Landlady - am I being unreasonable

Poodlecrazy

Thanks all for your input, I thought I might have been going a little crazy for a bit then!

It is a 12 month tennancy so technically she can't kick us out until the end of July. I am; however, happy to go as we are paying £1300 for the flat and I am sure we could do better.

The washing machine door is normally left open but as I had put washing in that morning before going to work I thought shutting the door was wise! Lol. I pointed this out to her.

The deposit is not protected and in my mind I have already written it off. Annoying at £1800 but I really can't see her giving any of it back. Of course I will put up a fight when the time comes, but expecting nothing is probably wise.

She wants to do another inspection at the end of the month - should I just say no? The only clause in the contract that covers this states that 24 hours notice has to be given and a mutually convenient time arranged. I am tempted to make it late in the evening if at all as I work long hours and don't see why I should have to leave my colleagues in the lurch just for her nonsense!

Px

sooz

wow - I bet she used to live there!

TBH, if she is this mad, & the deposit is not in a scheme, I would not pay the last month's rent.

neverdespairgirl

What is a sink guard, by the way? I've no idea!

sooz

It's a small uniformed man who stands near the sink, telling you what to do........







sorry, sounds like what she would really want ! It's actually a small sieve that sits over the plughole, to stop you throwing food down the drains.

moneysavinmonkey

Poodlecrazy wrote: »

Thanks all for your input, I thought I might have been going a little crazy for a bit then!

It is a 12 month tennancy so technically she can't kick us out until the end of July. I am; however, happy to go as we are paying £1300 for the flat and I am sure we could do better.

The washing machine door is normally left open but as I had put washing in that morning before going to work I thought shutting the door was wise! Lol. I pointed this out to her.

The deposit is not protected and in my mind I have already written it off. Annoying at £1800 but I really can't see her giving any of it back. Of course I will put up a fight when the time comes, but expecting nothing is probably wise.

She wants to do another inspection at the end of the month - should I just say no? The only clause in the contract that covers this states that 24 hours notice has to be given and a mutually convenient time arranged. I am tempted to make it late in the evening if at all as I work long hours and don't see why I should have to leave my colleagues in the lurch just for her nonsense!

Px

You don't have to let her into the property if you don't want, you have a statutory right to quiet enjoyment of your property and seeing as you just had an inspection visit it would seem unreasonable for her to come again so soon for now reason- ie she is not doing any vital maintenance jobs!. If you are not confident to tell her this yourself then telephone shelter and they will write to her and set out the law.

You should be able to get most of your deposit back although you may have to take it through a small claims court - there are plenty of threads on here about how to do that, can tackle it if/when the problem arises.. main thing is did you have an inventory done when you moved in??

Doozergirl

You have the right of quiet enjoyment and therefore the right to refuse inspections. The worst she can do is serve notice which she will probably do when she finds out you've hung the toilet paper the wrong way on the holder. :rotfl:

I'd be inclined to withold the last of the rent, leave a forwarding address and ask her to contact you regarding any problems when you can discuss reimbursing her for any sensible expenditure after you leave. Play a bit fair at least.

What is a sink guard?

neverdespairgirl

sooz wrote: »

sorry, sounds like what she would really want ! It's actually a small sieve that sits over the plughole, to stop you throwing food down the drains.

Well, we have one (didn't know what it was called, other than "that thingamijig") but I've never heard of anyone getting his knickers in a twist about them!

mustrum_ridcully

12 month AST you say? I assume that means the contract was signed June/July 2007. To quote the a government website "From 6 April 2007, all deposits (for rent up to £25,000 per annum) taken by landlords and agents for assured shorthold tenancies (AST) in England and Wales have had to be protected by an authorised tenancy deposit scheme." http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TenancyDeposit/index.htm

A court could force your landlady to pay you x3 the deposit for not putting your deposit into such a scheme.

Also if you genuinely suspect that she might not be paying income tax on her rental income it could be worth contacting HMRC.

carolt

Thanks - made me feel better as my landlady is a nutter too, but not on the scale of yours - makes mine look all normal all rational by comparison. Quite cheered me up.

Hope yours leaves you alone though!!!

sooz

mustrum_ridcully wrote: »

12 month AST you say? I assume that means the contract was signed June/July 2007. To quote the a government website "From 6 April 2007, all deposits (for rent up to £25,000 per annum) taken by landlords and agents for assured shorthold tenancies (AST) in England and Wales have had to be protected by an authorised tenancy deposit scheme." http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TenancyDeposit/index.htm

A court could force your landlady to pay you x3 the deposit for not putting your deposit into such a scheme.

Also if you genuinely suspect that she might not be paying income tax on her rental income it could be worth contacting HMRC.

well noticed! I was still too busy laughing at someone being threatened with notice for non-puffy cushions. I am sorry, it's not funny..............:rotfl: