Okay, those who have read my previous posts know that our former (oh, but I love that word) landlord has been a total ass, including assaulting my husband. We moved out over the weekend and on Sunday afternoon we were cleaning & loading (I know, cleaning - so silly when one considers how filthy the place was on arrival) when four (count them, FOUR) police vans drew up! My first thought was that our landlord had lied through his teeth re the assault & they'd come to arrest my husband. But, no. Nothing like that. We have illegal shotguns/firearms! As reported by our LL! My only concern was that we knew someone had been in the house in our absence & I was worried in case something had been planted. Unfortunately the policemen would not help with the removal (I did ask). We were spared the Assault mob because one of the officers had met us during our altercations with our LL & he was pretty positive the 'report' was malicious. So, I now have a copy of a Search Warrant which I intend to frame. I think I'm the first person in my family to have been so blessed!! (I have to admit, it kept us in hysterics for hours - made moving so much more amusing - I'd recommend it!!)

Well, he's just been. He came with his bully-boy & demanded entrance. My husband quoted common law (isn't the Net wonderful) and told him we do not need to allow him entry & that he can view the property once we've left on 22. He then tried to force his way into the house & my husband tried to resist him. Hubby now has clothing ripped down to his waist and scratches on his chest. We're waiting for the Police, though our LL is long gone. My poor daughter was terrified, screaming as the assault occured & our stuff is scattered all over the hallway. Isn't life exciting??

Hi As some might know/remember we're having a little problem with our Idiot Landlord. We're still without water/heating since he won't fix it & the rats are as partygoerish as ever. Anyway, The Idiot inspected the property last on 10 January (even looking in the 'fridge & the freezer). Today (10 February) he informed us he intends to inspect it again tomorrow - no time, of course. He knows we're leaving this rat-infested......in the next two weeks. Do we HAVE to let him inspect - it seems like more harassment to me - I mean, twice in 4 1/2 weeks? We've said, 'no' & I think I'll have to call the Police since he's a beligerent cuss but I wondered if anyone had any thoughts on it. Thanks

Contacted 7 solicitors in Cardiff (info from Law Society website). 1 replied!

Hi It's been suggested to us that we could sue our landlord for not only keeping the deposit (old news!) but also the lousy state of the house, harassment and personal injury. The latter might sound a bit wishful but I suffer from things like asthma, sarcoidosis etc - before we moved here I used to walk 10 miles then go to the gym; now I have difficulty getting to the top of the stairs! I kid you not. The thing is, it's so difficult to find a solicitor - a good one. My ex-husband & I went to Court re our daughter. MY solicitor was all touchy-feely & thought we should all behave like gentlmen (so to speak), whereas my ex's solicitor made the Great White look like a whimp. Thus, I was wondering if anyone knew of a similar sort to my ex's Shark who specializes in housing/personal injury in the environs of Cardiff. I trust you lot far more than I do the Yellow Pages! Take care, folks - and thanks in advance.

Oh, we knew he was coming - but I can't help but feel thoroughly annoyed at his behaviour re the fridge & freezer. I suspect it was to try to get us to say something (he was recording everything!), but we kept shtum because of that. The man knows no boundaries, doesn't understand personal space At All. For myself I wanted to kick him where it hurts (but intend to hurt him even more by taking him to Court). Some people are so - argh!

Our Darling Landlord inspected the house today (with Trusty Sidekick, of course) and took photographs of things like my computer (?) The thing that REALLY annoyed me, though, is his action in the kitchen. Has anyone else had the contents of their 'fridge and freezer inspected? The man is SUCH an arse.

