Landlord served notice

scorpio_princess

As the title says, my managing agents have sent me a possession notice, which gives me until 31/7 to leave my flat. This is because my landlord has decided that now is a good time to sell (he obviously missed the whole housing market slump thing that has dominated the news for the past few months). Anyway, despite being a bit gutted that I have to leave (I love living here), i've taken it quite well and realise it is his right as the owner to do what he wants with it. However, i've just found out this flat has been on the market for over 2 weeks. I first found out that there was a possibility of this happening while I was on holiday in Mexico - I made the mistake of turning my phone on only to find a message from my agents saying that they were sending someone round to value the property and that I didn't need to be there as they had a key. Fair enough, I didn't have a problem with that. What I do have a problem with is the fact that they took photos of the interior of my flat and all my stuff in it to put on Rightmove to sell it. I was more than a little cheesed off to find all this on the internet. Am I right in being upset? I'm just annoyed that they didn't even ask me if they could take any photos - I wouldn't have stopped them, but it's just a bit rude and presumptious to think I wouldn't mind!

I feel like ringing them up to have it out with them over this, but i'm aware of the fact that a)I want my deposit back and b)I want good references. I know that me ringing them with a valid complaint shouldn't jeopardise these things, but we all know how letting agents can be sometimes. Arrghhh I just don't know what to do - i've now got the horrid task of searching for a new place to live when I really don't want to. Definitely the downside if renting, not that I have a choice in the matter as I can't afford to buy.

Any advice??

PasturesNew

Firstly the agent was in the wrong leaving a message. Any entry that is not in emergency must at least be in writing - even if you weren't there to open the letter.

Yes, I'd be cheesed off at having photos taken in my absence. There's no telling what personal items you had on display that you'd rather people/strangers (and perhaps people you have to meet face to face at some point) might have seen.

You are right to be upset and annoyed.

I presume your current AST ends on 31/7 ?

Between now and then you do have the legal right to quiet enjoyment. So you don't have to allow any viewings to go on if you don't want them to. Any planned visit would have to be made in writing to you, with 24 hours' notice.

While you don't want to be obstructive, it might be that the viewings become a nuisance.

On the other hand, there might not be any. None. Never. Not ever.

eco-friendly_2

Yes, I'd be cheesed off at having photos taken in my absence. There's no telling what personal items you had on display

Any chance of avvin a little sniff of the Rightmove link?

PasturesNew

eco-friendly wrote: »

Any chance of avvin a little sniff of the Rightmove link?

I was dying to ask that ... I'm such a cowardly scaredy cat... never sure how things will be received and I do get scared if I get told off

Yes, a Rightmove link would be good, so we can have a look and see if we think he's going to shift it, or if he's in cloud cuckoo land.

Thank you.

eco-friendly_2

My post was purely out of interest of the property :rolleyes:


Thank you.

MissMoneypenny

scorpio_princess wrote: »

b)I want good references.

It's a brave person that gives bad references these days.

scorpio_princess

Thanks for your replies, especially PasturesNew - i'm glad you don't think i'm being unreasonable.

Anyway, I got a call from my agents today to tell me that Haart want to value the property so would it be ok for them to call me to arrange a convenient time. She also said Haart want to know if i'm interested in buying the flat (I wish!) I was a bit confused about this as it's already on the market (link below, for all you inquisitive people!) so I said this to the girl on the phone, and it was news to her, despite the fact that they themselves are selling it (it's a small business but they let and sell properties). But then it was only her second day, but even so, you'd think her colleagues would have given her proper info before calling me! She also said this - 'well you haven't been served notice yet, the landlord is only THINKING of selling. Wrong!! I told her i'd got my notice, which surprised her. !!!!!!! What is going on? Either I have notice or I don't! I have a feeling my stupid landlord is going to regret this - he can't have his cake and eat it!

As for the photos thing, I mentioned this to her but all she could say is that she would speak to the boss about it - she didn't know much about anything so it would have been harsh of me to have a go at her about it. I'll wait and see if I get another confusing phone call tomorrow!

I've started looking already so whatever they want to do is up to them, i'm not hanging around to be messed about.

Anyway, here's that link:

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/viewdetails-21040784.rsp?pa_n=2&tr_t=buy

I personally don't think it's worth the money - the flat next door was up for the same price for about a year, and in the end they ended up renting it out again as it didn't sell. I also think my flat is sinking as the kitchen has a very definite ridge along the kitchen floor, and everything looks a bit wonky. Oh well, pointless going on about it now! See what you think.

jaype

Blimey, you're tidy. If I was off on holiday there'd we half-drunk cups of coffee everywhere that "d tried to stuff down before being dragged out of the door to the airport. Not to mention all the stuff I'd slung on the bed because it wouldn't fit in the suitcase after all...

As for sinking, it's a new build. They threw them up at such a speed in order to turn a profit during the boom that I'm not suprised. Good job you're getting out before the plaster starts cracking!

bikerqueen

oh my god my mate lived on that estate, sold his last year. they're nice flats but not very big - near the station though.

oh, and i visited numerous times and still couldn't work out the road numbering!

scorpio_princess

jaype wrote: »

Blimey, you're tidy. If I was off on holiday there'd we half-drunk cups of coffee everywhere that "d tried to stuff down before being dragged out of the door to the airport. Not to mention all the stuff I'd slung on the bed because it wouldn't fit in the suitcase after all...

As for sinking, it's a new build. They threw them up at such a speed in order to turn a profit during the boom that I'm not suprised. Good job you're getting out before the plaster starts cracking!

Well if i'd have known what they were planning I wouldn't have cleaned at all before I went! They might not have taken pics then


The history of the land these flats were built on doesn't bode well for the future I must say - apparently it was an old foundry with loads of underground networks. Not to mention the fact that the nearby riverside development is in danger of collapsing (as has already happened with a nightclub and bowling alley), and the fact that a lot of eastern and central Norwich is built on chalk (subsidence in this area is extremely common). Hmm I wonder if the landlord knows this? He'd be a fool if he didn't!

scorpio_princess

bikerqueen wrote: »

oh my god my mate lived on that estate, sold his last year. they're nice flats but not very big - near the station though.

oh, and i visited numerous times and still couldn't work out the road numbering!

This is actually one of the bigger 1 beds - you're right though, some are tiny. I think the room sizes are on the listing if you look at the bottom of the page. As for the numbering, it's just bizzare! The amount of times taxis haven't turned up or i've been delivered cold pizza because they couldn't find me is unreal! The parking numbering is even more weird - they go 5, 14, 28, 20 - all next to each other! Who knows why