Landlord (?) using rented flat

Tiglet

My parents have been renting a flat for the past few months. However, their circumstances have meant that they have hardly ever used it and, as a result it has been pretty much empty throughout. As far as we know, the only person who should have been there is a family friend who would visit occasionally to collect the mail.

They became suspicious that somebody was using the flat while they were out because the gas and electricity bills were higher than they would have expected. On one occasion, my parents said they thought somebody had been in, moved something of theirs and cooked a meal, leaving the oven dirty.

At the time, I made a joke of it but it is clear that somebody has been in the flat while they were out. One day last week, we went there and found that the tap in the kitchen sink was still warm. On other occasions, the central heating has been turned on (my parents only turned it on if there was a risk of freezing).

The tenancy is due to come to an end and they are concerned that they might have deductions made from their deposit, either for things caused by the mystery visitor, or out of revenge for raising the issue. I am more annoyed that the landlord appears not to have respected their rights under the tenancy agreement.

I suspect my parents just want their deposit back and a contribution from the landlord towards the bills, but I'm probably more angry about it than they are. Any suggestions, and has anyone come across this sort of thing before?

G_M

The simple solution would have been to change the locks. Too late now!

Unless they can prove the landlord has been using their gas etc they will never be able to claim compensation: do they have CCTV? :rotfl:

As for their deposit - its return will be handled in the usual way whether the LL has been using the flat or not.

Read:

* Deposits: payment, protection and return

matchboxfull

Ooh, how weird. Set up a camera!

Tiglet

Thanks for that. They have raised the question of the bills with the agent - I originally suspected that there might be a mis-connection of the supplies (the same landlord also owns the flat above), so this won't be the first the agents have heard of it.

I get the impression that the LL thinks he is doing nothing wrong, and so might be quite open about it. Otherwise, I suppose it will be difficult to get anything back. Whoever has been in must have used a key, so the possible range of culprits is pretty limited.

Tiglet

Just a thought - the person using the flat has entered using a key. Isn't the LL responsible for ensuring that that doesn't happen? In that case, isn't the LL liable even if he wasn't the person actually using the flat?

emsywoo123

Tiglet wrote: »

Just a thought - the person using the flat has entered using a key. Isn't the LL responsible for ensuring that that doesn't happen? In that case, isn't the LL liable even if he wasn't the person actually using the flat?

Eh? How could that work? How can the LL be responsible for who their tenants gave a key to!? (not saying your parents did, but my point still stands)

Tiglet

Ok, fair point. As I said, I'm probably more angry about it than they are. (I'm a landlord myself, and it simply wouldn't occur to me do do something like that, which is why I find it so annoying).

Tiglet

Yes, that could be an explanation. Also, I think he might have been putting the heating on overnight to keep the place warm.

I'm beginning to wonder whether he was actually in the house when we went there last week. The tap must have been used within the past few minutes, he could have been hiding in the cupboard for all we knew.:eek:

G_M

I'm strugling to isolate the issue here (and suspect they are getting confused):

1) landlord invading privacy (unprovable, and even if proved could be valid entry for many reasons eg insurance etc)

2) use of utilities hitting the tenant's bills (unprovable)

3) concern about deposit return (completely un-related and covered by extensive leglislation eg Housing Act, Localism Act, Deregulation Act)

G_M

Quizzical_Squirrel wrote: »

Maybe the tap was heated by the sunlight coming through the window? Hope so anyway!

More likely it was aliens who had abducted the landlord. Doubtless the transportation process they use emits heat that is absorbed by water....

PasturesNew

If you want to know, the only way is to rig up a quick motion sensor CCTV system. You don't have to fix it ... just lay it down or buy something with one hidden, like a teddy/whatever.

Else you'll never know.

Go on.... you know you want to now.

.... er....and then report back because WE all want to know now!