Whole Ground Floor Off-Limits

trioceros

I live in a HMO, with 2 other students, and 2 landlords who share a room. If you've seen my other posts, you know it's been a nightmare, but the main issues were:

1) The landlord's mother was/is residing in the living room. We were told it would be "for a few weeks" in passing at a meal. Officially, we were given just under 2 days written notice, not told how long she would be staying, and compensated £50 about a month after her arrival.

An update to this: I managed to get written confirmation via text (today, over a month since she arrived) of when she would be leaving: 2nd December. Given we had written proof of her arrival, I now know she was staying for 44 days or just over 6 weeks. Given that the living room was deemed "communal space" and I'd been told by the landlords that they "never used it" on account of them having a TV in their room, I found it ludicrous that they were doing this at all, let alone for over a month (especially because I consider a few weeks 2-3 weeks, not 6+ with no notice). She has not been respectful of the fact she's taken up a large area of our space already, and frequently sits in the kitchen playing TV loudly on her phone, cooks slowly over the course of a few hours, taking up counter space, etc etc. They have also had frequent guests without forewarning, meaning there are strangers in my house a lot of the time, reducing access to the kitchen (as it is a kitchen-diner and the only remaining social area in the house).

2) I was informed a few days ago, that from the 2nd-20th December, the kitchen would be being replaced. This would mean no fridge/freezer, oven, drinking water, and washing machine during this time, and everything in the kitchen would need to be relocated. Yesterday, this date was pushed forward to Monday, though we would still have access to the hob/fridge for a few days (unsure how long this will stand for). I assumed the microwave/kettle were being moved into the living room, and I could store my stuff in there 'til the kitchen was done. I'm in a loft room, and didn't fancy bringing pots and plates down 2 flights of wooden stairs every time I want to eat, as I've slipped on them a few times and am quite anxious about doing it again.

We are once again being offered £50 in compensation. Which I already thought was ridiculous, but now that I know I will have zero access to my kitchen AND living room, I think it is even worse. The ground floor is just the living room and kitchen-diner, so with it all now being off limits, I have 0 communal space and am still paying essentially the full rent (I pay £550 for a room, shared bathroom, shared living room, and shared kitchen-diner).

My main question is: I have an appointment with a free legal team on Wednesday. What do I best say to express my concerns, without coming across as wanting to cause trouble? All I want is my deposit back, and to leave the house fairly amicably. I don't want to go straight to the council, as I'm not vindictive, I'm just too busy to be dealing with this. The stress has already caused me to miss lectures and shifts at work. And, how do I keep this stress from bubbling over while I have no kitchen? The idea of not having access to food for a while is really stressing me out. Thank you for any advice.

HampshireH

Probably could have kept it on one post. Would have saved you typing it all again.

What is stopping you leaving amicably and getting your deposit back?

You will at least have use of the lounge from the 2nd when they leave.

trioceros

Probably could have kept it on one post. Would have saved you typing it all again.

What is stopping you leaving amicably and getting your deposit back?

You will at least have use of the lounge from the 2nd when they leave.

One of the posts got a bit lost in a debate about laundry costs and kind of lost tangent aha, so I figured I'd just make one anew.

There's a clause in the agreement that says I can't leave before the agreed termination date without paying a £550.00 fee. So, my deposit. This is likely because they know they won't fill the room at this point in the year (I posted on a forum looking at possible new rooms and got 5+ responses in under an hour), and I cannot afford to lose my deposit.

Having the living room back after the 2nd is all well and good, but that means I will have to move my things from my room to the kitchen every time I want to cook for a week, and have no access to a social area until then. It has been over a month since I have been able to host friends at my house, as the landlords use the dining room every evening (there are 4 seats and 2 landlords and the mother) and the living room is entirely off limits, even when they're not in there (this was explicitly stated to us) and it's getting tiring feeling like I'm not living in my own house, despite paying significantly more than all of my friends in the area.

