They're proper searches that have decreased the score

Ah, I see. thanks for your reply. I've been trying to keep my score squeaky clean, very disappointed with that sudden decrease.

Hi. Sorry if this is in the wrong group. I wonder if anyone can help. I recently had to make 2 claims on my home contents policy with Halifax underwritten by Lloyds I have been trying to build my credit rating with the intention of applying for a mortgage in the new year. I was alarmed to find today that my rating has dropped by 200 points due to credit searches from Lloyds on the 2 dates that I made the claim. Is this normal, and why would they do such a search? This could seriously affect my chances of getting a mortgage. thanks in advance

Hi all, and thanks in advance. As noted in a previous post by myself, my landlord failed to carry out repairs, which sadly ended in a fire. We were very lucky that we were not in bed at the time. A leak near electrics was left for 3 months, after repeated requests to deal with it. I was at home when I heard a bang in the attic. As I pulled down the hatch to investigate, I was greeted by flames and smoke with the attic ablaze. The fire crew told me the fire had been going for around 4 hours. This was at 10.30am. Had I not been there, and not opened the hatch, the whole house could have collapsed. (bungalow) Now, begrudgingly, the landlord put us in a hotel, at 6pm that evening..... we are still there! He called me this morning and said we should be back in by Friday, but also told me I was lucky he was paying for this and claiming it back as tenants normally have to pay themselves then claim it back! Surely this is not correct??? He also told me I could not claim for broadband (£3 per day) I have fibre broadband at home and need it for my job so surely this should be covered. There are a LOT of out of pocket expenses that I am yet to mention!!!! I'm not impressed that he is making out like he is doing me a favour. If it had been worse, he would be on a manslaughter charge for failing to carry out the repairs which in turn endangered a family of 3. The letting agent also told me not to mention to the insurance that we had informed them of the fault...... Something to hide? To add to that, he invoiced me on Saturday for the next months rent. The cheek!!! Any advice would be greatly appreciated

Hi all, and thanks in advance for any advice. I rent a good standard bungalow, good in sense of area, size and land. (doesn't come cheap either) We have been here 13 months. Now in December we had a leak in the kitchen ceiling which was immediately reported to the letting agent. As it was just days before Christmas I was told it would be dealt with after the Christmas period, but told to poke a small hole through ceiling to relieve any pressure, which I did. The water has come from the chimney stack, it's soaking wet in the attic. There is also damp coming into the 3 bedrooms, living room and bathroom, with pieces of rendering falling off and cracking all over. We cleaned this up but the damp reappears within days. The agent has said the rendering will have to wait until spring time to be done. 2 weeks after Christmas someone came to investigate and give a price. We then heard nothing. 4 weeks ago part of the ceiling came down, they sent someone round to patch it up temporarily. (Looks awful) I called the letting agent this week to ask what was happening and was told that the owner is going through his insurance and needed a second quote, but was given no timescale as to when this would be. I called a friend of mine who is a builder to give me a quote, just to see if this would help things along. The price for all work is £750 - Hardly worth going through the insurance in my opinion. Also forgot to mention, where the damp is coming from the chimney stack it has soaked the hall wall and carpet, so stepping through a wet carpet every day is getting rather annoying. Also the boiler has packed in 6 times in 3 weeks. They have sent someone round to fix it, but it seems to be the same problem each time. Now, after this waffling on, I get to my question. Do you think it is reasonable for me to ask for a rent reduction due to these issues? Thanks again P

Hi all, and thanks in advance. My partner has been paying Emergency Tax since July, despite giving her tax code to her employer. Eventually, they said they needed the tax office to send them the code, which they have done TWICE! She was paid today, and what a suprise, no rebate and still paying Emergency tax. Now with Christmas approaching, we could really use that rebate, roughly £1000 Her employers said that it would have to be in her next pay.... 2 days before Xmas!!! And thats if they actually pull their finger out and sort it out, which judging by previous months doesn't seem likely. What is our best course of action, and are we able to get this money earlier than 23rd December? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

Hi, We have been at our current property for 18 months, and throughout the tenancy, the landlord has said that the bond is protected..... I kind of knew it wasn't but let it go. Now we are moving out next week, and I asked the landlord about the details of the scheme. He replied.... "it's in my own scheme!" I asked what he meant by this and he said it's in his building society and not protected and informed me that if I wanted to do anything about that, to do-so, but it will only p***s him off. He's not a nice guy and I'm sure he will try to make up some excuse for keeping the bond. What should my course of action be here? Thanks all

Hi thanks for your response. re ll going around back they would have had to lean over and unlock the side gate and walk through the garden and down steps to do so. it was repaired perfectly by a pro glazing company. They inspected the property only two months ago and they were more than happy. we have only made improvements to it. re inventory. there wasn't one. basically here's keys. done.

