Renting without tenancy agreements - your rights

Starekss

Hi. I have been renting property from my ex girlfriend. I started renting it while we were still together. Now I am looking for new place, but even though I've paid for that month by bank transfer, she tells me to move out immediately as I don't have any legal right's to stay there. I don't have any money to move out now, and she threats me that she will throw away all my stuff, since I'm not legally living here. I don't have any tenancy agreement, and only on last payment I've made I used "Rent" in reference. I don't have any other proof that I'm renting from her, she got keys and can just come here and throw my stuff away while I won't be here. What are my rights ? Do I have any ?

davidmcn

You can change the locks, for starters.

Starekss

Will she not call police that I changed something in her property and she will get in anyways calling for locksmith presenting that she owns the flat ?

Slithery

You do have a tenancy agreement - it just isn't written down anywhere.

The fact that you've been paying rent and occupying the property creates an agreement. You are in by far the stronger position because as she didn't give you the legally required information when you started she will have a whole load of legal hoops to jump through to legally evict you. Change the locks - you have at least 6 months left in the property if you want.

newsgroupmonkey_

Have a read of the very first post at the top of this forum.

If she doesn't live there and you can prove you live there, you're a tenant. Verbally implied, contractual or other. It's different if she lives there too as you are a lodger.

Then speak to Shelter. The Police will not kick you out. She's living in cloud cuckoo land.

davidmcn

Starekss said:

Will she not call police that I changed something in her property and she will get in anyways calling for locksmith presenting that she owns the flat ?

Tenants changing locks is not a police matter. Whereas a landlord illegally evicting a tenant will be.

Slithery

newsgroupmonkey_ said:

Have a read of the very first post at the top of this forum.

Unfortunately all of G_M's guides have been removed - I was going to point the OP there myself.

Starekss

Yeah I would love to change the locks, but can't afford that. Have no money at the moment, she made me pay all of the fees and bills lately and I'm broke till 25th of March. I've contacted police and they registered my case, told me to call them again if anything happens. I also contacted free legal service advice, I qualify as Im in debts (thank god ?). They will be in touch with me in 48 hours. I just want to stay here till 25th of March, and knowing her (she is mental), she will throw away my stuff next time I will be at work.

Slithery

Can you borrow the money from someone? Replacement barrels can be had for around a tenner each and are trivial to fit.

Starekss

Yeah I'm trying to borrow money from someone. For everything I wrote to her now that it is illegal, she told me "see you in court. wait 7 days and we will see how have more rights in here". What does that mean ? What can she gain in 7 days ?

hazyjo

She gains nothing. (Presuming she wasn't living in the same property.) She's obviously taken advice and realised she ain't got a leg to stand on. Trying to scare you into now having 7 days to get out. Do you see how she is being more reasonable already?

I would make it very clear to her that you know your rights. See/speak to Shelter for more info.