Reasonable costs for serving a Section 8 & 21?

macman

What sort of solicitor charges that much for serving an S21 without first checking that it won't be invalidated by non-protection of the deposit? Even at £600 per hour. which might be what the senior partner bills at (not the articled clerk or legal secretary who actually filled it in), £4K is about 7 hours work...I think not.

Dumblebore

Weirdly this is a solicitor with hundreds of staff (!).

Agreed on fruit loopiness @AdrianC, that's why we're moving out next week. 

Some advice I got on this was to look at the fixed costs on the small claims track as an example, about £50 or so to kick off going to a few hundred quid max (part 45 justice . gov)

Still can't believe they spent the "deposit" paying the lawyers though, can't see how that isn't criminal.

I'm glad the tenant fees legislation is coming in to further put a stop to this type of craziness (£5k per illegal demand). 

AdrianC

Dumblebore said:

Still can't believe they spent the "deposit" paying the lawyers though, can't see how that isn't criminal.

They can't.

When you move out, you reclaim your deposit from the protection agency.
They have to justify any deductions. Those lawyers bills are not justifiable, so they will not be allowed to retain that money...

To get that money off you, they will have to take you to small claim. They will not win.

Dumblebore

AdrianC said:

Dumblebore said:

Still can't believe they spent the "deposit" paying the lawyers though, can't see how that isn't criminal.

They can't.

When you move out, you reclaim your deposit from the protection agency.
They have to justify any deductions. Those lawyers bills are not justifiable, so they will not be allowed to retain that money...

To get that money off you, they will have to take you to small claim. They will not win.

Ay but in this case the deposit isn't in a scheme and he's said he already spent it paying the lawyers fees even before we moved out. All in writing cc'd to their lawyers. Crazy stuff.

This is why we are going to have to start proceedings for the statutory fines (1-3 deposit) on lack of deposit protection.

In terms of staying further without paying rent, wouldn't sit right with me. Fair does I was late by a couple months, fell on hard times but always paid my dues.

Plus don't particularly want to stay somewhere the owner doesn't want me, life's too short for that to save a few bob, would rather save headache particularly at times like this.

I do smell a massive renters strike coming though for those who haven't been able to get back on their feet and with furlough etc ending not much other option, look at the debacle on bounce back loans and how SEISS in comparison to furlough etc. Crazy stuff.

AdrianC

Dumblebore said:

Ay but in this case the deposit isn't in a scheme and he's said he already spent it paying the lawyers fees even before we moved out. All in writing cc'd to their lawyers. Crazy stuff.

Ah, yes... Hence the SC the other way. Which the idiot landlord will lose.

Plus don't particularly want to stay somewhere the owner doesn't want me, life's too short for that to save a few bob, would rather save headache particularly at times like this.

I'm with you on that.

I do smell a massive renters strike coming though for those who haven't been able to get back on their feet and with furlough etc ending not much other option, look at the debacle on bounce back loans and how SEISS in comparison to furlough etc. Crazy stuff.

It'll only bite the tenants in the long term. Except for those who already live in the margins, and either don't care about their credit histories and CCJs, or who are going to be effectively untraceable in the near future.

HampshireH

harryharry305 said:

Tell the LL you want £4000 cash or bankers cheque for you to leave quickly without smashing the place up

or it will cost him more than that and at least a year of no rent to get you out

remember you have the upper hand

This advice is ridiculous. Just leave quietly as you planned to and once you are elsewhere put your claim in etc and make as much noise as you like.

You already said you're moving so no need for the theatrical threats.

Make valid points you will see through to completion. You get far more credit for that

This poster is also spamming the forum with the same drivel

macman

harryharry305 said:

Tell the LL you want £4000 cash or bankers cheque for you to leave quickly without smashing the place up

or it will cost him more than that and at least a year of no rent to get you out

remember you have the upper hand

And at the end of that year you will still owe the total amount in arrears. Your info is wrong, you can serve an S8 tomorrow if the tenant is already 2 months in arrears. All that is changed is that you need to give 3 months notice rather than 2, and that you can't get a possession order until 27/6, unless the stay is extended, which it probably will be.: maybe by another 3 months.

[Deleted User]

harryharry305 said:

Tell the LL you want £4000 cash or bankers cheque for you to leave quickly without smashing the place up

or it will cost him more than that and at least a year of no rent to get you out

remember you have the upper hand

You must be that lunatic poster with another name talking about his blue blooded neighbours and never paying rent ! Troll