Bastard Landlords Part II

[Gromit]

I dunno. Most of my colleagues (and myself, to some extent, although my circs have changed slightly in the last year) are in similar situations - most are are renting with housemates or partners, but probably have similar feelings, or see renting as a perfectly acceptable step towards maybe one day owning.

My landlord is fine - very hands off unless needed. I've been here 4 years or so, and thanks to bikes, an allergy to hoovering and a shaky hand with a red wine glass, I'll be perfectly happy for my deposit to pay for a new carpet if and when I do move on. There are two of us middle aged women in the block of 5 flats, and I think the landlord is happy to have us as stable sensible tenants, when the other flats seem to change hands relatively often.

You have been in your flat a lot longer than four years Archer, you were living there when I had my little flat. It must be since 2004/2005. :-)

 

[theclaud]

[QUOTE 1501322"]
I can only suggest that next time you rent a place, you look at the contract and with respect to issues where you have been burnt before you discuss these before you put pen to paper. You would thought that the good landlord would want to hear any issues you might have.
[/quote]

This would be sound advice, but unfortunately it's no use unless you have the leisure to contemplate these things, and can move independently and when it suits you. We had to move quickly, with very few options, and we had to compromise between us. We did have choices, but there was something wrong with all of them.

 

[Arch]

You have been in your flat a lot longer than four years Archer, you were living there when I had my little flat. It must be since 2004/2005. :-)

Blimey, you're right, it must be. Time flies eh?

I remember when I was looking for the flat, the first time on my own, and I was trying to be cool about places, since I didn't want to appear over eager. I'd looked at two others, both unsuitable for various reasons. The landlord opened the inner door, and we stepped into the room (it's a bedsit, really, just one big room plus bathroom), and I said "Oh, what a lovely room!" So much for playing it cool.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

I'm serious when I dispense with the leaving inventory and instruct the agent to return the deposit without delay. I don't believe in Karma, but I do think this life's too short.

I wish a few of my landlords had had this attitude, which coincides spookily with my own (it's why I've never got any money). My parents, who are the landlords of two houses "oop North", are much the same. I'd hate to ever turn into one of those people to whom money is so important that they feel they have to resort to ripping off tenants to get hold of it. Not, of course, that every landlord who keeps all or part of a deposit is ripping people off, but most of mine were.

 

[Spinney]

There is no signed inventory. As the property was occupied when we viewed, we confirmed with the agent whether certain items were included, and took photographs of what was his at the beginning of the tenancy. It was somewhat sparsely furnished in comparison to our previous place (which was over-furnished), so our main concern at the time was with establishing what was not there so he wouldn't be able to claim any property that we had to buy in. We asked about an inventory, and he has expressed an interest in compiling one, but has not managed to find the time to do so, and he lives a bit of a way away. There is no way I'd sign an inventory without the machine on it, or indeed without anything of importance that was provided when we moved in. When we initially asked for notification of the deposit scheme, he claimed the agents hadn't passed the deposit to him at all. He has since acknowledged he has it, but has yet to give us details - this has definitely been in my mind as leverage. Early attempts to get him to fix or improve non-urgent things have been unpromising, to put it mildly. I've had landlords like this before, but not since I was a student, when I'd have responded by similarly bypassing all legitimate process, ignoring the need for permission, getting things sorted and then deducting the costs from the rent and sending receipts. It's trickier when you're trying to establish a permanent home and have a co-tenant who is conflict-averse and doesn't do direct action/redress. You can't live with someone who is permanently stressed about living there.

If he hasn't put it in a proper deposit scheme, I believe you can sue him for something like 3x the deposit.

This is a good place to ask questions about renting (and letting) - in spite of the name, there are lots of tenants posting there as well.
http://www.landlordzone.co.uk/forums/forum.php

 

[Archie_tect]

TC, how many people share the flat with you? ... if the landlord won't or can't afford to replace the washing machine with a new one you could simply agree with him to throw the old one away and buy one yourself/ves and take it with you when you move and that way you get a decent w/machine that you can trust. If you rent a Housing Association flat or house you have to supply your own white goods so, if you move on to an unfurnished place next time you'll have made in-road into buying your own stuff.

