Unfairly treated as a tenant, do I have rights?

Moon.cat

I moved in with my partner and another housemate last year in a shared house. The house is owned by my partners mother (she doesn't live there). Me and the housemate pay rent every month and my partner only pays bills. I recently found out something she was doing that meant either her, or me and the other housemate could be liable financially (I won't go into it too much for legal reasoning).

After I informed her of this, and explained she would need to contact the correct authorities, She's blocked my phone number, told her son she wants me out of the house. He told me on the 8th August and a months notice would be the 8th of September. I've been told I need to be out by the 2nd as that's when I payed my rent to. I haven't received any written or verbal notice directly from her and she's passed on that she wants the keys back tomorrow.
I've been a good tenant. I looked after the home. Paid my rent on time everytime. Not caused any noise or trouble. I feel like I've been unfairly kicked out.
Luckily me and partner were looking for somewhere else from the moment he informed me she wants me out, so we are in the process of moving into somewhere else.
The only problem is I didn't sign any written agreement when I moved in as I was told I don't really need to. Do I have any rights and has she done things properly?

Red-Squirrel_2

What happened to your previous thread on this that went on for ages and where you were given loads of advice, mostly to get out and run!

G_M

Are you a lodger or a tenant?

macman

No, she hasn't done things right at all. You would appear to have a legal tenancy, having paid rent, despite the lack of a written agreement. So she can't evict you just by giving 4 weeks notice.
I'm also guessing that your deposit was not protected, and no EPC or gas safety certificate was supplied? And that she is not declaring the rental income for tax?
However, since you are in the process of moving out anyway, what is it that you are seeking from her?
You really need to do a bit of research on the rights and responsibilities of tenants and LL's to avoid this kind of thing in the future.
PS: just noticed that you describe it as a 'shared house'. So is this a tenancy, HMO or lodger arrangement.? If you are a lodger, then your rights are minimal, as you do not have a tenancy.
Who else shares the house and how is it divided up? Do you have your own kitchen and bathroom?

Moon.cat

I'm a tenant in the house. She doesn't live there. She's renting it out as a shared home.

Moon.cat

We are only moving out because she kicked me out. Not necessarily out of choice.

Moon.cat

I have mentioned were moving out.
I'm only looking for a tenant/landlord perspective on this. She is nothing more to me as far as I'm concerned.

Moon.cat

Correct in all the things you've asked.
Although I didn't pay a deposit as.i said I won't pay one without a written agreement anyway so they told me.to not worry about it.

Moon.cat

HMO. Three tenants. Three separate rooms. Shared kitchen bathroom etc. 2 rent payers.

macman

You need to explain the shared house arrangement as above. You may not be a tenant at all.
She hasn't kicked you out. You are still there. If you are a tenant, then you can stay until you are evicted. And eviction requires her to comply with the necessary processes, not just send you a text message.

G_M

Moon.cat wrote: »

I moved in with my partner and another housemate last year in a shared house. The house is owned by my partners mother (she doesn't live there). Me and the housemate pay rent every month and my partner only pays bills

Who gave you your key - your partner or his mother?
Who do you give your rent money to - your partner or his mother?
If there's no written agreement, what verbal agreement was made and was it your partner who agreed everything with his mother or did you discuss/agree with her directly yourself.


This will clarify whether you are a tenant or not.


If you are, then clearly you have tenant's rights eg


* you do not have topay any rent unless/untill your landlord gives you, in writing, an address where you can serve notices on her
* you do not have to leave unless/until your LL gets a court possession order (via a S21 or S8 Notice)


However I am not convinced yet that your partner is not your landlord.....