Rent money missing - what to do?

sunny241

Ath_Wat said:

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.

I'm sure I have not miscounted when I put it there. When they counted it next day with me 20£ was missing so no doubt there it was 20£ lighter. No clue what happened to it between one evening and the next evening, I was not there.

cymruchris

Make sure for all future payments if you still agree to pay by cash, that it's counted in front of you, to ensure there's no ill-feeling or potential for error. You can explain to your landlord that you were absolutely sure you put the right amount in because you'd taken the exact amount out of the bank, and counted it several times, and as you want to maintain a good relationship with them, you'd prefer they counted it on receipt rather than leaving it in an envelope. 

sunny241

comeandgo said:

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.

I don't mean to acuse anyone since I don't know what really happened. I can be only sure of what I've done. And having receipts I'm sure of my own sanity. I don't want to look dishonest though but on other hand side I'm sure it was correct. I'm little bit annoyed landlord didn't just take it right away.
I think it may be the case for a bit going forward. I don't see my landlord that much though so may be tricky to be there as they take it.

Ath_Wat

sunny241 said:

comeandgo said:

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.

I don't mean to acuse anyone since I don't know what really happened. I can be only sure of what I've done. And having receipts I'm sure of my own sanity. I don't want to look dishonest though but on other hand side I'm sure it was correct. I'm little bit annoyed landlord didn't just take it right away.
I think it may be the case for a bit going forward. I don't see my landlord that much though so may be tricky to be there as they take it.

Miscounting, even three times, or dropping a £20 between counting and putting it in an envelope doesn't make you insane.  It happens.

user1977

sunny241 said:

comeandgo said:

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.

I don't see my landlord that much though so may be tricky to be there as they take it.

So pay it by bank transfer.

jj_43

Maybe this, maybe that…maybe you didn’t count it correctly. It’s up to you to ensure correct payment is made. Try a better method next time.

penners324

Leave a cheque, pay it by bank transfer....

prowla

I had that happen some time ago; the landlady said that I had skipped a rent payment, but her son said I had paid.

From then-on, I paid by cheque - no chance of confusion or arguments!

saajan_12

sunny241 said:

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... 

Well why didn't you pick it up and hand it to the LL instead of leaving it on the counter if he was actually passing at that time? 

Honestly, unless/until we know exactly what's happened, its both your faults for allowing such an error prone method and someone miscounting. To avoid tense relations with someone living in the same property, personally I'd split the difference and pay an extra £10, so neither of you feel solely hard done by.

Then going forward, insist on a better method (bank transfer, cheque or cash handed over in person, counted and receipt given immediately)

sunny241

saajan_12 said:

sunny241 said:

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... 

Well why didn't you pick it up and hand it to the LL instead of leaving it on the counter if he was actually passing at that time? 

Honestly, unless/until we know exactly what's happened, its both your faults for allowing such an error prone method and someone miscounting. To avoid tense relations with someone living in the same property, personally I'd split the difference and pay an extra £10, so neither of you feel solely hard done by.

Then going forward, insist on a better method (bank transfer, cheque or cash handed over in person, counted and receipt given immediately)

I tried to give it straight to them then and there but the landlord is very relaxed and was like "not to worry, I'll grab it later" and left it there. This had worked before, since its always only me and sometimes them in the flat so I didn't think too much of it. 

I did insist on different methods but they refused to take anything else other than cash at the moment, explaining it's due to issues with bank etc. I supect it may be more to it but as long as I was getting receipts I was ok.

That is helpful idea, thanks.