Landlady keeps hinting she wants us out - for NO reason.

[incrediblesulk]

Our Landlady has constantly dropped hints that this 3 bedroom house should be for a family not a couple so my Mrs and I are looking for somewhere else (daughter left home).

 

Talking to Landlady yesterday she said she'd give us back the deposit 10 days after we leave. She's a tight bitch so I don't trust her.

 

1. Is that even legal?

2. Whose to say she wont just walk around the house making up stories to diddle us out of our deposit money?

[SabreSheep]

Does this even matter. If you are paying the rent and have a bona fide tenancy agreement you could have a 20 bedroom house.

Something smells here

[sequenci]

Hello there,

 

Is the deposit protected within a deposit scheme?

[ashmk]

Take photographs of every inch of the property when you leave. Use the daily newspaper in some shots to mark the date.

[incrediblesulk]

Cheers everyone, great answers.

@SabreSheep : Couldn't agree more. I'm guessing she plans to hike the rent up big time for the next tenants

@sequenci : Yes it is in the deposit scheme, does that mean she's trying to take the ...?

@ashmak : Great idea, will do that thank you

[sequenci]

Under the scheme they have ten days to release the funds, so perhaps this is what she was getting at.

[raydetinu]

If you have an AST or it has gone periodic, she has to give two clear months notice from a rent due date ( contract date ) by way of a S21 form.

similarly if it is PST then you have to give her one months clear notice.

[mariner51]

LL is legally entitled to withhold deposit for a reasonable time after end of T, to allow detailed move out inspection without Ts contents present, and time to communicate decision to DPS. DPS regard 10 days as 'a reasonable time'.

LL may try to embellish report, hence you have recourse to dispute procedure, with the onus of proof very much on LL.

that's why deposit schemes were brought in - to protect the T from unscrupulous LLs

There are also devious Ts as well as LLs!

[incrediblesulk]

So she can do that, that's disgusting. So many Landlords (they're all tight) will make up stories to keep some/all of the deposit.

[SabreSheep]

Thats why you use an inventory and video camera. U film everything when u move in and check inventory off.

 

When you move out you reverse the process.

[incrediblesulk]

We've lived in this private rented house for almost 4 years now without any issues whatsoever, we look after it and have only ever had cause to contact our landlady - when the shower sprung a leak.

 

When we moved in the rent was £625, it's crept up to £650 and when she told us a couple of months ago that she wants to put it up to £700 a month I told her we'd need to move (I didn't give notice, just an off the cuff comment)...she came around the next day with a reference!!!!

 

Since then, she contacts me perhaps once a month to 'say hello' and always ends her text/email/unscheduled visit with a note asking if we've found anywhere yet. We feel pressured to move out and can't believe this is legal?????????????

[citizenB]

Perhaps she is concerned that you will suddenly up sticks and leave after your comment about having to move ?

 

Might be worth letter her know that it was an off the cuff remark to the rent going up - however, £700.00 a month for a house doesn't sound too expensive from what I hear !

[45002]

We've lived in this private rented house for almost 4 years now without any issues whatsoever, we look after it and have only ever had cause to contact our landlady - when the shower sprung a leak.

 

When we moved in the rent was £625, it's crept up to £650 and when she told us a couple of months ago that she wants to put it up to £700 a month I told her we'd need to move (I didn't give notice, just an off the cuff comment)...she came around the next day with a reference!!!!

 

Since then, she contacts me perhaps once a month to 'say hello' and always ends her text/email/unscheduled visit with a note asking if we've found anywhere yet. We feel pressured to move out and can't believe this is legal?????????????

 

Take No notice of her and just carry on with your lives, sounds like she just wants you to move out at no cost to her !

 

If she does want possession back of your home and you don't want to move out, she the will have to follow correct legal process

 

Read on

 

http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/private_renting/private_renting_agreements/assured_shorthold_tenancies

 

Enjoy the BHW.

[mariner51]

That is an unsubstantiateiated assumption 45002.

A gradual rent increase of £75 over 4yr,on initial rent of £625 represents ~2.5% pa(prob in line with CPI & LLs increased costs. Assuming rent is £700 pcm, that is below the average UK rent. (regional diff apply)

LL does not require reason to issue s21 Notice, but no such Notice has been served, so her current interest is prob related to OPs 'off the cuff' response to proposed rent increase.

LL could just serve s13 for proposed increase and if OP duly contests, the adjudged 'fair' rent would be binding on botjfor next 12 months.

