Lodger harassed by live-in landlady

G_M

Get out asap.

Any moreprospective lodgers that you meet, let them know exactly what they are letting themselves in for.

She is,of course, perfectly within her rights, unless the original contract/lodger agreemet said you could use a heater, or she'd provide one. Similarly she's within her rights to enter your room.

But it's rude, and certainly not conducive to a long-term LL/lodger relationship!

[Deleted User]

I have to be honest, you have my sympathies.., move out as soon as you can.

But also, there is another side of the coin - even though its quite cold, I rarely have the central heating on even though its quite cold. I just can't afford the bills. We have extra duvets on our bed (after I had two not good nights because it was cold, my kids already have this) and wear jumpers/dressing gowns.

However, if I had a lodger, I'd regard as in my best interests to have heating on within reason.

G_M

Some people take in lodgers because they want the company.

Some because they want the money.

Treating lodgers the way you describe is not really going to achieve either....

elephantrosie

Thanks for all the reply. It has been a very distressing situation for me.

In regard to the fan heater usage, it was out of desperation because the only thing I could do was hide under my blanket because it was too cold for anything else. I have totally stopped using it.

In regard to live-in landlords and lodgers rights:
1) do landlords have access to rooms rented out to lodgers without permission?
2) can landlords go through lodgers' private belongings without permission?
3) can landlords take away items in the room that was provided as part of the rent?

I really would prefer advance notice for her to enter my room. She is now entering my room at least once a day (and not all of these are to show viewers the room).

I have given her a month notice that I will leave the room, although did request to move out earlier too. My rental for this new calendar month started last Monday and I am using my deposit to pay for it. My friend has advised me to stay as long as I could, until I used up my deposit (as rental for these few weeks). Initially I thought she would return me the deposit if I moved out earlier (as agreed by her), but looking at the situation now, i dont think I can dream seeing my deposit.

Pixie5740

elephantrosie wrote: »

Thanks for all the reply. It has been a very distressing situation for me.

In regard to the fan heater usage, it was out of desperation because the only thing I could do was hide under my blanket because it was too cold for anything else. I have totally stopped using it.

In regard to live-in landlords and lodgers rights:
1) do landlords have access to rooms rented out to lodgers without permission?
2) can landlords go through lodgers' private belongings without permission?
3) can landlords take away items in the room that was provided as part of the rent?

1) Already been answered, yes she can it's her house. Rude but not unlawful.

2) Again rude but not unlawful. I doubt she'll keep hold of any lodger if that's how she behaves.

3) Was the lamp specifically included in your contract? I can't read it from here.

If you hate living there so much why did you give a month's notice? Why not one week and then, "sayonara baby?"

Your friend has given you some duff advice. You could have moved out and if the daft boot tried to keep any of your deposit without good reason then you send a letter-before-action and if she's still not forthcoming with your money you take her to small claims court.

elephantrosie

thanks pixie. it takes time to find a suitable place. i have found one and its through an agent so takes a week to get through.

unfortunately, i do not have a contract with her, although I do have a piece of paper written by her about the deposit value and she would return the money to me when i move out.

could you please guide me to the page where it says live in landlords have access to lodgers private belongings?

ScorpiondeRooftrouser

michelle09 wrote: »

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If the fan heater is yours and you're taking it - maybe next time offer to pay to run it? One of our lodgers sleeps with a white noise machine, which I only discovered when our electricity bill jumped after them moving in. We had a discussion where I said they either needed to stop running it, or they could agree to pay an extra £15/month towards the electricity bill to cover the cost of it. They went with the second and it's now an non-issue. They get what they want and it no longer bothers me.

Generating heat, particularly, and light burns energy. Sound, not so much. A white noise generator could be compared to a radio or a CD player. it's very unlikely that this would be more than 10 watts, so 10 w/h, 0.01kwh. That's 1.68 kWh per week, 87kwh per year if running 24/7, which it presumably wasn't. Let's round up to 100.

A typical tariff at the moment is about 12 pence per kwH. That would work out, on this, what is probably a massive overestimate, to 100 * 0.12 = £12 a year. It's more likely to be a lot less, as the 10 watts is far more than such a machine needs to generate presumably quiet sound, and I have assumed it is never switched off.

I am not surprised it no longer bothers you but I think you should rethink your charge. If your bills have jumped by an appreciable amount, you have fixed on the wrong cause. Is another lodger running something else which is now getting paid for by this one?

G_M

elephantrosie wrote: »

could you please guide me to the page where it says live in landlords have access to lodgers private belongings?

There is no law that says she can do this.

Similarly there is no law that says I can stop strangers in the street and ask them the time.

But both these activities are lawful.

More relevantly, there is no law that says she can NOT do this.

If you were a tenant there would be various laws protecting you from various activities by the landlady - but these do not apply to you.

Of course, other laws DO apply to protect you eg
* removing your belongings would be theft
* ripping them or pouring paint on them would be criminal damage

moneyistooshorttomention

elephantrosie wrote: »

could you please guide me to the page where it says live in landlords have access to lodgers private belongings?

I've had lodgers before (many years back) and have never been aware of any law stating I had the legal right to go through lodgers private belongings. I very much doubt there is a law allowing that.

I'd be surprised if landladies are allowed to remove any furniture that was there in situ when a lodger agreed to take the room (otherwise they could just gradually "chip away" at it and remove the lot - even the bed). I would imagine there is no law specifically mentioning landladys possessions in the room - but, if there is such a law, then I imagine it would state words to effect of "Room must remain as seen on agreement of tenancy".

Certainly - I took it that I must leave even my own possessions be in that room. The only time I changed the situation was when I decided to put a tv in the room as well - which the lodger was duly glad of.

Quite obviously - no-one has the right in any circumstances to go through someone else's private belongings. We all know that fact. The only exception to that rule is a wife going through her husbands private belongings (eg borrowing some money from him - with his consent) or vice-versa. Some wives extend that to literally throwing away their husbands possessions (which shocks me personally - and I wouldnt have dreamt of doing that - but it is regarded as normal behaviour by many). But interactions between husband and wife (or equivalent) is the only exception to the societal acceptance that one does not go through someone else's private belongings.

elephantrosie

while i was away, she came into my room and looked through a few things on my table. in fact when i could not find my passport momentarily yesterday, i panicked... but i did eventually found it.

where can i get advice on a lodgers rights? i am aware that lodgers have fewer rights than tenants.