Landlords post

Sammiereschwamm92

We have never had a postal agreement. Its always been when he flys by if any we pass on. That's the only letter I can find with his name on delivered to this address. He's recently moved himself so how I do not know they are also sending reminders to his old address and here? He's shown me no proof of the payment he wants me to pay. Says he had to pay £450 and £350 was late payment fees which He's saying if we gave him the mail sooner he wouldn't be short. So now saying they want me and my partner to cover half the late fee £150 out of good will or will go to small claims court. 
I just dont want to be made homeless as we have only lived here since May 2021 and have spent alot of money getting the property into home from the state it was before. 
I just really don't know what to do from here... 

The_Unready

Sammiereschwamm92 said:

I just really don't know what to do from here... 

Do NOT give him any money for this and put the ball back in his court.

Once he subsequently decides what to do you can come back here and ask for further advice.

Grumpelstiltskin

You have been told what to do, tell him to do one, he can't just evict you, he is on a hiding to nothing if he goes to court.

It's his problem entirely  nothing to do with you.

Sammiereschwamm92

I'm going to keep a recored phone call from citizens advice with the advice they have been given us on what to do as proof we aren't lying and I swear they think we are. 
They think citizens advice are saying completely different to what I'm being told. 
Yet they said if it even makes it to a small claims court he will have to pay all fees as not a leg to stand on. I just dont want to be kicked out as my work area is in the property and wouldn't find another private landlord to let me use the area I have for work like he does. 

The_Unready

If the landlord decides to try and evict you over this then he's an even bigger fool than we thought (presuming that you're not in arrears and/or haven't trashed the house)!

theartfullodger

Sammiereschwamm92 said:

.........................
I just dont want to be made homeless as we have only lived here since May 2021 and have spent alot of money getting the property into home from the state it was before. 
...........

If anything needed repairing etc landlord should (legally) pay, not you.  And if it was in a state he's an even worse landlord than we thought.  Poor you: Best wishes.

Sammiereschwamm92

We had builders in the house doing stuff for 3 weeks when we first moved in in and out all day, week before we moved in we paid for paint to paint the whole house 3 bed and conservatory ect. We have put alot of effort into this home and it's such a shame he's bringing it the of this and falling out. 

[Deleted User]

It sounds as if he is playing on your emotions by suggesting you pay otherwise go to small claims court. The fact you have put so much money and effort into the house makes it difficult because you want to do the right thing, whereas he is being quite unreasonable. I don't think you should be paying the money (nor should you have paid money for repairs etc. That is one of the benefits of renting over buying - it is the landlord's responsibility!) Your LL sounds petty and it's one of those situations where you have to decide what is the right thing for you in the absence of reason from the other person. Wishing you the best x

RAS

You do need to be rather careful. You are required to return the property at the end of the tenancy in the same condition as you received it.

Even if you think you have improved it, the LL could try and claim for alterations if you do not return the property to the condition listed on the inventory.

Do you have a detailed incoming inventory and do you know where your deposit is secured?

Mad as it sounds, do you have any written agreement or even texts confirming that the LL has agreed that you can paint the house? Or that he has agreed to pink? As he could claim he wanted magnolia. Or that the leaking taps you replaced aren't what he wants.

Obviously if you have no inventory, he can't claim anything, but do not make any further alterations to the house unless you have his written agreement. And make sure that any requests for repairs are sent to the address for serving of notices, listed on the tenancy agreement. Otherwise, he can claim he did not receive them. No harm in copying that into an email as well, though.

You do, by the way, have copies of the gas and electrical safety checks? 

macman

You can't be 'kicked out'. Getting a possession order at present would probably take him until 2023, and I doubt that your tenancy is even regularised, so any S21 serviced would not be valid. Tell him in writing that any CT bills prior to the start of your tenancy are his responsibility and his alone. Also tell him that he must get his post diverted to his own address, and any further post received by you will be returned to sender. 
If a landlord does not provide a current address for service, then you are legally entitled to withold rent until he does.
It is beyond my understanding as to why you are paying yourself to improve the LL's own property. If he does give you notice, you have no way to recover what you have spent.