A Tenant's guide to renting

prudryden

Your responsibility if want aerial. Be sure to get LL approval for the aerial - just in case the fitters damage anything.

martin2410

Thanks for that advice.

MissMoneypenny

martin2410 wrote: »

A question though as I cant see it covered anywhere.... Our new property does not have a television aerial. Is it our responsibility or the landlords to have one fitted? Even though we will have cable installed from day 1 we still want the aerial in case the cable tv fails.

We dont mind getting one fitted as the landlord has done so more to the house, we dont want him to be paying out for other items especially when an aerial is only about £40, but it is nice to be in the know.

Any advice appreciated.

You could try asking the LL and see what he says? Perhaps if he pays for it and you arrange to put it up?

My son had a student LL who paid for and put up an aerial, but he was the most professional LL I have met.

JoeA81

I have now added all your comments from this week(ish). Some very good suggestions thanks for all the input

Its growing!

franklee

A great guide but I'd add a bit of caution to this bit:

JoeA81 wrote: »

Also opening kitchen cupboards, opening windows, looking at the boiler to determine it's age and whether it looks like it is on it's last legs (though not always easy to tell) will show the general state of repair of the property.

The guide makes it sound like the viewer has a right to poke about which is fine if the old tenant has moved out but if the old tenant has not left yet then do ask before opening kitchen cupboards, opening windows etc. as the property is still the tenant's home. Also ensure that the windows are secured afterwards if the current tenant isn't present during the viewing. Basically respect that you are a guest in someone elses home and do not have a right to look in their cupboards etc. and one day you will be the tenant leaving with your possessions in the property being viewed. There are plenty of threads where tenants are unhappy about their possessions being moved around during viewings or the property not properly secured afterwards! Sometimes things even get stolen or broken during viewings. These are the reasons why I would not allow viewings without my being present and if someone started to look in cupboards without asking then I'd chuck them out. If they asked I'd show them any problems areas myself and give them the full run down on what's what.

newname_3

Take care if you are issued with a "Section 21" notice at the very beginning of your tenancy. The S21 is a legal document issued by the LL/LA which gives tenants two months notice that they must vacate the property, and is usually used near the end of a tenancy. However if one is issued at the start of a tenancy, then in theory the landlord does not need to give two months notice to evict tenants at the end of the fixed term rental period.

I'm a bit worried about this - my landlords are hoping to renovate the property I live in and if they do I will have to move out. I'm worried they won't have to give me full notice. I foolishly signed something I very foolishy signed something additionally to my tenancy agreement when i moved in and I can't remember the details - they said they would send a copy but they didn't and I forgot all about it until I looked at the tenancy guide on here today. It was something to do with them being able to evict me immediately if I didn't pay the rent. My initial six month tenancy period has passed now though of course.

Edit: to clarify the six month period ended and the agreement lapsed into the periodic kind i believe but automatically with no negotiation.

franklee

newname wrote: »

I'm a bit worried about this - my landlords are hoping to renovate the property I live in and if they do I will have to move out. I'm worried they won't have to give me full notice. I foolishly signed something I very foolishy signed something additionally to my tenancy agreement when i moved in and I can't remember the details - they said they would send a copy but they didn't and I forgot all about it until I looked at the tenancy guide on here today. It was something to do with them being able to evict me immediately if I didn't pay the rent. My initial six month tenancy period has passed now though of course.

Edit: to clarify the six month period ended and the agreement lapsed into the periodic kind i believe but automatically with no negotiation.

Did it say Section 21 Notice Requiring possession or something similar?

Always take a copy of everything you sign, if a photocopier is not handy then a photo with your digital camera does the job.

**IF** it was a S21 and the landlord got the details right then it's still valid. This means you have had your two months notice from the landlord and it's expired. So if he wants to to leave he is not obliged to give you that notice again, he can just say leave now or I start court action for possession. The court action does take some time but it won't make your references look pretty so the landlord has you over a barrel. It's ain't called the Sword of Damocles for nothing.

But it may not have been a S21 so perhaps write and ask the landlord for a copy of what you signed?

newname_3

I do feel really foolish for not following up in getting a copy (or signing it in the first place - the admin assistant signed it too as a witness I expect). I'm fairly sure it was something to do with requiring posession - I think there were two pieces of paper come to think about it. I should write I think to find out. But they are pretty underhand in their ways and it wouldn't surprise me at all if it was an s21. Are any landlords sympathetic to you having a court order in these circumstances this given the practice seems to be common place? Surely some must understand that you need time to look for a new place.

newname_3

For the future if they hand you an S21 straight away (I know you don't have to sign one) is there anything you can do (besides leaving the property) or is it just tough luck?

Another thing - do you think I could ask for a reference in writing now from my landlord before it may come to court orders? Would that help?

paintpot

There is no such thing as "being able to evict immediately". Landlords have to jump through many hoops in order to remove tenants legally. One route is a 21 notice as explained where the landlord does not require a reason and gives a minimum of two months notice (the dates must be absolutely spot on with this notice for it to succeed if it goes to court) and the other most common notice is a s8 notice generally for two months or more rent arrears.

IF you received a s21 notice when you signed the tenancy agreement then the landlord is lax to say the least if they have not spoken to you or corresponded with you prior to the expiry of that notice/end of tenancy in order to agree a check out/collection of keys etc. Yes, the landlord can apply to court for a possession order but it will cost them. I would write to your landlord to establish the situation and what notice if any was served on you. Then you know what you are dealing with.

Edit when did your fixed term tenancy end by the way? Why do you think they want to refurbish the property and get you out? I ask this as I didnt see this in your first post They may have have served you a s21 as a matter of course as some landlords do, in which case they may not want you to leave. Is the property managed by an agent or by the landlord?

newname wrote: »

I do feel really foolish for not following up in getting a copy (or signing it in the first place - the admin assistant signed it too as a witness I expect). I'm fairly sure it was something to do with requiring posession - I think there were two pieces of paper come to think about it. I should write I think to find out. But they are pretty underhand in their ways and it wouldn't surprise me at all if it was. Are any landlords sympathetic to you having a court order in these circumstances this given the practice seems to be common place? Surely some must understand that you need time to look for a new place.