A different dilema!

HampshireH

dimbo61 said:

If your happy with the house ask for a new 2 year contract ASAP  at the same rent of course or discounted if possible and when the council comes knocking at your front door just show then the Tenancy agreement.
You will of course move out once the Council have found you a suitable property to rent 

The Council have no obligation to find them somewhere else to live.

ayupmeduck

diddly74 said:

MikeJXE said:

I'm no expert but it's nothing to do with you no it'' best if you say no more 

It's very much something to do with me as this is currently my home Thank You.  Just because it isn't primarily a financial problem for me I.e. paying for builders. I will still lose a bedroom and I  won't be getting what I originally agreed to pay for. 

Planning was applied for and denied, apealed and refused in 2020. 

How many bedrooms do you actually need? Would 4 bedrooms mean more than 2 people sharing.

diddly74

ayupmeduck said:

diddly74 said:

MikeJXE said:

I'm no expert but it's nothing to do with you no it'' best if you say no more 

It's very much something to do with me as this is currently my home Thank You.  Just because it isn't primarily a financial problem for me I.e. paying for builders. I will still lose a bedroom and I  won't be getting what I originally agreed to pay for. 

Planning was applied for and denied, apealed and refused in 2020. 

How many bedrooms do you actually need? Would 4 bedrooms mean more than 2 people sharing.

When you get to brass tacks our family doesn't need 5 bedrooms, but with working from home etc its been nice for the past 3 months to have so much SPACE!  I am more worried/concerned about legalities and the $h1T storm that is moving.

Thank you so far for all the opinions and viewpoints. This forum arena is fantastic for helping me get out of my own head and see other view points and options - which when you are stuck and panicking is hard.

pinkshoes

My first concern would be why it was unlawful.

Has it been approved by building regulations, particularly regarding fire regulations for a rented property? Does the property have all the relevant safety certificates etc...?

The landlord would have known about this so it is a little suspicious he has gone "out of the area" for 4 years and you don't have a direct contact for him other than the letting agent. Perhaps hoping that it would go away if they can't reach him and the property is tenanted. 

TBagpuss

Given that your tenancy is up in April I think it's very unlikely that the council will do anything that might affect you directly, before that. I think it's fairly unlikely that the Landlord could get builders in that fast even if he wants to, which he doesn't seem to, so for you, I suspect that the realistic is it means you leave when the tenancy ends.

IF your tenancy were to be renewed or the landlord wants to get the builders in then you would be able to negotiate for lower rent as you would have a smaller property, and for them to fund temporary accommodation while the work was done and possibly a rent adjustment for the inconvenience. However, I suspect that a landlord who has failed to provide you with the address for service and who has built an extension despite being refused planning and losing an appeal is perhaps unlikely to be someone who is going to be reasonable and happy to negotiate with you, nd it begs the question of what else they've cut corners on.

I would start looking for somewhere new, and meanwhile go over all your documents with a fine tooth comb, check your deposit is properly protected etc.

And if you haven't already, contact the council directly to let them know you are the occupiers and have a tenancy

propertyrental

Given that the LL's appeal was rejected but the LL went ahead anyway, i imagine the council will follow this up with an enforcement notice.

Ultimately that gives them the power to enter, do the work themselves, and bill the LL. Whether they would do so while the property is let (or might even re-house the tenant and bill the LL for that too?) I don't know. Maybe ask them?

I would certainly let the council know you are a tenant in occupation, and the agent's details.
I would also let the agent know. At the same time, demand the LL's current actual address from the agent, citing the 
Landlord & Tenant Act 1985  S1

1    Disclosure of landlord’s identity.

(1)If the tenant of premises occupied as a dwelling makes a written request for the landlord’s name and address to—

(a)any person who demands, or the last person who received, rent payable under the tenancy, or
(b)any other person for the time being acting as agent for the landlord, in relation to the tenancy,
that person shall supply the tenant with a written statement of the landlord’s name and address within the period of 21 days beginning with the day on which he receives the request.

(2)A person who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with subsection (1) commits a summary offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale.

diddly74

Thank you TBagPuss and Propertyrental for both your answers. 
I have told the Letting Agents and the council officer that we rent here currently. I am watching the market now and otherwise will wait and see how it all plays out. My plans to be here long term have changed. 

jillconey

No you are right, we wouldn’t give up, we owe it to my parents to keep fighting. Just exhausted and I worry for my sisters health. She looked like she has aged 10:years today. We are both in our 60s and it’s taking it’s toll.