Landlord saying we stole items

princeofpounds

Ok. It would be more dangerous if she were overclaiming. But it sounds like they might be planning to hit her for underplaying rent.

Thankfully this is not a criminal matter, so police will still not be interested in the way they might be in an overclaim.

But it may be a civil case. Does she have any written evidence the landlord was happy to be underpaid? I.e. Is that text clear about it, or is there anything else?

Deposit non-protection is also still a possible stick to ward them off with.

princeofpounds

Marktheshark wrote: »

I would ask the police to come and see mum and then go round and issue a Harassment warning to this Landlord.
They want police, give them police.

Premature. If she signed a contract for 900 (which is stupid, but I don't want to dwell on it) then they may have a valid civil case and this would not qualify as harassment. You don't want to waste the police's time, they won't like it.

ratrace

We still dont no what these "missing items" are in an unfurnished house yet

also you mum has not been keeping to the agreement of £900 a month and what seems like "mates rates" when everything was going good but as soon she ditched the boyfriend, rent went up and things went missing

Sounds more of a personal vendetta more than anything else
Id say call plod "call their bluff" erm on second thoughts don't call plod you'll just be wasting your own time

Hoploz

It is a bit of a worry that you aren't sure whether or not she paid a deposit ... If it was paid then she is entitled to it back!

Marktheshark

It matters not what contract they had, they have to take the appropriate channels if they think they are owed money.
Making threats to call the police for stolen items and demanding money is harassment.
They might also be opening a can of worms if the deposit is not protected.
Start by checking with the deposit protection schemes.
They might not even have permission to rent if they don't own the property outright.

Certainly does not sound like an above board rental agreement.

sniggings

I would stop emailing him, as all you are likely to do it say something wrong and add to the problem.

You have asked what items he is referring to, one more contact to say to leave you alone, would be my last word with him.

Nothing he can do, no inventory, he can't prove what was in the house so it's impossile to prove you stole something from it. He says a deposit was paid, so you saying you are not sure is only helping him, the fact he agrees a deposit was paid helps you, as it needs to be protected, I doubt it was, so you can take him to court and claim 3 times what he says the deposit was.

Carrying on talking to this idiot, will only worry you more and maybe give him something you say to use against yourself.

fishpond

With ref the deposit, is it not possible to go through check stubs/bank statements?
It is really important to find out was a deposit paid and how much?
Also as has been said "BOTH stop talking to the LL as you may prejudice your case (drop yourselves in the poo poo).
The theft is a load of tosh that should be ignored, we are now talking about the deposit .
Have a good sleep!:) (both of you)

elmer

Be careful with the benefits side, the issue with the differing rent amounts makes it sound like a contrived tenancy, which may mean the HB department could decide that your mum was not entitled to HB for the period.

jamesd

bbk87 wrote: »

The landlord is saying she's going to the police

theartfullodger wrote: »

If he repeats his allegation mum should report him to Police for harassment.

bbk87 wrote: »

landlord is mums ex boyfriends sister

sniggings wrote: »

I would stop emailing him... what items he is referring to... my last word with him. ... Nothing he can do... he can't... He says ... helping him ... can take him to court and claim 3 times what he says the deposit was.

Sometimes people really seem to take a long time to recognise that an individual is female, even after two explicit references from an original poster saying so.

Given the relationship - sister of the ex - it does seem more as though the landlord was choosing to accept lower rent because of the relationship, then not, and is now effectively seeking revenge.

The possible lack of a deposit or lack of use of one of the deposit protection schemes is also potentially significant because as sniggings wrote, that allows a tenant to take court action and seek money from the landlord. Threats might be intended partly to prevent this after S21 was issued following the end of the relationship.

The relationship - sister of ex - is a potential threat if the council would not pay HB for that degree of relationship. I don't know the limits of degrees of closeness.

HB fraud potential might be based on cohabitation and household income being too high. That would be a serious issue.

Marktheshark

elmer wrote: »

Be careful with the benefits side, the issue with the differing rent amounts makes it sound like a contrived tenancy, which may mean the HB department could decide that your mum was not entitled to HB for the period.

Then both go to the dock as it would be conspiracy.
I doubt anyone would be so spiteful to risk prison themselves to get at someone else.
What with the benefactor of conspiracy getting the loaded sentence.