Estate Agent threatening eviction - contract not returned

ThePants999

Lolly88 wrote: »

Thanks for the quick reply. I would prefer a periodic tenancy but if i have no choice but to accept fixed term then I would prefer it to start the month it was issued...just being pedantic i guess but also I might be moving January next year and so if i have to be fixed it would suit me more to be fixed til February next year.

If you're moving in January next year, it seems to be that having a fix until December is ideal. Come December, they'll want you to sign another new contract, you refuse, you get an s21 and 2 months notice (more if you wait for court proceedings) - almost guaranteed that you'll be still there in January, without also having to pay for February. Only risk is that you might get an s21 earlier that expires at the end of the fixed term.

Lolly88

I've sent the letter to the landlord via next day delivery so they should receive it tomorrow. The estate agents have continued calling me several times today, left 2 voicemail messages and sent me an e-mail and contacted my mum (listed as next of kin) and sent me a text informing me that a safety inspection is due and that I need to contact them asap. This whole thing is really stressing me out.

I know some people have advised to continue ignoring them but it feels like it's escalating the situation but equally I don't know what to tell them. I'm in a ground floor flat too, so I'm anxious that they're going to come round this evening or in the next few days and be peeking in through my windows. I hate that I'm becoming so paranoid. I want to know where I stand with the landlord first but I don't know how long it will take for him/her to get in touch.

I'm thinking that perhaps I should respond to their e-mail just reminding them that I gave verbal confirmation in November of my intentions to stay in the property and that I don't intend to return the contract and that they should stop sending me threatening voicemails and stop contacting my mum. I don't want to tell them I've contacted the landlord in case they run interference. Does this sound like the smart thing to do?

ThePants999 wrote: »

If you're moving in January next year, it seems to be that having a fix until December is ideal. Come December, they'll want you to sign another new contract, you refuse, you get an s21 and 2 months notice (more if you wait for court proceedings) - almost guaranteed that you'll be still there in January, without also having to pay for February. Only risk is that you might get an s21 earlier that expires at the end of the fixed term.

I'd rather avoid that as I don't want to go through all this stress again next year and it's only a possibility I might be moving in January, there's a greater likelihood that I will be moving later in the year.

Guest101

Lolly88 wrote: »

I've sent the letter to the landlord via next day delivery so they should receive it tomorrow. The estate agents have continued calling me several times today, left 2 voicemail messages and sent me an e-mail and contacted my mum (listed as next of kin) and sent me a text informing me that a safety inspection is due and that I need to contact them asap. This whole thing is really stressing me out.

I know some people have advised to continue ignoring them but it feels like it's escalating the situation but equally I don't know what to tell them. I'm in a ground floor flat too, so I'm anxious that they're going to come round this evening or in the next few days and be peeking in through my windows. I hate that I'm becoming so paranoid. I want to know where I stand with the landlord first but I don't know how long it will take for him/her to get in touch.

I'm thinking that perhaps I should respond to their e-mail just reminding them that I gave verbal confirmation in November of my intentions to stay in the property and that I don't intend to return the contract and that they should stop sending me threatening voicemails and stop contacting my mum. I don't want to tell them I've contacted the landlord in case they run interference. Does this sound like the smart thing to do?




I'd rather avoid that as I don't want to go through all this stress again next year and it's only a possibility I might be moving in January, there's a greater likelihood that I will be moving later in the year.

You tell the agent that they are to stop contacting you or your next of kin immediately. All contact via post.


If it continues contact the police.

Pixie5740

The landlord will only receive your letter tomorrow if he is there to sign for it, that's why I recommended using 1st class post as nobody has to be there when it arrives it just goes through the letterbox.

I think the number of times the letting agency has contacted you is excessive, contacting your next of kin that's totally unnecessary. I'd be tempted to block their number from my phone and send their emails straight to the junk folder. If you're not feeling brave enough to do that then just send their calls straight to voicemail and don't listen to their messages until you've made contact with your landlord. You can set up an email folder to store their emails in for now as well. You can call the folder whatever you like.

Lolly88

Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to reply. I appreciate all of your advice.

I did actually block the estate agents number and have had my phone switched off most of the day - but they reverted to contacting me on a different number. I've unblocked them now but will divert to voicemail so I can have proof of how many times they have been contacting me. I don't feel unconfident about telling them where to go, in fact I would love to but it's more about not wanting to be overtly rude/difficult and give them any ammunition until I've heard from the landlord.

I decided to go with next day delivery in the end rather than first class purely because I wanted proof that I had sent a letter just in case things go further awry.

I guess I just have to sit tight and hope the landlord responds. I really wish I had a telephone number for them.

Person_one

For future reference, you can ask for proof of postage for just an ordinary first class letter if you go to the post office counter with it.

G_M

Letter:

Dr Mr agent,

Thank you for your message advising me of the need for a gas safety inspection. Kindly advise me of the date and time of the inspection, or better still give me the contact number of the engineer so that I can arrange a mutually convenient appointment.

Kindly reply by post asap so that this important inspection can be carried out shortly.

Yours sincerely.

A Tenant

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Ignore the other topics completely.