Urgent - Landlord holding work tools hostage

Money_maker

daska wrote: »

Unfortunately it's not relevant because the LL also lives in the property.

Does this mean he's a lodger rather than tenant?

Nobbie1967

I'd go back to the police and insist that they follow up this report of theft/attempted theft. If they refuse, ask to see a senior officer and make a formal complaint, contact your local Police and Crime Commisionaire. Your friend does not owe any money to the LL. There is no court finding to that effect or even evidence that would stand up in court.

The LL has said he will sell off the tools which will permanently deprive your friend of them. The least the police can do is visit the
LL to advise him to return the tools.

If the police are allowed to ignore this, then what's to stop me picking up a computer from work and selling it because I allege they owe me for some unpaid overtime?

booksurr

daska wrote: »

Unfortunately it's not relevant because the LL also lives in the property.

please can you review the wording you have used throughout this thread and start again:

what do you mean by "LL also lives in the property"
either
your friend was a tenant with exclusive use of a self contained flat and the LL has undertaken an illegal eviction

or
your friend was a lodger and the LL has changed the locks and evicted your friend with "reasonable" notice

BIG DIFFERENCE

150940

Guest101 wrote: »

The intent is there though to deprive permanently. It's not- I'll keep them until a court sorts it out.

Tenant doesn't need to be there. The LL needs to serve correct notice to enter. He failed to do so - the first 'act'

The ll removed good required for work - the second act

The ll failed to return goods despite the value far exceeding the alleged debt. Clearly this act is designed to distress or otherwise force a payment. The third and continuous act.

It's not a 'one off' like leaving a threatening voicemail.

I do agree in many cases these are civil matters. But the intent to sell I think pushes it into the criminal realm.

The harassment is the fact the tenant cannot earn without the tools, which I think it's reasonable to assume was always the intention.

its a few hundred pounds, really the deposit would've covered it. Clearly the LL is pishing the boundaries of civil and criminal disputes.

Unfortunately the law states different.

150940

Nobbie1967 wrote: »

I'd go back to the police and insist that they follow up this report of theft/attempted theft. If they refuse, ask to see a senior officer and make a formal complaint, contact your local Police and Crime Commisionaire. Your friend does not owe any money to the LL. There is no court finding to that effect or even evidence that would stand up in court.

The LL has said he will sell off the tools which will permanently deprive your friend of them. The least the police can do is visit the
LL to advise him to return the tools.

If the police are allowed to ignore this, then what's to stop me picking up a computer from work and selling it because I allege they owe me for some unpaid overtime?

Make a complaint of what?

This is a civil dispute, what do you suggest the police do if the landlord refuses to return the tools?

If the police are to remain impartial maybe they should get the lodger to stump up the money the landlord claims is owed.

daska

booksurr wrote: »

please can you review the wording you have used throughout this thread and start again:

what do you mean by "LL also lives in the property"
either
your friend was a tenant with exclusive use of a self contained flat and the LL has undertaken an illegal eviction

or
your friend was a lodger and the LL has changed the locks and evicted your friend with "reasonable" notice

BIG DIFFERENCE

I'm sorry if anything I've written has confused. He rented a room. The LL did not give notice, he did. They agreed an end date and prior to that end date the LL changed the locks which meant he couldn't return to clean or collect his tools.

150940

daska wrote: »

I'm sorry if anything I've written has confused. He rented a room. The LL did not give notice, he did. They agreed an end date and prior to that end date the LL changed the locks which meant he couldn't return to clean or collect his tools.

He could have gone at any time the LL was there to do that. Is there more to this story? There usually is.

daska

Marktheshark wrote: »

So basically he abandoned his property and left it dumped in the wrecked flat and now wants it back.

No, he wasn't given the opportunity to return despite agreeing dates with the LL. Your comment doesn't even make sense, why would he 'dump' several grands worth of tools?

daska

150940 wrote: »

He could have gone at any time the LL was there to do that. Is there more to this story? There usually is.

The LL wouldn't allow him back in the property and is now demanding that he puts cash through the door before midnight because he's 'not stupid'.

Ms_Chocaholic

Could your friend not ask the Police to accompany him to the property to retrieve his belongings to prevent a breach of the peace.