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Advice on housing situation and sly Agent
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YBR
Posts: 703 Forumite
A Friend of mine lives in Wales and has this situation:
The rented house she, her husband and their cat live in has been badly neglected by the landlord despite the promises the agent made when they moved in several years ago. The place leaks, some windows don't close, soil pipe has corroded through, mould, peeling paint and plaster; just horrid. It got to the point where Environmental Health are involved and the work is to be done, however, they'll have to move out while it's done. It's been a long road to get that far.
The Landlord and agent have (I think) accepted that he will be responsible for paying for their temporary accommodation - they're on benefits but have always paid their full rent.
Throughout this process the Agent has been mistreating, bullying them and gaslighting, for example, he told them that he'd given them plenty of time to move (he ignored lockdown) and because they were being idle he'd have to take them to court to evict them and he'd seek to recover the costs (not allowed), which of course is is going to take forever so scare tactics. He really wants them out.
My friend + husband would move out if they could, and they had a place lined up just before lockdown but it fell through. They're finding other Agents are not engaging with them and suspect this guy has "warned" all the other rental agents against my friend - seems counter productive but we suspect he wants them not just out of the house but out of "his" town. They're on the council housing list but have not floated to the top yet.
When she spoke to a solicitor she was told that she could not get legal aid and it would cost £500, which they can't afford.
My friend is scared that once they move into the temporary accommodation the locks will be changed, S21 issued and they'll find themselves homeless. I can't see that anything can be done to prevent that, so I don't know what to advise her. My question is, should that happen, what can be done to get them back in their home?
The rented house she, her husband and their cat live in has been badly neglected by the landlord despite the promises the agent made when they moved in several years ago. The place leaks, some windows don't close, soil pipe has corroded through, mould, peeling paint and plaster; just horrid. It got to the point where Environmental Health are involved and the work is to be done, however, they'll have to move out while it's done. It's been a long road to get that far.
The Landlord and agent have (I think) accepted that he will be responsible for paying for their temporary accommodation - they're on benefits but have always paid their full rent.
Throughout this process the Agent has been mistreating, bullying them and gaslighting, for example, he told them that he'd given them plenty of time to move (he ignored lockdown) and because they were being idle he'd have to take them to court to evict them and he'd seek to recover the costs (not allowed), which of course is is going to take forever so scare tactics. He really wants them out.
My friend + husband would move out if they could, and they had a place lined up just before lockdown but it fell through. They're finding other Agents are not engaging with them and suspect this guy has "warned" all the other rental agents against my friend - seems counter productive but we suspect he wants them not just out of the house but out of "his" town. They're on the council housing list but have not floated to the top yet.
When she spoke to a solicitor she was told that she could not get legal aid and it would cost £500, which they can't afford.
My friend is scared that once they move into the temporary accommodation the locks will be changed, S21 issued and they'll find themselves homeless. I can't see that anything can be done to prevent that, so I don't know what to advise her. My question is, should that happen, what can be done to get them back in their home?
Decluttering awards 2025: 🏅🏅⭐️ ⭐️, DH: ⭐️ and one for Mum: 🏅
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Comments
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Just because the move out during the renovations does not mean their tenancy has ended.When the renovations are complete, move back in. If the locks have been changed that's a criminal offense - illegal eviction.And since EH are involved I don't see the LL getting away with it.They must continue paying the rent though, and when they move out, take with them the tenancy agreement!0
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