Items changed in Tenancy Contract

Tenant8675

Hi all,

I have some queries I am hoping someone can help me with.

We have rented a private house with an assured short-hold tenancy since 2016. Our original contract stated along with rent we were responsible for electricity and that was all. After 6 months our tenancy ended and we renewed for a further 6 months. At this time the landlord emailed us through an updated contract to initial and sign, in this email he stated he had highlighted the changes within the contract. The date and notice period (which we had agreed to change) were highlighted and we were happy with it so we signed and initialled every page and sent it back to the landlord.

We are now nearing the end of the tenancy and the landlord is asking us for money for the water and telecommunication bills. Having now further checked the renewed contract, he had also added in that we were responsible for these bills too but he did not highlight them or notify us of this change.

Now I am aware I was stupid not to have noticed them when I read the new contract but at this stage I trusted the landlord and had no reason to think he would do something sneaky like this. I have all the email correspondence from this period. Does the fact that he claimed to have highlighted the changes in the contract but he hadn't highlighted this change hold any weight if we refuse to pay these bills which are going to be for a full year of water and telecommunications? If I had known of this change I wouldn't have signed the contract and because I didn't know I wasn't able to switch telecommunications to a cheaper supplier. Again I appreciate I have been foolish here, I did read the contract but didn't notice this change.

Further to this we don't think the landlord has protected our deposit. He doesn't appear to have done this when we originally moved in or when we signed a new contract. I have checked the 3 schemes and none recognise my deposit details. We have never received any protection scheme details or prescribed information. Our tenancy doesn't end until next month even though we have already moved out. Should I ask the landlord to protect the deposit now or am I better waiting until after the tenancy ends?

Since we have moved out we have also visited the house a few times and have noticed bedding on the bed and towels in the bathroom as if the landlord or someone else has stayed over. What is the best way for us to record this or raise this issue as I feel the landlord would just deny it but we dont feel its right for him or someone else to access the property without our permission even if we have already moved out because our rent still covers this period.

Thanks for any advice

Comms69

To be honest is he hasn't protected your deposit, he's an idiot. Any money you owe him (which you do to a point owe him for the bills) - will be negligible when compared to a claim for 3x the value of the deposit.


I'd suggest you simply change the locks for the last few weeks.

PersianCatLady

I am confused here.

Why would your LL pay for your telephone bills??

As regards the deposit, I know this sounds stupid but did you actually give your LL a deposit and not just rent in advance for the first month or two?

How much was your deposit?

Do you have any proof of paying this amount as a deposit?

Tenant8675

Hi,

Thanks for advice.

We do not use a telephone so there isn't a phone bill for phone usage but there is broadband installed in the property and this was originally part of the agreement that the broadband was included (including line rental). I am a landlord myself and I pay for my tenants broadband and line rental so I don't think this is that unusual.

We definitely paid a deposit, it was more than one months rent and we have subsequently paid rent for our entire tenancy on top of this. I have bank transfer details proving we paid the deposit and also emails from the landlord saying he has protected the deposit but he is not forthcoming in providing the details of the protection despite numerous times of asking for it.

Thanks