I have lived at my property for 18 months and the landlords have been pretty poor to say the least. we waited two months for the boiler clock to be fitted. anyway. i gave my notice on Friday and asked for a reference. the landlord agreed. then his wife called and said the next rent is due Thursday but if you pay early we you'll have to wait for a reference. i wanted it this weekend to secure the new property. i told her she was being unreasonable and she basically said tough! i thought ok, I'll be awkward now. i reminded her that my bond has not been protected. she denies this but i have seen no evidence of this. i also reminded them that the gas safety certificate is at least four months out of date. they said you'll have one tomorrow. obviously worried them. however i waited in yesterday and was told it would be done Saturday at 2pm. now 8pm and no contact. i also believe they have entered the property as they knew a pane in back door was broken. the wind blew the door but i replaced it two days later. How else would they know??? How should deal with this? thanks.

Yes the deposit is protected, and the agent has confirmed that i informed them about the tile, and permission was given for the sky plus Thanks

Hi all, and thanks in advance for any help. I moved into the property in February with a 6 month lease. Through an estate agents. Now when I moved in i rented the property as a 3 bed house with garage. However, the owner had the garage half full of his posessions, but I was assured these would be removed in 2 weeks. Anyway, as time went on, I was given multiple excuses why the garage could not be cleared, 3 months into the tenancy, the owner came and removed, at best, 10% of the posessions. I had to explain that portion of the events, as it may prove relevant later on. So..... 4 Months into the tenancy, I was given notice that at the end of the 6 month lease, i should vacate as the property was being sold. I had already bought a place so that was perfect, and I asked if I could vacate sooner, which was agreed. Anyway, I handed the keys over monday, and the estate agents did the walkthrough and agreed that everything was in order. However, today, they have called me stating that the landlord wants to withhold my bond for a few reasons. 1. I cut down a tree in the garden. This tree was already cut down and I have photographic evidence of this. 2. A slate was missing I informed the agent 5 weeks ago about this 3. I had sky installed There was already sky installed, I just had an extra cable installed for sky plus, which i asked the agent for permission before hand 4. There was a chip on the fire grate ( very old fire grate, and 100% positive, i did not cause this ) 5. A table that he had in the garage is missing its base I assumed that was taken when he collected SOME of the stuff I was actually warned by three neighbours that he would do this, as he has done the same to previous tenants, and is a very unsavoury character. What would the best course of action be in this situation? I appreciate your help plkdelta

thanks for your help. The only thing that concerns me is the fact that I'm still with the same agent, so i think both my deposits have never been protected, so they would owe me around £4000. Now, If I was to persue this, could they kick me out of the property I'm in now? I know not legally, but I'm sure if I took them on they'd find some excuse.

I took out a ast in April 2009, and paid a £525 deposit. The landlord decided to sell the property and subsequently we moved in Feb of this year. I agreed to fit a new bathroom suite in return for slightly lower rent, £525 instead of £550, but as we were given notice in December I did not do this, so it was taken out of my deposit. Fair enough. I repeatedly asked the agent if the deposit was protected under a scheme, and was told "of course" Upon checking with a company that claim the fess, I have found this not to be the case. When we moved in February it was to another property from the same agent, and again, I questioned if the deposit was protected, and given the same answer. Now I understand I should have received a certificate, which I have not. I'm happy with the new property, but concerned that this deposit is not protected, as was the case with the previous one. Any help on a course of action would be appreciated. PLK

thanks for the advice all, on way to court now

ok, I've cancelled my course so I'll be here tomorrow. whats the process for the stay? PLK