Getting a rent agreement from my LL

top_drawer_2

hi,

I moved into a shared house in April and received a rent agreement. I took this to the Student Union who helped me complete a form for HB pointed out that there seems to be some gaps in it - no mention of who was responsible for paying bills (advertised as all in), no breakdown of what I am paying for, the wrong address given as the LL's (he used to live here) and the wrong date given as the start date of my tenency (2007 instead of 2008).

I spoke to him at the time (about 7 weeks ago now) and emailed him last week and he hasnt replied. I dont know what to do now!

I really need that breakdown of the bills to progress my application for housing benefit but I really dont want to tell him that I am claiming.

Can someone please suggest a subtle way to put the wind up him and get him to tackle it?

Also, things are getting pretty heated in this house and I would really like to move asap ... how will this affect my HB? Will they still pay for the rent I have already paid to live here and then I can just submit a new claim on a new place??

Thanks

Jen

zebulon

there is something about not having to pay rent if you don't have his address
that would sure make him more interested, so at the same time you would need to get everything you need from him.

hopefully someone will give you more info about that

N79

top_drawer wrote: »

I really need that breakdown of the bills to progress my application for housing benefit but I really dont want to tell him that I am claiming.

Why do you not want to tell him?

top_drawer_2

I just think its private and he has no right to know tbh.

Jen

real1314

You probably don't need a breakdown of the bills anyway, the rent will be referred to the rent officer as £xx.xx including heating, hot water, water rates etc and the rent officer will assess it at an amount to exclude the bills, assuming you moved in and claimed HB before April, or if you moved in after April, they will just assess it on LHA rules anyway, again no need for breakdown of bills.
Ring the council and they should confirm it. Just tell them there is no separate breakdown.

top_drawer_2

hi,

When they called theyy have asked specifically for a confirmation of what the rent includes ...

Jen

real1314

So, what do you have to pay on top of rent?

Heating
Lighting
Water Rates
Water Heating
Council Tax
Any Meals included?

ASk them to list the things that they need to know about and you'll tell them what is or isn't included, but is it a pre-april claim or post-april? 'cos if it's post april they don't need it anyway, but they might still be using the old procedures without realising they won't affect the payment.

top_drawer_2

I applied from April - not sure of the exact date. I dont pay anything on top of the £325 I pay a month except for the landline phone.

Jen

tbs624

I noticed you said you spoke to the Students Union - most FT students will not qualify for HB - have you checked into the specific ( & quite limited) categories of students who can claim?

You are entitled to certain basic information about your tenancy - this includes the name of your LL and an address at which notices can be served on him/her, the fixed term of your tenancy, the amount of rent due, method of payment, date due.
The rent is not collectable from you or your fellow tenants if the LL does not supply an address ( known as a S48 Notice, and usually part of first page of a TA, although some LLs issue one separately.)

If you formally request this info in writing the LL has to give it to you within 28 days.If you do it by email, print a hard copy off as well as making sure you don't delete the email itself, in error(ditto any reply via email)

I would ring the Private Sector Team in the Council's Housing Dept - the TRO (Tenancy Relations Officer ) there will be able to advise you further and also liaise with the LL if necessary. If he is listed as living at the property, then he may not have his lender's permission to let the property out.

top_drawer_2

hi,

Yes I have checked and double checked my entitlement as did the SU and no doubt the HB people too.

The LL owns the property, he lived here for a short while as he was doing up his own property which he has since moved back into.

I have asked him again today (on MSN) for a copy of the agreement. I will think if I dont have one in a week I am going to tell him im getting HB as Im on low income and thats why I need it ...

Jen

tbs624

top_drawer wrote: »

...I have asked him again today (on MSN) for a copy of the agreement. I will think if I dont have one in a week I am going to tell him im getting HB as Im on low income and thats why I need it ...

Jen - you really don't have to give him a specific reason: you are legally entitled to this information. MSN messaging is maybe a bit too informal for this type of stuff. Either bog standard email or, better still, good old snail mail. You have proof that your request has been received if you send it by Rec Del, as you can track the delivery online.