Advice on tenant deposits and rent/bill payments

HappyMJ

Commandante wrote: »

Fyi the deposit is a month's worth of rent and therefore wouldn't cover rent + bills. The bills would be about £30 for a week, which may not seem much but I'm unemployed at the moment and would rather not lose money that I'm arguably entitled to.

That's quite an expensive to run property. My house costs much less than £30 a week. What bills have you included in rent and what bills are you sharing?

You said in your first post the room won't be rented out again so what are going to do re: the bills once you're on your own?

G_M

If the 'lodger/tenant' started a thread asking what rights they have when their landlord (who failed to register their deposit) was demanding money to cover bills for a period after he left, we would all be advising:

* don't pay the utilities bill
* sue the landlord AND his agent jointly for 3 times the deposit

If you can get the tenant to leave amicably without any court action, think yourself lucky.....

Commandante

Yes, its a pricey place in Kensington! Once she has left I'll have to pay all the bills myself.

I think a lot of it hinges on whether her email on 20th July saying she was "looking to move out on 31st Aug" should mean that her contract ends on 31st Aug, or whether her text on 4th Aug saying she wanted to leave on 25th Aug means her contract should leave on 25th Aug?

Looking at it another way, if after receiving her email saying she was 'looking to' leave on 31st, I'd gone and found a replacement tenant to move in on 25th, she'd quite reasonably complain.

Guest101

Commandante wrote: »

Yes, its a pricey place in Kensington! Once she has left I'll have to pay all the bills myself.

I think a lot of it hinges on whether her email on 20th July saying she was "looking to move out on 31st Aug" should mean that her contract ends on 31st Aug, or whether her text on 4th Aug saying she wanted to leave on 25th Aug means her contract should leave on 25th Aug?

Looking at it another way, if after receiving her email saying she was 'looking to' leave on 31st, I'd gone and found a replacement tenant to move in on 25th, she'd quite reasonably complain.

LODGER - not tenant.

I dont understand what the complaint is now. you have the deposit, that covers the rent.

You cannot charge her for the utilities - as above.

Council tax, you'll get the discount applied straight away.



However. put a spin on it.

She could be a tenant. Which mean by law, her deposit shouldve been protected. It wasnt. She could sue you & the LL for 1-3x the value of the deposit.

Which would be i imagine in the regiond of £500-1500 ? yet you're arguing over £30?

jjlandlord

Guest101 wrote: »

LODGER - not tenant.

...

She could be a tenant.

:T Clear as mud.

HappyMJ

Commandante wrote: »

Yes, its a pricey place in Kensington! Once she has left I'll have to pay all the bills myself.

I think a lot of it hinges on whether her email on 20th July saying she was "looking to move out on 31st Aug" should mean that her contract ends on 31st Aug, or whether her text on 4th Aug saying she wanted to leave on 25th Aug means her contract should leave on 25th Aug?

Looking at it another way, if after receiving her email saying she was 'looking to' leave on 31st, I'd gone and found a replacement tenant to move in on 25th, she'd quite reasonably complain.

Are you not listening to the advice? Don't worry about the date let her leave whenever she wants. If she wants to go tomorrow and not pay any more bills then let her go. You (as the LL agent) or your landlord or both of you have a problem...you have not registered the deposit. Read the last post if she gets advice she may just act on that advice.

Guest101

jjlandlord wrote: »

:T Clear as mud.

A simple mistake in my reply. I meant to highlight this bit:

Looking at it another way, if after receiving her email saying she was 'looking to' leave on 31st, I'd gone and found a replacement tenant to move in on 25th, she'd quite reasonably complain.

Thank you for pointing it out

jjlandlord

A lodger can be a tenant.
What is really important for OP, I think, is that he must be the landlord, not his friend.

Guest101

jjlandlord wrote: »

A lodger can be a tenant.
What is really important for OP, I think, is that he must be the landlord, not his friend.

Yes i agree.

I'm hoping the OP has read the difference pointed out before, and realises it now.

I think getting a lodger next time would be best for the OP, if they decide to get someone.

As getting another tenant brings much more hassle for the OP as the 'agent', when they have absolutely no knowledge of the remifications.

jjlandlord

Guest101 wrote: »

Yes i agree.

I'm hoping the OP has read the difference pointed out before, and realises it now.

I think getting a lodger next time would be best for the OP, if they decide to get someone.

As getting another tenant brings much more hassle for the OP as the 'agent', when they have absolutely no knowledge of the remifications.

You 'agree' but you seem not to have understood the point...