pay the £2,000? Take you to court? They'll laugh in her face surely as there is no contract signed by you to say you are liable for this money. I can't understand how you can be using anything other than water (and that will make no difference unless on a meter - maybe gas or electricity to heat the water) - cooking she will have to do anyway, heating has to be on anyway, lighting and other electricty has to be on so that leaves heating water for the bath and the phone if you need it. 2k for that 3 days a week!!! That is more than Greedy and OTT!!

I would let them get on with it. Give HER the ultimatum, if she is not prepared to fight your corner then you need to find someone else. God knows why she wants to stay in that house anyway - they are so welcoming to her. I am sure that the others must have friends over occassionaly and if not maybe they are the problem in that they are jealous of the pair of you. Maybe the LL has a holiday in the offing and can't pay for it or wants a new car. Either way it's time to stand up for YOURSELF and tell the pair of them where to get off. If your GF is gulible enough to pay the 2k then that is her loss as she will have no paperwork to present to the court which will tell them you owe this money and therefore no case to present.

I find it bizarre though that your own girlfriend has told you that she will take you to court to get the money off you if you do not pay. Maybe you should book yourself on the nearest flight to the Carribean to get over her because this whole sitution is bizarre. I have lived in shared housing too - you can't stop people having people to stay unless it is in the contract, as it isn't then tough. Tell her that either she moves out else you will not see her while in the house again if she means that much to you and then tell her she will have to stay with you for the weekend. Even a hotel would be cheaper than what they are asking. It's simple really in my eyes! The ball is then in her court but offer her the money for a deposit for somewhere new to live and look and find somewhere tomorrow. If need be, pack her stuff and move her out without telling anyone. I am sure the deposit she paid will more than cover the rent owed and whistle goodbye to anything else and be done with it - that is what a deposit is for after all and get her out of that crazy situation. if she does not want to leave then it must be for another reason and let her get on with it. IF she dumps you then she did not think anyting of you anyway - you are offering her a way out of this dreadful situation - she should be taking it with both hands, not asking you for 2k or else to clear off. That in itself sounds like blackmail!!

whowants2brich

Hi all,

I just want to say a huge thank you to everyone for your comments, support, and help. My girlfriend and I have both read through all of your posts, and while it's scary to see how many people are suggesting that we each go our separate ways, I think it has helped her to realised that she was scared and being unreasonable. More importantly, both of our parents have said the same thing to us, which was coincidentally the same as the legal advice we've been given.

I won't tell anyone on here as to what the outcome is, yet, because a) we don't know what the landlord will say or accept... and b) nobody knows for sure as to whether or not the landlord or anyone might be reading this forum and aware of what's been said.

I promise, however, to update you all next week on the status, as soon as we've spoken to the landlord. If you want an update, subscribe to the thread and you'll be notified when I post the outcome.

Once again, thank you so much (from both of us) for your words of support.

Whowants2brich + girlfriend

arthur_dent_2

Good luck and I hope all goes well. I shall be interested to know the result.

blue_monkey_2

Good luck and yes, I hope all goes well. While I understand that you think it scary - this is not how a relationship works and I hope that you have got a little more out of this and will be together forever. Put that money you have (if you was going to pay the money) and book yourselves a nice break once this sorry mess has been sorted out.

3plus1

I can understand where your girlfriend is coming from, as I've spent two years of my life living with terrible housemates too. Sad as it is, I can definitely relate to her hiding in her room and not wanting to come out to cook until the others have gone away!!

Staying at her house might have inconvenienced her housemates a bit, what with an extra person using the bathroom. BUT, you have to consider that they've inconvenienced her far more, by making her feel as if she can't use the shared rooms in the house (e.g. kitchen) whenever she wants to.

The way it balances out means that her housemates really have no grounds to complain about you and your girlfriend. They're just horrible people.

Seeing as the bills are inclusive in the rent, although your girlfriend's housemates have no beef with you, her landlord does, if you've been a regular weekend guest for an extended length of time. I don't agree you should pay any more for the room - it's been the same room between the two of you - but it would be fair for you to chip in with bills if they've gone up noticeably. I'd ask to see proof of this though before making a goodwill gesture!

Again, I understand why your girlfriend hasn't wanted to move out before - I've been there. I do get it. But this looks like the final straw really - and I think she should be thinking about leaving and moving in with you. I'm assuming you've been together for long enough to make sharing a flat together a viable option though.

I'd just like to say to you that you're not being unreasonable, and you should hold your ground as this woman doesn't have a legal leg to stand on. And I would like it if you could pass my support onto your girlfriend as I know how hard it is to live in the sort of atmosphere she does right now - please tell her that she needs to keep believing in herself and hold on to the knowledge that they're the ones in the wrong, not her. It's so easy to let the experience knock your confidence - but some people are just mad in the head. She has to remember that she's the normal one, and they're the morons.

Good luck with the landlady, both of you.

looby75

Good luck, I will watch with interest for the outcome.

Oh and can you apologise to your gf for my suggestion you dump her I'm pleased to read she's "seen sense" so to speak and is now backing you up.

whowants2brich

Hi everyone,

At last, your long-awaited update...

The landlord and my girlfriend met up last night, had a loud and aggressive discussion, the landlord refused to back down and continued to ask for £2,300. Eventually, and for reasons that still don't make perfect sense to me, my girlfriend decided to sign a document to say that she'll pay that much. She's also asking for half from me.

I'm not going to comment on my thoughts as I don't think I need to. I don't know if I need to have anyone else's comments on this issue, as I'm not entirely sure of what the point will be. As the document has been signed, mainly because my girlfriend didn't want to be evicted with very short notice and run the risk of being homeless, that's what we'll have to pay and that's that.

Thanks everyone for your help - at least you now know the outcome...

Whowants2brich

looby75

I'm so sorry to hear that your girlfriend was bullied into signing. I have a few thoughts but it's obvious from you post that you don't need to hear them right now.

Good luck.

wolvoman

I cannot believe I've read this - you couldn't make it up.

To the OP - grow some balls for goodness sake.

Gorgeous_George

Best wishes and thanks for the update. Personally, I don't think that the outcome is so bad. You will have paid your way and will be able to look the other housemates in the face.

Respect.



GG