Rented House advice

Paul_Jones_1984

cjdavies wrote: »

:wall: and mess up your credit rating.

What if someone doesn't want credit? Or is unlikely to be given credit again anyway?
Maybe in that situation it makes more sense for someone to keep their money, not pay off any debts and let the creditors try their best.

I'm not saying that's what I'm going to do. But I want to consider all the options.

Paul_Jones_1984

buggy_boy wrote: »

Your insane if you consider option 2, you will still be liable for the costs, you will also be liable for all the legal costs... Also as a warning, its likely the LA will find where you live, when bailiffs arrive at your parents house they will assume everything inside is yours unless you can prove with receipts etc that everything of value is theirs not yours, can you and they do that?

If you want to be kind to your ex, say to her that as it is you on the tenancy you are responsible for the property, say you will pay for a months rent and all the bills etc but then she needs to leave.... If she does not leave wait a few more days after the month is up then change the locks when she is out, remember to stick a piece of paper on the inside so it can be seen from the outside saying something along the lines of "Notice: Only (your name) gives permission to change any locks, anyone doing so without this permission is committing a criminal offence and will be seen as breaking and entering)", this will stop her changing the locks back on you if you are out....

Once you are in the property talk to the agent, they will likely say you will have to cover the cost of the rent till a new tenant can be found and the tenant finding fee.

Thanks. I had not realized the bailiffs would take my parents belongings. I thought that as it was their house, they would assume on balance that the furniture belonged to the homeowner, rather than a guest.

Good idea about the notice in the window too. I'd not thought of that.

Slithery

Paul_Jones_1984 wrote: »

She's always been told that you need to wait until the bailiffs arrive, before moving out of anywhere. She's said it before when we were in Leeds, talking about her old place etc. That seems absolutely ingrained in her mind, wait until the bailiffs arrive.

That would be true if she was actually a tenant, but she isn't.

She has no legal right to be in the property.

Ragtimeplayer

Paul_Jones_1984 wrote: »

And how do I know when she's out?
She only really goes on short trips to the shops.
So if she's only gone out to the shops, do I just call the locksmith? Most likely she'd be back before they arrived.
Sounds like you don't really have much experience of this situation.

If this is real and I still have my doubts, in your shoes, I would have already spoken to a few locksmiths in that area to see what their availability is. I know a locksmith locally to me and he will arrive within 15 minutes, you just need to sound a few out and explain the situation about having to be there on short notice.

I just think you should be more proactive and less laid back about it, getting her out and you back in, is an absolute priority but you don't seem to want to do that with any haste, that is why it comes across as slightly unbelievable.

Paul_Jones_1984

Quizzical_Squirrel wrote: »

Would it be a good idea to contact the relevant council(s) to find out what would happen if this woman and her children presented themselves as immediately homeless in these circumstances?

It might reassure you, give you somewhere to point her, and inform you about any paperwork she needs (e.g. a letter saying she is no longer welcome at your home).

I agree with everyone that you must get her out of your rental property, for so many very good reasons, but she needs to have somewhere to go. Somewhere that's open in the daytime that she can get to.
You can't just leave her on a winter street with babies.

If the council won't take her immediately, can you pre-pay somewhere for a week?

Someone at work said the council should help her now, as she is at risk of homelessness.
I think I will speak to the council about it.
Thanks.

lildoonbuggy

Despite my instinct that this is a wind up, I'll bite.

Given all the info you've provided I'm not convinced that this single, broke young mother had the locks changed on the house. One, she probably would have had to provide documentation, 2 it costs a lot of money to change locks.

Have you even checked that they have changed? Including any back doors and windows? You only mention that she told you over the phone that the locks were changed, and that was in response to you saying you were coming over. Maybe she just said it in the heat of the moment.

I would also disagree with others who say don't contact the letting agent. As a landlord myself, that is the first thing I'd want to know and I would think you have a lot more power with them on your side, than waiting for the worst case to happen. If you are thinking long term I.e. getting discharged from your lease early, it would pay to do the right thing by them. They will also be able to provide advice regarding your obligations and basic rights.

Paul_Jones_1984

Slithery wrote: »

That would be true if she was actually a tenant, but she isn't.

She has no legal right to be in the property.

I understand that, but I don't think she does.
She probably would believe it, if someone from CAB or Shelter or even the council explained it to her. From her perspective, this house is better than the old one in Leeds and she will stay put as long as possible.
But I'm planning to go ahead and change the locks anyway.

Slithery

lildoonbuggy wrote: »

Given all the info you've provided I'm not convinced that this single, broke young mother had the locks changed on the house. One, she probably would have had to provide documentation, 2 it costs a lot of money to change locks.

You don't need to provide documentation to get the locks changed if you're already in the property and have keys, only if it needs breaking in to.

In fact you don't even need a locksmith, new barrels can be had from the local hardware store for a few quid each and it only takes seconds to change them yourself.

Paul_Jones_1984

lildoonbuggy wrote: »

Despite my instinct that this is a wind up, I'll bite.

Given all the info you've provided I'm not convinced that this single, broke young mother had the locks changed on the house. One, she probably would have had to provide documentation, 2 it costs a lot of money to change locks.

Have you even checked that they have changed? Including any back doors and windows? You only mention that she told you over the phone that the locks were changed, and that was in response to you saying you were coming over. Maybe she just said it in the heat of the moment.

I would also disagree with others who say don't contact the letting agent. As a landlord myself, that is the first thing I'd want to know and I would think you have a lot more power with them on your side, than waiting for the worst case to happen. If you are thinking long term I.e. getting discharged from your lease early, it would pay to do the right thing by them. They will also be able to provide advice regarding your obligations and basic rights.

No, I haven't actually checked to see if the locks have been changed.
She did get them changed when she moved in to her house in Leeds.
It's a good point and I will check. Obviously I will still want to get them changed myself, but it would make things slightly easier perhaps.

Ms_Chocaholic

Depending on the design of the house (does it have a porch) - can you go round in the dead of night and turn your key in the lock to see if it opens.