Any proposal is open to negotiation, without resorting to Law as the first option. IMO.

[incrediblesulk]

Thanks for the replies everyone, much appreciated.

 

@mariner51, Are you saying that if she increases the rent again we can contest?

[mikeymack2002]

That is what is being said, your LA normally has an officer for fair rents so you may want to ask them what they deem as a fair rent in your area..

[raydetinu]

probably best to open with LL, if you want to stay, and discuss the rent.

she may want security as well, that you are going to stay; and maybe agree to sign a new contract for a slightly higher rent, say £675 ( negotiate ).

[incrediblesulk]

I posted about this here before and have kept the same thread title in case you're interested.

 

Ok, short story is we mentioned to our Landlady last year that we'll need to move as the rent is high; since then she's been what I would call pressuring us into getting out - she gave us references the day after we'd talked, emails me regularly dropping hints.

Here's the one I got today:

 

Is this LEGAL????

 

 

 

 

Hi

 

Just wondering whether you had a chance to talk to Claire about your future plans?

 

My understanding from previous conversations we have had is as follows:

 

Claire would like to move nearer to work

Claire's daughter is 18 in August, which has a financial implication

You both feel the rent is too high

 

From what you have said, I am concerned that come August you might be struggling to pay the rent, which will be a stressful situation all round. If you need to find a cheaper place it would be better to do it sooner rather than later, as rents are going up across the board. You can look on rightmove and gumtree and I guess other places to see what you could get for less than £650, perhaps nearer to Claire’s workplace.

 

I am happy to pop over and have a chat about it, if that would help. I am free all day tomorrow, if that would be any good for you?

 

Kind regards

Helen

[cfs_too]

I'd reply with a simple

 

'If and when we are ready to move we will give you the appropriate notice as required in our tenancy agreement. At the moment we have no plans to move out'.

 

Should get her off your back.

 

It appears she's trying to establish facts, as I think (in passing) you said you'd have to move if the rents were put up, but until you give your legal notice she shouldn't be contacting you like this.

She can of course serve you notice anyway, which she can do at anytime.

Hope this helps, sorry if a little direct but she's been behaving like this for a while and you really need to stop her to get some peace and quiet.

[mariner51]

#OP, why do you think LL letter may be illegal? It appears to offer sensible advice and a one-off letter does not constitute harassment.

Though if dau does turn 18 soon, she should be able to contribute and relieve your rent concerns.

All LL is doing is trying to ascertain your intentions for end of fixed term, when you are allowed to vacate on last day, without Notice. Good advice for any LL approaching end of fixed term IMO. Some Notice would be a courtesy if you want a LL ref.

[dx100uk]

three threads merged

please keep to one thread

 

 

dx

[incrediblesulk]

That is an unsubstantiateiated assumption 45002.

A gradual rent increase of £75 over 4yr,on initial rent of £625 represents ~2.5% pa(prob in line with CPI & LLs increased costs. Assuming rent is £700 pcm, that is below the average UK rent. (regional diff apply)

LL does not require reason to issue s21 Notice, but no such Notice has been served, so her current interest is prob related to OPs 'off the cuff' response to proposed rent increase.

LL could just serve s13 for proposed increase and if OP duly contests, the adjudged 'fair' rent would be binding on botjfor next 12 months.

Any proposal is open to negotiation, without resorting to Law as the first option. IMO.

 

 

Thanks. First up, she's emailed us three times since I last posted, I asked Council about harassment and they said if they got involved she'd probably kick us out. Great help!

As for the rent, it's not a gradual increase, from £625 to £750 in one jump is hardly gradual..

If she were to put the rent up, do we have to agree/does she have to give us a new contract?

[altafica]

Firstly, until you have been served the correct notice to vacate you do NOT have to leave.

1..... are you in a fixed term agreement, or is is a periodic agreement, if fixed term can you give the start date as per your tenancy agreement.

2...... When you moved in did you have a inventory and do you have a copy.

3...... has the landlord served you the correct rent increase notice S13.

 

Dependent on these things a better answer can be given.

[incrediblesulk]

Thanks.

 

1. Periodic

2. Yes we have an inventory

3. No Notice 13, she put the rent up last year just by word of mouth too and did not give us any new agreement

[raydetinu]

any increase, does not have to be via an S13, but you can ask for one, as it sets your rights etc.

No you do not have to accept but then you may get a S21 notice for repossession.

Yes if you accept then you should get a new contract with the new terms etc.