Wanderingpomm

You say it’s a HMO but I assume you are lodgers if you live with your LL?

If so I’m not sure a shorthold tenancy is valid. If it is. HMO then a kitchen is a requirement

tacpot12

Stop paying rent (for one month) would seem to be the best option. While you are in breech of contract, it will allow you to apply pressure to your landlord to resolve these issues. The landlord will need to take the correct steps evict you and this will take time and cost him, so just let him know that you have not paid because you are not happy with the situation. Keep the rent on deposit somewhere as you are liable to pay it at some point. It the situation doesn't get resolved by the end of your fixed term, just leave owing one months rent. You won't get your deposit back, but you will have one months rent saved somewhere.

Tell the landlord to keep his compensation, but say you won't be paying rent for one month because you need the money to eat out or from take-aways while the kitchen is out of action. Tell him how much compensation you want AND that you would be happy to leave immediately if you get your deposit back but will not leave until he signs a document allowing you to surrender and confirming the date that you are liable for rent to.

Note that this advice assumes you have a shorthold tenancy - if you are an excluded occupier, please don't try the above.

trioceros

Unfortunately, I can't not pay: I paid upfront for the term (so, until December). If I could, I would, but I didn't foresee all of this happening, and since I subsist pretty much solely on my loan, it made sense at the time to just pay upfront. I won't make the mistake again, but also, I can't undo it now.

I believe I am a lodger, but my uni's housing advisor noted some irregularities in my contract that could render it void (ie, they said it was a £5 a day charge for late rent. I've been informed this isn't legal). I have a meeting with a London Universities housing/legal team on Wednesday.

[Deleted User]

Just find somewhere else to live. I'm beginning to wonder if part of you is enjoying these battles over who is right etc.

Staying there with the long standing never ending battles over access to kitchen and lounge, plus other things is just not sane.

You share facilities with the LL so are a lodger, you can leave. For an argument to happen, there has to be two people willing to argue. For someone to be a victim in this situation, you have to agree to play the role.

Stop. Just leave.

Norman_Castle

trioceros wrote: »

An update to this: I managed to get written confirmation via text (today, over a month since she arrived) of when she would be leaving: 2nd December. Given we had written proof of her arrival, I now know she was staying for 44 days or just over 6 weeks.

2) I was informed a few days ago, that from the 2nd-20th December, the kitchen would be being replaced. This would mean no fridge/freezer, oven, drinking water, and washing machine during this time, and everything in the kitchen would need to be relocated.

Any reason a temporary kitchen cannot be set up in the vacated living room? Will the living room be full of the mothers possessions ready for her return to her new kitchen?

trioceros

Just find somewhere else to live. I'm beginning to wonder if part of you is enjoying these battles over who is right etc.

Did you read anything I posted? I cannot afford to just leave. I've paid upfront, which means I'll lose at least my deposit of £550, and given their unwillingness to budge on other issues, I cannot guarantee they'll give me the month's rent back too. I'm an estranged student working a part time job, I can't afford to lose £1,100. Moreover, most new places will require me to pick up a new deposit. I can tell you now, I have >£100 in my bank account because of how much they have cost me. I cannot afford a deposit. I can barely afford to eat.

Any reason a temporary kitchen cannot be set up in the vacated living room? Will the living room be full of the mothers possessions ready for her return to her new kitchen?

In the next sentence I do say that they changed the date - it is now being ripped out tomorrow (25th). That is the source of contention. I have no place to store my things, will have no access to food/water for an indefinite amount of time, etc.

kerri_gt

Not healthy but for a week until the living room is free can you manage with a kettle in your room and a microwave perhaps? Buy some bottled water and use it for some noodles / porridge and ping some ready meals. Could you eat at the SU for that week perhaps? There will be water in the bathroom so shouldn't be a case there will be no water at all.

Perhaps you could stay with friends for a couple of nights too?

It's all inconvenient and not ideal but if you can't move then you need to look at managing somehow.