Problems with landlord

Comms69

Murphybear wrote: »

Answer to this and some other comments

Agree with comments about solicitor, landlord/tenant law is specialist. We have a free legal advice line with both Which and RAC. The latter says they can deal with L/T issues. Haven’t reported him to the police, I’m a bit concerned they would just say it was a civil matter. I have spoken to Shelter at length, they said that cutting off the water was a criminal and civil offence and it was up to the local police to decide which. - It's really not up to the police to decide anything. The police investigate, they do not make charging decisions.

I emailed Environmental Health yesterday and gave them the details. They contacted me within hours, almost unheard of so they obviously take it seriously. They asked for the LLs details which I sent with details of the issues. I did tell LL this but he brushed aside.

The tenancy deposit has been protected correctly. We will owe the LL about 6 weeks water and electric which we are happy to pay. I am going to ask the DPS to take it out of the deposit and I intend to bill the LL for one days equivalent rent for every day we’ve been without water. He’ll probably contest it but hey ho I’m prepared for a fight. - well a rent abatement would be appropriate - that's the terminology.

We’ve been renting for years, never had a problem before so I’m sure it’s not just us.

You really do need to report it to the police. even if they claim it's civil, more often than not neighbourhood policing teams will at least try to sort it out.

Murphybear

Annie35 wrote: »

Don't know why some posters are getting their knickers in a twist, Murphy said she'd contacted the council in post 5 & was talking to shelter in another post. Also how the LL acts to the next tenants is not her concern.

This is just 1 in a long sorry tale so I don't blame Murphybear for taking a Zen path for the next 2 weeks till they move out.. can you not get in your new place sooner?

We have been given a Housing Association over 60s house. It!!!8217;s been empty for a year and they want to titivate and put new carpets in every room. These are scheduled for Monday and we sign the contract following Monday. Moving out on Wednesday 14 th. Neither HA nor removal firm can do earlier. We!!!8217;re a bit behind with the packing as well. To make matters worse, anyone who has been following the news, mainly about the weather :cool: there is big band of evil weather down part of Wales and Devon and we are right in the middle of it. It!!!8217;s blasting flurries of snow across Dartmoor. Hopefully weather will be OK in 13 days.

Smodlet

At least it is days, not weeks or months until you will be free from the LL from hell. I really, really hope you crucify him, Murphybear but understand you will have better things to do.

Best of luck with your move; please let us know how it goes.

Smodlet x

ancientofdays

Hope your move goes smoothly and that your landlord sits on a cowpat and finds it impossible to rise.

Smodlet

ancientofdays wrote: »

Hope your move goes smoothly and that your landlord sits on a cowpat and finds it impossible to rise.

:T It is difficult to rise from one's true level.

Murphybear

Quick update.

We drove very carefully back to the house this morning, braving the snow etc.

Still no water

I got through to the Environmental Health Dept who were really helpful. They confirmed that the temperature of the house and owning the water supply is completely irrelevant and turning the water off is strict no no. I gave her one of the LLs numbers and they are trying to contact them. Problem us they are probably out on the farm sorting out the animals (and rightly so). She said if they couldn’t get this resolved they would send someone out. Unfortunately this could take a while as the council offices are closed and they are working from home.

OH got a few buckets of snow to melt for hand washing, flushing the loo etc :T

On a more serious note I mentioned we’d had a run in with the LL and raised voices were exchanged. What I didn’t mention before because I was upset is the landlord threatened me and hit me. It was accidental and not particularly violent. I have done as everyone suggested and filed a detailed report with the police. I have told them that both LLs have committed harassment and one committed assault. They will hopefully get back to me.

I will be reporting them to the council as soon as weather improves and snow goes and the office opens again.

Wait for the next exciting instalment of the “trials and tribulations of Murphybear”

Comms69

Murphybear wrote: »

Quick update.

We drove very carefully back to the house this morning, braving the snow etc.

Still no water

I got through to the Environmental Health Dept who were really helpful. They confirmed that the temperature of the house and owning the water supply is completely irrelevant and turning the water off is strict no no. I gave her one of the LLs numbers and they are trying to contact them. Problem us they are probably out on the farm sorting out the animals (and rightly so). She said if they couldn’t get this resolved they would send someone out. Unfortunately this could take a while as the council offices are closed and they are working from home.

OH got a few buckets of snow to melt for hand washing, flushing the loo etc :T

On a more serious note I mentioned we’d had a run in with the LL and raised voices were exchanged. What I didn’t mention before because I was upset is the landlord threatened me and hit me. It was accidental and not particularly violent. I have done as everyone suggested and filed a detailed report with the police. I have told them that both LLs have committed harassment and one committed assault. They will hopefully get back to me.

I will be reporting them to the council as soon as weather improves and snow goes and the office opens again.

Wait for the next exciting instalment of the “trials and tribulations of Murphybear”

So what action have the police taken?

DaftyDuck

Comms69 wrote: »

So what action have the police taken?

Serious this may be, but they might just have their hands full at the moment....

OP. worth noting down all the details of what happened whe... or just print out the thread!

Comms69

DaftyDuck wrote: »

Serious this may be, but they might just have their hands full at the moment....

OP. worth noting down all the details of what happened whe... or just print out the thread!

Indeed, but actually not all police officers deal with all offences as part of their duties.


So yes I'm sure they are busy, but much of this type of work is done by neighbourhood policing teams.


usually a PCSO and a PC working together

Smodlet

How dare he? Accidental or not, assault is assault. I hope they throw the book at him. Neither should he have shouted at you, let alone threatened you. Shelter need to know this if you can bear to go over it again and the police need to do what they are paid to do, snow or no snow.