Please help- What are my rights?

lays123

I share a two bedroom flat with a housemate. This guy was a stranger to me until my landlord moved him in on 1/09/2014. He was moved in without a contract or a deposit and he has not paid rent the entire time he’s live here. All bills are included in the rent, except electricity which is supposed to be split between the two rooms. He has not paid electricity the entire time he’s been living at the property (£350) which we've covered (my partner and I). Due to him losing his job we didn't chase him about it.

He has been unemployed for 2 months and over the xmas period my girlfriend cooked him hot food and invited him to have dinner with us for christmas. Last week he allowed two clearly drug addicted homeless people into the house. During the day (while we we’re at work) our housemate and his associates preceded to smash the house up . They smashed lightbulbs which we had to replace and glasses. We called the police who told us they couldn't remove the people as it was a civil matter. My girlfriend then had to come home from work (she’s a junior doctor) and clean up glass and blood from the floor)

We have told our landlord who states she doesn't want to do anything as our housemate told her that the rent is coming soon. So we changed the Wifi password and told him that he has to give us back our money if he wants the password. He is now openly acting menacing towards us and calling us childish for changing the password. What are our rights regarding our safety? Can we get the money for the electricity back? Many thanks for all replies.

Pixie5740

Money for what? The electricity and other utilities? Yes you could take your housemate to small claims court and try to recover the money.

I think your first move though should be finding somewhere else to live and giving notice to end your tenancy at the earliest possible moment.

RAS

Tell the LL that next time the other tenant smashes up the flat, you will be asking them to come round and view the evidence and organise the clean-up.

fishpond

Get out as soon as legally possible.
Take the other tenant to court after you have moved out.
Are you sure the other tenant isn't related to the LL?

G_M

lays123 wrote: »

I share a two bedroom flat with a housemate. This guy was a stranger to me until my landlord moved him in on 1/09/2014.

Until then, what was your contract?

You rented the entire flat? And your tenancy agreement required you to pay all utilities? How come the LL just "moved him in".....?

You rented a room only? In which case what was the contract with utilities?

What is the term of your contract? 12 months? 6? from/to? Or periodic (monthly?)

Personally I would move out asap - it is clear there is a relationship between the LL and the other tenant, since they 'moved him in" and are not concerned about rent etc. so you will never get help from the LL dealing with this person. Get out and move somewhere more congenial.

lays123

My contract is for my room only (Room one) . The Landlord moved him in after struggling for months to fill the room. Our contract is periodically. In the contract it's stated that council tax is included in rent but both tenants (room one and two) are responsible for electricity.

[Deleted User]

If you have a periodical tenancy, you just have to give a months notice. I'd look for another room as already advised.

Pixie5740

When you leave, be sure to take meter readings and inform the utility companies.

Guest101

The matter is definetely not a civil one, as its criminal damage.

But as long as they dont enter your room, it isnt tresspass. IE that is to say that the other tenant and his friends are able to legally access the communal areas.

bris

Guest101 wrote: »

The matter is definetely not a civil one, as its criminal damage.

But as long as they dont enter your room, it isnt tresspass. IE that is to say that the other tenant and his friends are able to legally access the communal areas.

It's only criminal damage if the LL wants to press charges, until then it's a civil matter.

societys_child

bris wrote: »

It's only criminal damage if the LL wants to press charges, until then it's a civil matter.

Unless some of the damaged items belonged to the op?