Rent money missing - what to do?

sunny241

Hi. What I'm going to describe is bit of a bizzare situation but I'm looking for some advice on what's best thing to do.
I'm a private tenant renting a flat. My landlord recently asked me to pay for rent in cash which was done by him leaving out an envelope and me placing agreed amount in there. I left out the money on an evening, and he was going to collect it. 
On next day he has asked if I put correct amount in because it was 20£ less than what we agreed on. I'm 100% postive it was correct since I took equal amount out of atm and counted it several times before putting aside. What I found suspicious is that envelope was not touched by my landlord until following day and that day there was a plumber in the flat doing work on kitchen sink ( the envelope was there on kitchen counter...). 
Landlord said he counted money before the plumber got to the flat, which was early morning, which makes me feel like they think I was being dishonest. Then said it's fine, and we can call it even. I'm 100% sure I put in there what I claim. It made me feel bad. Should I be paying them extra even though I know it was not my fault? Or leave it as it is as they agreed to call it quits? Any advice?
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user1977

sunny241 said:

Any advice?
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Pay your rent by a more secure method? Why do you pay in cash?

sammyjammy

When you say you left an envelope of money out where did you leave it?  I think you are saying you put the money in the envelope and left it out in your flat, your landlord then let himself into your falat counted the money and said it was £20 short.

Sounds like its resolved but please don't give your landlord money in this manner, if he wants cash hand it over in person and get a receipt.  You should protect yourself.  Landlord could have said no money in envelope and then where would you be.

DullGreyGuy

Your a lodger presumably? How long have you been there? Everything ok before this event?

Presumably your online banking shows you withdrawing exactly the right amount shortly before you paid?

No idea how much rent you are paying but if a plumber took some money, and the potential impact that would have on them, I'd imagine they'd take a lot more than just £20.

Personally, I'd show them the bank showing I took out the £x and say that I took the money out and put it straight in the envelope... can't explain why it was £20 light but put in what the ATM dispensed and had counted it before and it was ok. If they insist then may well pay it this time but I'd be on tight guard about any other "issues" and if any are light payments again then it'd be a case of doing a BACS/FasterPay transfer going forward so there is evidence of how much was paid.

sunny241

user1977 said:

sunny241 said:

Any advice?
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Pay your rent by a more secure method? Why do you pay in cash?

I wish I did. I suggested bank transfer but landlord wanted cash. Issues with bank account access or something similar. It's temporary.

elsien

DullGreyGuy said:

Your a lodger presumably? How long have you been there? Everything ok before this event?

Presumably your online banking shows you withdrawing exactly the right amount shortly before you paid?

No idea how much rent you are paying but if a plumber took some money, and the potential impact that would have on them, I'd imagine they'd take a lot more than just £20.

Personally, I'd show them the bank showing I took out the £x and say that I took the money out and put it straight in the envelope... can't explain why it was £20 light but put in what the ATM dispensed and had counted it before and it was ok. If they insist then may well pay it this time but I'd be on tight guard about any other "issues" and if any are light payments again then it'd be a case of doing a BACS/FasterPay transfer going forward so there is evidence of how much was paid.

Why do you think they are a lodger? Surely if they shared the house with the landlord they’d just be giving the money directly in passing and not faffing around with envelopes?

comeandgo

So it’s ok for you to suggest the plumber was dishonest with absolutely no evidence but not ok for your landlord to suggest you made a mistake?   Is this normally how you pay your rent?  To stop any problems in the future it would be better to set up a bank payment system or give the landlord the money and stay as he counts it.

sunny241

sammyjammy said:

When you say you left an envelope of money out where did you leave it?  I think you are saying you put the money in the envelope and left it out in your flat, your landlord then let himself into your falat counted the money and said it was £20 short.

Sounds like its resolved but please don't give your landlord money in this manner, if he wants cash hand it over in person and get a receipt.  You should protect yourself.  Landlord could have said no money in envelope and then where would you be.

I left it on the kitchen counter. The landlord was in the flat, just passing through the kitchen when I placed it there. I don't understand why didn't take it right away but left it till next morning.

I only done this twice so far, first time was no problem, left money and got a receipt soon after. This situation freaked me out a bit. Yeah... 

DullGreyGuy

elsien said:

DullGreyGuy said:

Your a lodger presumably? How long have you been there? Everything ok before this event?

Presumably your online banking shows you withdrawing exactly the right amount shortly before you paid?

No idea how much rent you are paying but if a plumber took some money, and the potential impact that would have on them, I'd imagine they'd take a lot more than just £20.

Personally, I'd show them the bank showing I took out the £x and say that I took the money out and put it straight in the envelope... can't explain why it was £20 light but put in what the ATM dispensed and had counted it before and it was ok. If they insist then may well pay it this time but I'd be on tight guard about any other "issues" and if any are light payments again then it'd be a case of doing a BACS/FasterPay transfer going forward so there is evidence of how much was paid.

Why do you think they are a lodger? Surely if they shared the house with the landlord they’d just be giving the money directly in passing and not faffing around with envelopes?

Because they were asked to leave the money in an envelope in the kitchen. This, to me at least, suggests that the landlord has free access to the property meaning they live in the same dwelling with shared facilities and hence a lodger

Just because you have a lodger doesn't mean you are best mates with the landlord or even see them often. Never been a lodger myself but the Mrs was before I met her and she could go days without interacting with the landlord... she basically lived in her room. 

Ath_Wat

The most likely situation is that either you miscounted it putting it in the envelope, however many times you did it, or the landlord miscounted it when he checked it.  These things happen.  But as others have said the way to avoid it is not to do this.

sunny241

DullGreyGuy said:

elsien said:

DullGreyGuy said:

Your a lodger presumably? How long have you been there? Everything ok before this event?

Presumably your online banking shows you withdrawing exactly the right amount shortly before you paid?

No idea how much rent you are paying but if a plumber took some money, and the potential impact that would have on them, I'd imagine they'd take a lot more than just £20.

Personally, I'd show them the bank showing I took out the £x and say that I took the money out and put it straight in the envelope... can't explain why it was £20 light but put in what the ATM dispensed and had counted it before and it was ok. If they insist then may well pay it this time but I'd be on tight guard about any other "issues" and if any are light payments again then it'd be a case of doing a BACS/FasterPay transfer going forward so there is evidence of how much was paid.

Why do you think they are a lodger? Surely if they shared the house with the landlord they’d just be giving the money directly in passing and not faffing around with envelopes?

Because they were asked to leave the money in an envelope in the kitchen. This, to me at least, suggests that the landlord has free access to the property meaning they live in the same dwelling with shared facilities and hence a lodger

Just because you have a lodger doesn't mean you are best mates with the landlord or even see them often. Never been a lodger myself but the Mrs was before I met her and she could go days without interacting with the landlord... she basically lived in her room. 

Yes, you are correct, I'm a lodger.
I've been there for two months, last month, no problems. Everything else is good expect this one bizzare situation.

Yes, banking shows it and also I had a withdrawal slip too. Shows exact amount which give me confidence I'm not going mad and I took out what I intended. I didn't show my landlord the statement as it's still just my word, like I could have not put it all in the envelope, although I know I did ( I never use cash other than for this). 

It was not that much in there so if they had took more it would be more visible. Also the plumber didn't finish the job so are coming back. There is no evidence that they had anything to do with this though so would not want to pin it on them.

The landlord did not insist on me paying extra, just said it's weird, no idea what happened but let's call it even and gave me a receipt. It has left me feeling bad though.