Rented House advice

Paul_Jones_1984

I don't want to become a landlord, charge rent etc. For a start it's impossible, because GF will not pay me any rent.

HampshireH

Paul_Jones_1984 wrote: »

Girlfriend moved from a private rental house near Leeds. The new rental house is in South Wales. I was working near Leeds when we met. But my parents live in South Wales and I work here now.

I know she claimed LHA in Leeds, but maybe the rules are different in Wales?

Rules arent likely to be different.

She had a tenancy in Leeds. She doesnt in South Wales.

You sound very Naive. And I suggest you take some of these points on board and very seriously. She could financially ruin you if you allow this to continue.

For starters you are responsible for the rent - so for the next 9 months you will have to pay your landlord wherever you live.

How long were you together? Seems odd she would suddenly upsticks with a child so quickly unless she was running away (i.e. bad tenant/debts etc) Do you know her housing background? Was she evicted - why the rush?

Also Local Authority may tell her to go back to where she came from as if she had no local connection she may have even less chance of being re-housed.

I suggest going home or reading up on how to become a Landlord because for as long as you are not there you are suggesting she had a right to be there.

she could trash the place and you would be liable for the bill. Can you afford to pay for her for 9 months if you aren't committed to the relationship?

G_M

Paul_Jones_1984 wrote: »

I don't want to become a landlord, charge rent etc. For a start it's impossible, because GF will not pay me any rent.

Well I guess in that case you must accept

1) you will have to pay rent to your landlord (via his agent) for the next 9 months till the tenancy ends
2) this will be from your own pocket as gf is not pying you rent
3) gf wiill remain there, with your permission, as a licencee
4) after your 12 month tenancy period ends, if you are unable to return the property to your landlord with vacant possession, ie if she stays, then you (not she) will ceate a periodic tenancy with your landlord and have to continue paying the rent
5) throughout this, she wiill not be able to claim anything on benefits as she has no tenancy, and no obligation to pay rent (since you refuse to eacome her landlord.

Get her out.

Or move back in. If necessary, pay a locksmith to break into your home. (it might be wise to advise the local police first in case she calls them. Or do it when she's out).

The only alternative is to pursuade your landlord, via the agent to
* agree an ;Early Surrender' of your tenancy and
* grant the gf a tenancy in her own name.
I don't see them agreeing given that she has no income.

Why you moved out is beyond me. Mad.

Paul_Jones_1984

Thanks for the advice. Yes, I can see how it appears naive, but my work situation changed at short notice and I needed to move back to South Wales. I didn't do a lot of research about the letting rules etc.

Having said that, not sure what else I could have done in my situation. I needed to move back, so there wasn't really any other option than having GF come with me.

I know GF was behind with her rent in Leeds and she also had other debts. We were together for six months prior to me moving back to Wales.

I spoke to a work colleague today. He advised writing GF a letter and having it posted by recorded delivery. State in the letter that I will be paying no more money towards the rent or utilities. He said that GF can then take that letter to the benefits office and they can take it from there.

I texted GF about me coming round to pick up some belongings. That's when she told me she'd changed the locks.

Colleague advised me not to go around to the house without her agreement or I could be accused of harassment etc. I'll have to get advice on that, because I do need some more belongings, paperwork etc from the house.

Ms_Chocaholic

What prompted you to leave the house?

You need to get back into the house quick and if that involves hiring a locksmith then so be it, try and do it when she is out. You are not responsible for her or her child, particularly given that the relationship was only very short.

The longer you leave this the more difficult it will become.

HampshireH

Paul_Jones_1984 wrote: »

Thanks for the advice. Yes, I can see how it appears naive, but my work situation changed at short notice and I needed to move back to South Wales. I didn't do a lot of research about the letting rules etc.

Having said that, not sure what else I could have done in my situation. I needed to move back, so there wasn't really any other option than having GF come with me.

I know GF was behind with her rent in Leeds and she also had other debts. We were together for six months prior to me moving back to Wales.

I spoke to a work colleague today. He advised writing GF a letter and having it posted by recorded delivery. State in the letter that I will be paying no more money towards the rent or utilities. He said that GF can then take that letter to the benefits office and they can take it from there.

I texted GF about me coming round to pick up some belongings. That's when she told me she'd changed the locks.

Colleague advised me not to go around to the house without her agreement or I could be accused of harassment etc. I'll have to get advice on that, because I do need some more belongings, paperwork etc from the house.

Not sure why you are ignoring all advice.

If you stop payiing rent then YOU will find yourself in court with bigs debts and court orders.

Your G/F will NOT be entitled to the Council paying the rent because SHE doesnt have a tenancy agreement. SHE has not legal right to claim money for something she doesnt have.

Why come on a forum to seek advice from people if you are going to ignore it and take the very bad advice from a friend.

Is your friend going to support you financially when it goes even more wrong?

She sounds like a chancer who is winning. Your sounding like a fool who is failing to grasp the reality of the situation.

I dont mean to sound rude but you don't get it.

steampowered

saajan_12 wrote: »

You will be liable to pay rent for the remaining term of the lease. -agree, until the tenancy is properly terminated AND OP and their guests (ie gf) have vacated.

See http://www.landlordlawblog.co.uk/2012/02/29/what-happens-if-the-tenant-gives-notice-but-then-doesnt-leave/

This suggests that the tenancy will have come to an end, even though the guest is still in the property.

Would it not be the case that, once the tenancy comes to an end, the Op is no longer liable for rent? At which point the girlfriend will be a trespasser/excluded occupier?

No doubt the Op may have breached some clauses of the tenancy agreement if he fails to return the property with vacant possession at the end of the lease, but could be an option worth considering if the girlfriend refuses to leave (as it is clearly not feasible for the Op to keep paying the rent indefinitely)?

I am not sure the Op could apply to court to have the girlfriend evicted from the property in any event - wouldn't the landlord have to do it, if it came to that?

I'm not sure it is correct that the tenant is liable for double rent if the girlfriend refuses to leave in this scenario - the girlfriend is not the tenant (see http://www.landlordlawblog.co.uk/2009/12/01/ancient-law-may-help-landlords/).

Worth the Op getting some proper legal advice if the girlfriend refuses to leave.

Ms_Chocaholic

Also I'm not sure that the LA would house her as she has no links to the area.

HampshireH

Note: The council have no obligation to pay your rent (she doesnt owe rent you do).

Paul_Jones_1984

I should add, that GF doesn't work and has no income. I assume she will get other benefits, but not LHA? She'll have to sort that out for living expenses etc, as I won't be sending her any money. Neither of the children are mine and she doesn't get any maintenance for them either.

As the relationship had broken down, one of us needed to move out. Girlfriend has two kids in the house and I had my parents nearby, so it seemed the best option. I just wanted to defuse the situation I guess.