He obviously knows police response times - he left literally 2 minutes before they arrived - probably passed each other! They have warned him if he comes again then he'll probably be arrested. I'm fed up with this (although I'm trying to see the ridiculous side). At least my daughter was with her father today, so she didn't have to see the current confrontation (she's scared, poor thing). He'll probably be out again tomorrow - apparently the letter from Shelter was a forgery courtesy of Yours Truly (didn't know I was so talented), and, in his opinion, the police, the Law & solicitors can't stop him coming onto his property & throwing us out. The good news, of course, is that we were all warm & comfy (complete with cups of coffee) IN the house whilst he & his supporters were freezing their behinds off OUTSIDE. Unfortunately, due to my ill health (not helped by above) I'm now on HB - the fallback of degenerates if one looks at the number of places that catagorically state they want nothing to do with such recipients. Have a good New Year, folks. I'm hoping for a quiet one!

Well, we're at an impasse right now. Estate agents are, to all intents & purposes closed over this period, our LL has had warnings from the Police, Shelter AND the Council. Guess what. He's sitting outside our gate right now, with friends, blocking our exit & demanding we get out & money. We've 'phoned the Police & they said they'll dispatch someone when they can.........let's see how long it takes!! Ah, well. We're in the warm with coffee, they're outside (mind you, we had 4 days without water due to his expert plumbing!) Keep you posted.

Today we saw our landlord twice - once in Tesco & then an hour later here - both times he demanded money & told us he would throw us & our belongings out on 31 December if he doesn't get it. Unfortunately the Police don't seem to be worth a damn - just told us we should pursue it through the civil courts - which is all well & good but I thought it was illegal to indulge in illegal eviction (not to mention harassment etc etc). If anyone knows of a solicitor in the Carmarthen area who accepts legal aid (I'm on ESA right now - sarcoidosis amongst other things) then I'd be grateful of their direction. Oh - guess what - after the threat, our darling LL actually had the chutzpah to wish us a Merry Christmas & Prosperous New Year!!!!

Thank you everyone for your support & advice - I shall definitely be taking some/all of it.... However, the story continues. Whilst we were out today (looking for somewhere else to live - why do estate agents make appointments then don't bother to turn up or answer your call??) - our darling landlord left a letter for us. Our tenancy is from the 1st of the month. Apparently, because we've told him we can't be out before the 9 of January then we owe him oodles of cash for the 9 extra days - AND we have to pay it by 21 December - or he'll evict us on 31 December. Isn't that nice? And sweet? I find this chap mindbogglingly arrogant & stupid, all at the same time. I really don't want anyone else to suffer under his tyranny (we're his first attempt at letting, I gather). We intend to sue him re the deposit & see if we can take him to Court regarding trying to evict us but if anyone can think of anything else I should be grateful. I've had enough of this guy coming here at all hours of the day/night & leaving us little love notes like this.... Anyway, on an happier note - we now have 4 chicks! Merry Christmas everyone (as my daughter has reminded me at least 20 times today, there's only 8 more days...and 15 to our landord's deadline!)

Protected??? When we asked he said he didn't like those schemes since HE would lose the interest - basically he spent it. We have a copy of our lease (ie the one we signed) and now have a copy of the one he ammended (which we didn't sign) - got it a week or so after we moved in. Since we've been here I've had a relapse of a couple of illnesses & we think we'll just call it a day & try to find quiet anonymity somewhere whilst I go back & fore to the hospital! It was a nice idea, hoping to have our own little area & grow food & animals but there we go (anyone know someone who might be interested in some turkey & chicken chicks? We have an incubator in the kitchen keeping the eggs warm & if they're going to hatch it'll be in the next week or so....no chance of being able to raise 'em in suburbia!)

