Bellway Residential (Leeds)

nukekickboxer

Hi folks I’m at a bit of a lose end here. Ill give you a quick break down of what has been happening.

Me and a friend have just moved into a apartment in Leeds. My friend found a letting agency http://www.bellwayresidential.com/ with some good apartments.

We moved into one on a week or so ago. We paid our £1000 bond and paid the first months rent in cash as requested up front before we got the keys. We have receipts for both.

Last night the landlord decide to pay a visit. He started to rant and rave about how he’s not getting paid by the letting agency, he cant get in touch with them, they have moved offices. He starts to ask us questions about how long we have been in there for and how much we are paying so we tell him and he says that its not enough we need to pay more. He then tells us that he will be coming back tonight with a new contract that we must sign that will pay the money directly to him instead of the letting agency. He says he wants an extra £200 a month off us.

Obviously something is not quite right here. I’ve tried to get in contact with the letting agency and all i can ever get back is a text saying that the landlord knows what he signed up for.

I’m just wondering which way I’m being scammed here and what i can do about it because i don’t really want to be thrown out onto the street before Christmas.

The letting agents name is "Elliot Wilson"

Thanks allot for your help

maninthestreet

Your Landlord cannot turn up un-announced in this fashion, and nor can he demand you sign a new contract. Basically, he hasn't got a legal leg to stand on. His dispute is with his letting agent, not you. If he turns up again un-announced, refuse him entry to the property. You cannot be evicted in the way that you fear - the landlord would need a court order, and as long as you have kept to your side of the letting contract, no court would would find in his favour.

merlinthehappypig

How long did you sign up for? Do you have an Assured Shorthold Tenancy (it should say so in your contract)?

If you have an AST for a fixed period I'm sure that the landlord or letting agency can't vary to the rent until the fixed period is up. The landlord will have to sort it out with the letting agency - it's not your problem.

guppy

This is more about agency law, than landlord and tenant. Its a complicated area, don't agree to anything, and see if you can get some free legal advice, try the CAB if nothing else.

guppy

This is more about agency law, than landlord and tenant. Its a complicated area, don't agree to anything, and see if you can get some free legal advice, try the CAB if nothing else.

Basically, if the agent was authorised to act for the LL, you should be ok, even if the agent overstepped his authority. But its hard to say without all the facts.

nukekickboxer

It is a 6 month contract. Thanks alot for the adivce about CAB they are goign to ring me back after they have tried to investigate it abit.

PasturesNew

As the others have said, all the rights are on your side.
A landlord can't turn up randomly.
He can't get you to sign a new agreement.
He can't ask you to leave.

However, that's all good, except you're the one living there when he turns up, which can't be nice.

You can call the police if he is a nuisance. This is perfectly acceptable behaviour.
You can refuse to answer the door. You've done nothing wrong.
You could change the locks (if you think he will just let himself in)

Good luck, I'd hate to be in your position as I am a worrier and wouldn't dare leave the place in case he let himself in - yet wouldn't want to be there in case he turned up!

ruggedtoast

If hes being a real nuisance a short note explaining that you've reported his behaviour to the police who have advised you not to let him in unannounced and to call them if he continues to bother you can do wonders. Obviously we all know the police couldnt give a monkeys but it will almost certainly be enough to scare what sounds to me all the world like a classic Buy to Let Numpty.

You may as well look for somewhere else anyway as Id be surprised if the next thing that happens isnt a foreclosure from the bank.

m00m00

sounds to be like it's a BTL numpty who's just discovered the concept of negative gearing and thinks he can bully his way out of it

nukekickboxer

Thank you for replying to this. I have sent you a e-mail. Time for me to go to the police i think

eldowardo

oooh sounds exciting when its something local. please can we be kept informed of this situation. lots of love x