TalkTalk - Dispute with Landlord

DailyClicker

Hi,

Unsure if this is the right forum for this type of question?

My friend moved into new student property on 30th June. Her contract states that tenants are liable for all the bills.

She asked her landlord around a month before to cancel the internet (TalkTalk) but he was not happy to do so and stated that she'd have to pay re-connection fees etc.

On move in day he stated that he was only going to charge her what TalkTalk charges him and he would show receipts/invoices which she agreed to but stated she'd be looking to swap the internet for a better offer soon.

Since then, there have been numerous issues with the safety and condition of the house which the council are dealing with. He was very threatening to me so Police were called.

The following day, he text my friend asking for the broadband/line rental money which she paid immediately as she felt intimated. She then asked him for receipts/invoices, however he was unable to provide them. He confirmed that the amount charged is the amount he has paid to TalkTalk.

Talk Talk has disclosed that the landlord has not paid any money as he's on a three month free offer, and has not cancelled the broadband.

What is her best course of action? She has text him asking for the money to be refunded, however his texts have been extremely rude and aggressive.

Thanks

SlowCooker

DailyClicker wrote: »

He was very threatening to me so Police were called.

Threatening to you? Why?

Anyway, is it a shared house? Is the savings she is going to make by switching to another provider worth all this hassle?

fridge_raider

What does it say in the agreement about changing providers for utilities/services? Anything?

What is the nature of his aggressive texts and what was the outcome of the police visit?

DailyClicker

Thanks for your replies.

He was threatening after he was informed that the council have been made aware of the safety and condition of the house. They are going to write to him and inspect the house.

The Police have visited his house and spoken to him, and he has stopped sending abusive text messages.

Contract states the tenants are responsible for all bills (gas/electric/broadband).

They should not have paid him for the broadband/line rental from TalkTalk (£61 for 2 months). It's not a huge amount of money, but they feel strongly about this as they feel that he deceived them by stating he would provide them with receipts as he is only charging what TalkTalk charge him. (He is currently on a 3 months free package from TalkTalk). They have this in writing as well.

What are their chances of recovering this money through a small claims court?

bod1467

DailyClicker wrote: »

He was very threatening to me so Police were called

As SlowCooker asked earlier, why was he threatening to YOU? How are you involved in this? It is your friend who is renting it after all, not you. (Or is this one of those 'my "friend"' situations? )

ThumbRemote

bod1467 wrote: »

As SlowCooker asked earlier, why was he threatening to YOU? How are you involved in this? It is your friend who is renting it after all, not you. (Or is this one of those 'my "friend"' situations? )

Given it's a friend, it's not unreasonable that they may have visited the house.

agrinnall

DailyClicker wrote: »

Hi,


Talk Talk has disclosed that the landlord has not paid any money as he's on a three month free offer, and has not cancelled the broadband.

I find this statement highly unlikely, while I've never dealt with Talk Talk myself no company would reveal the details of a contract with a customer to a third party without permission.

paddyrg

State of the house, threats, service providers, etc., aside as they're irrelevant - tenant pays for broadband as part of the deal. Broadband is being supplied. End of discussion.

SlowCooker

The problems your friend is having with her landlord seem to be much more serious than just a fight over broadband cost. Now £61 for two months is not extremely expensive but it also depends on how much the landline is used. Having said that, I think tenants have the right to see the receipts before they pay.

You could probably send the landlord a letter before court claim.

ThumbRemote

paddyrg wrote: »

tenant pays for broadband as part of the deal. Broadband is being supplied. End of discussion.

But it's surely not acceptable for the tenant to pay whatever the landlord wants for the broadband, rather than the actual cost of it?

Hintza

ThumbRemote wrote: »

But it's surely not acceptable for the tenant to pay whatever the landlord wants for the broadband, rather than the actual cost of it?

The landlord can charge what they want for the broadband, the landlord's deal with the ISP is irrelevant.

But it also sound as if the tenant has stirred things up and now there is no goodwill between them.