In answer to your questions (and thank you for taking the time) 1. Yes 2. Wales 3. 23 October 2009 4. Ditto 2010 5. Last Saturday 6. 30 days. Part two (Excuse me whilst I go off into a corner and explode with laughter). Uh, no. He tries to be professional but doesn't pull it off, basically complaining that we haven't done what we expected him to and implying we've taken property of his off the land (it's a smallholding that's been allowed to sink into bogland & is unfit for animals). This I think is a bit much since all we've done is drag the rusting barbed wire, the numerous radiators (house, not car), the 30 used (?) propane tanks and similar number of used tyres out of the mud & mire and stacked them in and against a couple of his trailers (which he said would be removed by the time we arrived). We also found numerous fence/gate posts underneath years of grass & stuff which he's propped up to dry - 000s of £worth. This is, presumably, what they're complaining about. I suspect he's trying to work out a way to take us to court - we signed the lease & posted it to his agents and he promptly changed it but we weren't told of the changes (and didn't see the ammended lease) until a week after we moved in. According to HIS ammendments we aren't to do a thing to the property - can't build chicken pens, he has first right to any crops etc, etc. He knew we wanted to raise chickens, pigs & sheep. Couldn't any way because not only is the land dangerous with all the rusting metal and car batteries sticking out of the land he's also kept his own animals on there - they were supposed to be gone - so we've been paying to feed his animals - which is nice. He & his wife came over the other day for a slanging match - found her taking photographs of the inside of our house! I'm sure there's invasion of privacy there. Anyway EHO coming on Wednesday, which should be interesting. Whilst we're anxious to leave (look up everytime we hear a car, wondering if it's them come for another bitch) - just want quiet, peaceful. Just hope we can find it.

Our landlord has just given us written notice of eviction - because we reported the property to the Environmental Health Officer (he contacted them, too and told them he was going to do it). Whilst I know we can stay & fight, in some ways I'm relieved - we haven't had 'quiet enjoyment' of the property - he tried to work it so that we paid the money he still owed on his electricity via the pre-payment meter (£7 of every £10 we paid in went onto his outstanding bill), lied about the water meter so that we had a bill for almost £100 for 2 weeks, we have rats, it's unsafe and mouldy - and he pocketed the deposit. It's all very well & good our paying good money to have references taken - but what about dodgy landlords? Why can't prospective tenants have a check done on possible landlords (or letting agents). As it is, totally broke & ill, I'll shortly be homeless with my daughter - whether the council will help (2 bed property - housing benefit £380) I don't know. Wish me luck, folks and watch your back.

In our previous place (there for over 2 years) we did our best to keep it in good order. In the weeks before we moved I scoured the kitchen & oven (no-one was allowed to use the latter for the last 2 weeks!!), I washed all te windows, tops of doors, radiators - you name it. My husband thought I was nuts. We vacuumed, washed floors, scrubbed lavatories & the shower cubicle. Took photographs. I admit my daughter had put up some posters with bluetac & we'd covered the marks with the much loved ubiquitous Magnolia paint. All rubbish was put in the wheelie bin or taken to the local dump. The agents didn't contact us - only when we'd 'phoned them twice did they respond - back-dating a letter to suggest they'd written to us within the timescale to say they did not accept our deposit being returned. They objected to cobwebs being in the house - they also claimed the carpets were 'dirty', as was the bathroom and say the walls need complete re-decorating - thus they want to claim the whole deposit. We asked our neighbour (who's the local handyman & has the job of redecorating the place) & he said he thought it was fine. Not only that, but when we arrived there was a very strong smell of dog and the windows were filthy - as well as the dog hairs everywhere! We've decided to go to Court since I'm strongly of the opinion that we're talking reasonable wear & tear over a 2 1/4 year period - and anyway, don't these people understand how quickly cobwebs are made? Mind you, in our new place we have no certificates re gas, electricity, oil, or a ECT - the electricity & gas are jerryrigged, he's spent our deposit, lies everytime we see him (we found out we were paying off his electricity bill with the pre-paid meter system) we've got rats, there's paint falling off the bedroom ceiling due to damp (it spreads every day) as well as mold, we have broken windows, sewage spilling out of a blocked drain & seeping into the foundations, rubbish eveywhere - including rusted metal & 30 propane tanks - paper peeling off walls, trailing wires & nails sticking 1cm out of the floor (these things either didn't exist when we viewed the property or we were told they'd be rectified). We don't even have a proper bathroom!