Paying rent and house heating problems

dimbo61

We can only see your signature on the 2nd page of this document and no other details.
However you have proof that you have lived at the property by paying Council Tax, gas, electric, water etc so you won't be living there for free ! 
The Tax people won't believe a Landlord who states he is not charging you rent.
However you paid cash ? When you paid the deposit and first month's rent ?
Have you got any proof ? 
Text messages, emails, bank statements 

paolonewage

Yes  I pay cash every month in the mail box but only this month I wait for him to come to collect it....and he is late!
I paid the deposit the time I cam to view the flat, obviously cash in hands!
I got any proof necessary: council tax, water and electricity bill.... 

FreeBear

dimbo61 said: The Tax people won't believe a Landlord who states he is not charging you rent.

Yup. HMRC will look to see what the typical rent is for the type of property in your area and use that in their calculations. The typical rent could be quite a bit higher than you are paying.... On top of that, there would be penalty charges and interest, so if the LL has been trying to dodge income tax, he/she could end up with quite a nasty bill.

But that is not your problem.

paolonewage

Well, the time I "flooded the house" he came in helping to take out the carpet and with a smile said: "I can charge £1400 a month for this flat but you know .....lets leave like this...you have been here for the last four years" and in my mind I was thinking "You, in this four years most likely never paid a dime in tax ad you tell me this...get lost" but I did not say anything.
He told me he's got another flat in South London plus working as an employee.
Then I began doing the whole add up and I understand why he wants to receive cash in the mailbox....tell me if I am wrong. 
Ahh: by the way in the last month I repainted all the walls and the place looks new!  Despite the fact the carpets need to be refitted.

theartfullodger

paolonewage said:

Thank you very much for whole your responses.

1 - Yes the contract 2nd page has her name and address written in pinball pen; on the third page on section 2 TENANT'S OBLIGATION says that I have to pay the rent into her bank account, I signed it but never paid into it, because he wants to collect cash! ......

Sorted. So, set up a standing order to her bank account (assuming you have sort code & account number).  No need to inform landlord, you are simply complying with tenancy agreement.  But, perhaps easier to mail to their home address a calm & polite letter stating that's what you are doing.

They can then if they wish ask you to continue paying cash. If they do, post again with EXACT wording (with names or addresses) and we'll tell you if it has to be complied with (probably not)

And grass the cheat up to HMRC... - the country needs tax income!

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-revenue-customs/contact/report-fraud-to-hmrc

Artful: Landlord since 2000

PS There is a very slight chance landlord may claim you've not paid all the rent in the past.  If you have a record of always taking ££££ out of cashpoint shortly before it's due that should be enough, or if it gets to court (highly unlikely) refer the judge to this thread showing the background. 

I 'ate cheats and crooks, be they agents, tenants, landlords, MPs...

paolonewage

I do not have the landlord's bank account.

greatcrested

I'm afraid I'm going to sound unsympathetic but

* you chose to pay a deposit without either a receipt, or any mention of it in the TA. You may well lose the deposit as a result

* despite advice here, you've apparantly still not spent 10 minutes checking if the deposit is protected

* You've chosen to pay cash for years without a receipt, despite the TA saying you must use bank transfer. You seem to be ignoring advice here to stop doing this. Either ask for the bank details, or simply pay by cheque. Whether the LL chooses to pay in the cheque or ot is his problem.

* You damaged the carpet, yet are complaining the LL has not replaced it.

* You've not reported the heating issue properly, nor followed up that report, yet are complaining it is not resolved

* you are complaining that 'he is late' collectig the rent this month. Sorry, payment of rent is the tenant's responsibility. It is up to you to ensure you pay your rent. If he does not come, send him a cheque.

And if you inted to arrange the house repairs yourself you need to follow a very specific proess. Remember, any damage you cause (or your contractor causes) will be your fault. Read

https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/repairs/doing_the_repairs_if_your_landlord_wont

paolonewage

Let me clarify to you, greatcrested:

* It was £500 deposit and given the fact no receipt was given, I already worked it out that I was deducting that amount from the last rent payment once we are leaving the flat.

*I don't need to spend any time to understand the deposit is not protected.

*I chose to pay cash because It was our first house accommodation moving from a shared one after a decade.  We were newly married and see this spotless flat..of course we agreed to that!  However, after 15 months I told the landlord we wanted to pay through bank transfer..request denied!

* I am aware I have to pay for the carpet and this is not the main issue of this post.

*I am complaining about the heating through 50 at least phone calls to the council and today we are expecting the engineer to come to do more maintenance.  Last February I was offered a compensation because of the trouble I was and still going, though, I never received a penny! (I believe it was because of the pandemic starting last March)

* At the time of renting this accommodation the landlord told me he was coming to collect the rent and so I texted him a day before the due date to come to collect it.

Thank you.

theartfullodger

paolonewage said:

I do not have the landlord's bank account.

OK, so as suggested before pay rent ###  , by post, post-dated cheques to his home address expiring on rent due date. (Take photocopies).  ####

If you've sent him the cheque you've paid.  Even if he declines to  pay it in (and if he does definitely a cheat) that's his problem, not yours.

greatcrested

paolonewage said:

* It was £500 deposit and given the fact no receipt was given, I already worked it out that I was deducting that amount from the last rent payment once we are leaving the flat. That may work though he might of course take you to court for rent arrears. You will then have to covince the judge you paid a deposit whilst he might say you never did.

Paying cash, whether for deposit, rent (or ideedmost things) without a receipt of other evidence, is just plain idiotic.

*I don't need to spend any time to understand the deposit is not protected. Up to you, but when there's a potential dispute, having firm facts makes sense.

*I chose to pay cash because It was our first house accommodation moving from a shared one after a decade. I don't understand the relevance

We were newly married and see this spotless flat..of course we agreed to that!

'of course'. Why 'of course'? Makes no sense.

However, after 15 months I told the landlord we wanted to pay through bank transfer..request denied!

It took 15 months???? You 'told' the LL. Very good. It was not a request so the LL could not deny. Why did you not simply stop paying cash?
* I am aware I have to pay for the carpet and this is not the main issue of this post. OK - but you did earlier complain about the LL failing to replace it.

*I am complaining about the heating through 50 at least phone calls to the council and today we are expecting the engineer to come to do more maintenance.  You have still not answerd the earlier question regarding this. What dept at the council? What have they done? Have they inspected? Issued an Improvement Notice? What do you have in writing?

Last February I was offered a compensation because of the trouble I was and still going, though, I never received a penny! (I believe it was because of the pandemic starting last March) offerred by who? the council? The landlord? If the LL, did the council force him or was it a voluntary offer by the LL? What is the history?

* At the time of renting this accommodation the landlord told me he was coming to collect the rent and so I texted him a day before the due date to come to collect it.

You chose to go along with this even though

* it is not normal practice

* it is inconvenient

* it suggests some kind of tax fraud

* it is contrary to the terms of the tenancy agreement

* it is unreliable

* it leaves you with no evidence of payment of rent