Landlord not following legal notice?

AJM1984

Thank you again, everyone. I'm honestly so fed up right now with everything. I'm taking everyone's advice on-board and I'm just ignoring this pathetic attempt at ousting us. I had a huge amount of sympathy when she expressed the need to sell but if she's going to try and break her legal and contractual obligations then I need to put on my big girl pants, grow a backbone and tackle this head on. When I'm ready though and in my own timeframe, not when she tries to force it and take advantage of my perceived naivety .

AJM1984

Just to add, you're all absolute stars!

Skiddaw1

@AJM1984 we're routing for you.....

AJM1984

Skiddaw1 said:

@AJM1984 we're routing for you.....

Aw, thank you!! My little buddy made it through the night, so we're cautiously optimistic.

We've spoken to CA as well to confirm that the Section 21 is invalid and what next steps to take, if any. We've also spoken to the council who are willing to mediate on our behalf if we upload the 'notice' to an online portal, when we're ready, so that they can approach the LL for us if things get messy and make sure they act in accordance with their contractual obligations and law. At the moment doing absolutely nothing is key. (Which I happily understand, thanks to the invaluable advice given by every wonderful person here.) Personally, I'd now like to draw it out and see if I can ask for monetary support from the LL after they start to panic. Sounds cruel but I won't be taken advantage of. I do believe they've sold behind the back of their EA and if they're not taking any prisoners, neither am I. 

Our Mortgage broker says the only hurdle at the moment is Nationwide sending back a valuation report on our little dream house. That's making me extremely nervous as we've been in the buying process for nearly 3 months now and I suspect it'll be undervalued, but we should know this week....

Everything is either about to come together perfectly or fall apart spectacularly, but isn't that just how most of us roll?   

RAS

Good to hear about your little buddy. And that your have an active, dare we say proactive, private tenancy officer at LA. 

The one thing you should do if the LL might have a key to any door is to change the lock. If you can post up a photo, people here can tell you what's what. If not, search for a video on line. For a barrel lock you need a screw driver, and may require a little hacksaw with a metal blade. Worth checking the screw head size on your current lock now.

You need to replace the barrel when you leave but you can use it in your own house when you move in. Always a good idea to change the locks anyway.

AJM1984

RAS said:

Good to hear about your little buddy. And that your have an active, dare we say proactive, private tenancy officer at LA. 

The one thing you should do if the LL might have a key to any door is to change the lock. If you can post up a photo, people here can tell you what's what. If not, search for a video on line. For a barrel lock you need a screw driver, and may require a little hacksaw with a metal blade. Worth checking the screw head size on your current lock now.

You need to replace the barrel when you leave but you can use it in your own house when you move in. Always a good idea to change the locks anyway.

Thank you, we are considering lock changing as an option. As it stands we don't know if they have a key.
At present we're able to place one key in the lock, inside the house obviously, and it prevents keys being put in via the outside. They're welcome to try and squeeze in a window, I suppose? I'd be happy to greet them in a most unflattering manner... 🤣
There's ALWAYS somebody here too, so that should work in our favour.

GDB2222

Is there any reason to believe that the landlord would try to evict you illegally?  

AJM1984

GDB2222 said:

Is there any reason to believe that the landlord would try to evict you illegally?  

I don't know yet. It all depends on how she acts going forward. If she starts harassing us to sign her notice, I might suspect that she'd resort to illegal eviction. I'm going to try and gauge attitude, if I'm able. She's been very, very pushy in the past. Sometimes we felt that if we didn't accommodate her wishes something bad would happen. Statements in messages starting off with "YOU HAVE TO" etc. The general vibe at the moment is ignorant desperation. She insists the house is sold. It's still online for sale with a sign outside. Something feels very off. For a while she insisted she'd be giving us seven weeks notice. I thought it was just an absent-minded, innocent mistake during conversation but our 'notice' proves otherwise. It's been a calculated decision but I'm unsure as to why. 

Shelldean

AJM1984 said:

GDB2222 said:

Is there any reason to believe that the landlord would try to evict you illegally?  

I don't know yet. It all depends on how she acts going forward. If she starts harassing us to sign her notice, I might suspect that she'd resort to illegal eviction. I'm going to try and gauge attitude, if I'm able. She's been very, very pushy in the past. Sometimes we felt that if we didn't accommodate her wishes something bad would happen. Statements in messages starting off with "YOU HAVE TO" etc. The general vibe at the moment is ignorant desperation. She insists the house is sold. It's still online for sale with a sign outside. Something feels very off. For a while she insisted she'd be giving us seven weeks notice. I thought it was just an absent-minded, innocent mistake during conversation but our 'notice' proves otherwise. It's been a calculated decision but I'm unsure as to why. 

Read through the boards everyone always advises people not carry on with a purchase if there's tenant in the property, not UNTIL the tenants have left. 

This is because no-one apart from the tenant and the court can actually end a tenancy.

She wants you gone before she can sell, she wants to sell with vacant possession, just like it's always mentioned  on here 
Maybe her buyers are saying we're not going to continue until the tenants have left and we have confirmed it's actually vacant??

If she sells with you in place the new owners become landlords and can't move into their new property!

GDB2222

AJM1984 said:

GDB2222 said:

Is there any reason to believe that the landlord would try to evict you illegally?  

I don't know yet. It all depends on how she acts going forward. If she starts harassing us to sign her notice, I might suspect that she'd resort to illegal eviction. I'm going to try and gauge attitude, if I'm able. She's been very, very pushy in the past. Sometimes we felt that if we didn't accommodate her wishes something bad would happen. Statements in messages starting off with "YOU HAVE TO" etc. The general vibe at the moment is ignorant desperation. She insists the house is sold. It's still online for sale with a sign outside. Something feels very off. For a while she insisted she'd be giving us seven weeks notice. I thought it was just an absent-minded, innocent mistake during conversation but our 'notice' proves otherwise. It's been a calculated decision but I'm unsure as to why. 

If you are home, and she tries to evict you, just call the police. I can't really believe she's going to use force, though.  If you are not home, she can just break in, whether or not you change the locks.