I'm renting, paid 6 months up front and the flat is being repossessed!

CYBERCIDERSAVER

Having thought about this more. She isn't that stupid. SHE'S LYING.

She was in trouble and your 6 months rent up front has bought her some time. However if she owed 2 mortgage payments then I reckon you'll get the same letter in your 6th month of living there when she has run out of money again...

terryw

Chris
If you can't get through to Shelter, many solicitors offer a free ten-minute or so interview under legal aid. Try this as you really need proper advice to find out your options.

Iona_Penny

Just saying that I hope you manage to sort this mess, get your money and move on. Good luck and let us know hoe things are progressing. At least you will have learned a few (poss. expensive?) lessons for next time.

Trollfever

The court hearings for NR repos can usually be found here if you search for your local court:


https://www.possessionclaim.gov.uk/pcol/diary/calendar.do?day=18&month=2&year=2008

clutton_2

i doubt very much if you will get a penny back - and yes - this is a truly appalling way for your ignorant landlady to have behaved. Sadly, the legal contract here is between your landlady and her Mortgage Lender. There is provision for the Lender to repossess the house using a faster track process if they are owed 2 months mortgage arrears. Your eviction is a necessary part of the repossession process, and your comfort or convenience simply do not enter into the equation - and i know you dont want to read this, but, this is the reality.

If i were you, i would write to the lender and tell them you gave her 6 months rent - at least they will then know you are there, who you are, and what they are dealing with. BUT, you are going to have to sue her if you want that money back - and do you really think that she has any money if she is being repoed ?

Sadly this will be happening more and more as the BTL initial cheaper mortgage interest rates become the much higher Standard Variable Rate - often increasing mortgage repayments by 50%.

I suggest that you focus your energies on finding a new home immediately - the bailiffs will not give you the time of day once they arrive - and will change the locks and then lock your possessions inside and leave you on the pavement.

You can pursue this landlord later on - if you think you have any chance of being successful.

and no, its not fair, not fair at all, but, this is the reality of your situation.

Act now, and at least you may have a decent home over your head

best of luck

chris_a_p

Hi everyone

Thanks for the replies and support.

Today I firstly phoned up Northern Rock's solicitor and they confirmed to me that they are still instructed to go ahead with the proceedings and also the court confirmed that it is to still go ahead so what she has told the letting agent is a lie.

I've just checked the website you posted and it shows on there too.

I got through to Shelter in the end and they were very helpful. They basically said I've got two options.

The ideal case scenario of course would be I get confirmation in writing from the landlord that the mortgage has been paid up to date and the proceedings have been dropped and that she sends me a covering letter from Northern Rock to confirm this.

If she can't do this then I either try to mutually terminate the lease ASAP and get my rent money back. Then if the house is repossessed it doesn't matter to me.

Or I sit it out until the court date and wait for the bailiffs to evict me. I would be liable for any rent up until the day of eviction then the landlord is in breech of her contract between me and her so I can sue her for my money + damages.

I spoke to Northern Rock and they said in some situations they may decide to let the tenant stay on for the remainder of their term but as I've paid up front I therefore wouldn't be able to stay unless of course I paid them £650 a month too.

I’ve got the landlord's address but she is ex-directory.

I've wrote to Northern Rock solicitor's explaining the situation I'm in, so there is not much more I can do now, just got to wait on the LA passing the above on.

The only reason I paid it all up front is because I’m 19, never had any credit in my life and because of this I cannot get any credit (not even a sim-only contract at £15 a month) so I can’t rent without a Guarantor, can’t win it seems…

Thanks again
Chris

chris_a_p

On the website I was given it says: Northern Rock plc versus Miss L J & Miss L J

She has two properties here so looks like mine and the other one are both in the same situation.

KellsBells

chris_a_p wrote: »

The ideal case scenario of course would be I get confirmation in writing from the landlord that the mortgage has been paid up to date and the proceedings have been dropped and that she sends me a covering letter from Northern Rock to confirm this.
She will be unable to provide this - unless she makes it up

If she can't do this then I either try to mutually terminate the lease ASAP and get my rent money back. Then if the house is repossessed it doesn't matter to me.
No, not if you have somewhere else to go

Or I sit it out until the court date and wait for the bailiffs to evict me. I would be liable for any rent up until the day of eviction then the landlord is in breech of her contract between me and her so I can sue her for my money + damages.
Please don't let yourself go through the eviction Chris. Bailiffs and contractors are not known for their compassion and understanding, and if they have more evictions that day (my work are handling in excess of 40 a day at the mo) they will want you out of there asap and will not hekp yopu in the slightest

I spoke to Northern Rock and they said in some situations they may decide to let the tenant stay on for the remainder of their term but as I've paid up front I therefore wouldn't be able to stay unless of course I paid them £650 a month too. Sometimes they do, but they are in financial trouble so will want to sell asap, so I doubt they will

I've wrote to Northern Rock solicitor's explaining the situation I'm in, so there is not much more I can do now, just got to wait on the LA passing the above on.
I personally would write a letter to the mangement of the letting agt - make them aware of the fact you know they have lied to you, and you will be taking legal advice on the matter based on the fact that they lied. They will !!!! themselves. Tell them under the circumstances (and unless they want the local paper informing of your situation) you feel it would be a suitable gesture of goodwill that they help you find alternative accomodation. See if it helps!!

Good luck Chris, thinking of you. KellsBells:cool:.xx

Loretta

I think that the LA have a lot of responsibility for this situation, they should have made checks on the LL before but now they know what is happening they should not fall for these silly lies.

You should ask some wuestions and insist on some answers from LA. Is your deposit in a proper scheme? what have they done with the 6 months rent? did they give it all to the LL or are they sending a month at a time? Are they trying their hardest to find you somewhere else now and feeling a moral obligation to cover the rent for the remainder of the 6 months you have paid for? No one should have to go through the eviction day. This is not your problem and you should not have to suffer for it it.

I would insist that the lA do something immediately, sit in their office until they find you somewhere and agree to pay all your expenses for your move. Tell them that you will be contacting the press.

Asyou now have the address of your LL other proerty I woud go round there and discuss this situation with her other tenant. This is very difficult to deal with on your own and I expect the other tenant s feeling the same. Is this other property let with the sam LA? Perhaps 2 of you sitting in their office would work better!! If this other proerty is with another letting agent find out if they are acting the same stupid way. Two heads are often better than one.

For the LA to tell you that the LL thought she didn't have to pay her mortgage for the 2 months that the flat was empty either shows that they are as stupid as she is or that they are also telling lies. For ther sake of theri business and reputation they should be moving heaven and earth to get you out of this awful situation.

I think you need to speak to the highest person at the LA or if it is a chain someone at head office, the people working in the office do not seem to be taking your situation seriously and I think their behaviour is rather insulting.

Let us know how you get on

irnbru_2

If the LL has 2 properties (being repossesed) isn't it more likely that they are on BTL mortgages?

HPC has this thread which might be useful.

On another thread there, the tennant went to the repossesion hearing which you would be strongly advised to do.

I would confirm with the agent that you're with the TDS and speak to the TDS in view of the situation.