Tenancy Urgent Help needed

[PTB007]

Hi,

I have a friend who rents an apartartment in London. She payed the landlord a months rent in advance in addition to a months deposit at the start of June.

She has since paid rent upto date. Always cash and foolishly she has not asked for receipts.

She does not have a signed copy of the contract, only a copy with his details stating the amount of rent handwritten by the landlord.

The landlord is now trying to get rid of her saying she has not paid a penny, he moved other people into the apartment (working girls) and they have been doing business there the last two nights.

The police where called yesterday and afterwards she managed to change the locks, she is really scared now as the WG's keep coming back. They are there now but cannot get in as the locks have been changed.

Where can she get some advice asap please.

 

thanks.

[Planner]

Does she want to stay after all this?

[PTB007]

no, but where can she go, she loses her deposit and rent. She is scared to leave the flat now.

[Planner]

Speak to the councils private tenancy relations officer.

 

Ring the police the next time the WGs come around.

 

Pay the landlord in a way that is recorded i.e. cheque/standing order/cash with recipt.

[PTB007]

thanks anyway, too late, police have come and taken the landlords side. They've broken the door and are now evicting her because she does not have a signed contract.

I witnessed her giving him the balance of the deposit , he denies this, I witnessed the brothel in the apartment.

I cannot understand how the law can allow this....

[Planner]

thanks anyway, too late, police have come and taken the landlords side. They've broken the door and are now evicting her because she does not have a signed contract.

I witnessed her giving him the balance of the deposit , he denies this, I witnessed the brothel in the apartment.

I cannot understand how the law can allow this....

 

Blimey! I think the police have acted most inapprorpaitley.

 

I would suggest you make a complaint to the relevant person at the police station about the officers actions and the police complaints commision if you get no joy.

 

Your friend should also now speak to a tenancy specialising solicitor about illegal eviction (which is a criminal offence).

 

A tenancy need not be written.

[PTB007]

thanks again for the ressponse, I shall accompany her to the police station to investigate further, this is totally wrong and I still cannot belive how the police sided with the landlord. He never once issued any notice to leave to her.

Her being a tenant in not a doubt after all, he claims she did not pay rent.

How on earth did the police evict her then without proper procedure being followed.

Now the landlord has changed the keys and she does not have a set and sadly no receipts for her deposit and rent payments. All a bit of a mess!!!!

[Planner]

thanks again for the ressponse, I shall accompany her to the police station to investigate further, this is totally wrong and I still cannot belive how the police sided with the landlord. He never once issued any notice to leave to her.

Her being a tenant in not a doubt after all, he claims she did not pay rent.

How on earth did the police evict her then without proper procedure being followed.

Now the landlord has changed the keys and she does not have a set and sadly no receipts for her deposit and rent payments. All a bit of a mess!!!!

 

I would post on the landlord zone forums Residential Letting Questions - LandlordZONE Forums

 

Lots of legal types on there who will give you their view.

[PTB007]

thanks for your help, Ill look into that.