 

[ttcycle]

TC from what you've said, the only thing you can hold him on is the deposit (which though conjecture, may not be registered with a company), however, if he's admitted in email that the washing machine is his - longshot but it may be worth holding onto those as proof of it being his property - though that is tenuous.

It's a tough one, if your housemate is risk averse or just prefers to up and leave, you could be in on your own on this one - do you think you could get a like minded tenant in? Problem is, if you pursue the problem (which is within the legal tenancy rights) it's likely to cause ill feeling and whether the landlord would agree to a new tenant and or let you stay there longer term is questionable. Absolute abuse of the power and the fact is the guy is ignorant.

This kind of shoot makes me really ****ing angry.

 

[theclaud]

TC, how many people share the flat with you? ... if the landlord won't or can't afford to replace the washing machine with a new one you could simply agree with him to throw the old one away and buy one yourself/ves and take it with you when you move and that way you get a decent w/machine that you can trust. If you rent a Housing Association flat or house you have to supply your own white goods so, if you move on to an unfurnished place next time you'll have made in-road into buying your own stuff.

Just one. I'm broke, don't want to get into further debt to buy a washing machine that my landlord should be buying, and might not necessarily end up living with my current flatmate if we move. I don't own a vehicle in which to transport endless white goods that landlords can't be arsed to provide/repair. Besides, if I move to another furnished place, I will then have to ditch it. He can afford it. He's an anaesthetist. And I don't mean a trainee. But like I said I'm not looking for practical advice over a particular problem. Forget the washing machine, for I will sort that.

 

[Archie_tect]

W/M duly forgotten...

 

[theclaud]

W/M duly forgotten...

Right. I've got to go home and discuss it with the flatmate. Who doesn't drink! I don't know how anyone can spend the day contemplating the actions of a Bastard Landlord and not need to get completely off her tits, but it takes all sorts!

 

[Adasta]

I wish a few of my landlords had had this attitude, which coincides spookily with my own (it's why I've never got any money). My parents, who are the landlords of two houses "oop North", are much the same. I'd hate to ever turn into one of those people to whom money is so important that they feel they have to resort to ripping off tenants to get hold of it. Not, of course, that every landlord who keeps all or part of a deposit is ripping people off, but most of mine were.

I once lived in a house where a shelf above my bed fell off the wall (light pressure was applied to it, but I shan't go into details). It landed on my face, leaving me with a small scar. I removed the shelf and took out the fittings since it was all quite an obvious bodge-job.

After I moved out, I got a call from my landlady. She implied I was discourteous for having removed the shelf and for "leaving the wall with a hole it in that [she] needed to fill." She tried to charge me £30 for it. I was apopletic. I was so unrelenting that she put her boyfriend on the phone to "deal with me". I pointed out that I would happily buy some Polyfilla and do the job myself since it would cost about a fiver and take about 10 minutes. In the end, I told her she could take £15 if she never spoke to me again.

I'll never, ever forget that woman.

As an aside, I wrote to my MP about the lack of regulation in the rental sector. I got a response. Any action taken? No.

 

[Flying Dodo]

TC - commiserations on your situation.

It does sound like the landlord is a complete idiot.

I'm not a landlord,* but if I was, I'd want to try and keep regularly paying nice tenants, to avoid the hassle and expense of finding new ones, and the expense of having a void.

You've got a number of options:-

You can be the nice, touchy-feely TC and tell him you understand his situation as it must be a great concern having an asset tied up as a home for someone else, but that with any home, those living in it expect certain things and the existence of a washing machine (sorry, I've mentioned it) when you moved in, demonstrated his desire as an obviously caring person, to provide certain necessities for those renting from him. And the fact that there seems to be a lack of concern from him about other items in the premises means the property isn't being looked after by him, as well as you would expect an understanding individual such as him to do so.

Or you can be the ball crushing TC, and point out the fact that at the start you were prepared to overlook the existence of an inventory which would have made his life much easier but coupled with the vagueness of his dealings regarding the deposit means you have concerns about the legality of the tenancy. You could also through in detail other things which might be relevant if they're applicable, such as no annual gas boiler certificate, furniture not fire resistant, etc etc.

Either way, sadly, I'd start looking for a new place.




* although I might have a room and garage space to rent!

 

[User169]

The tone makes the music as we say in German - asking nicely goes a long way!

Cracking sig material, TC!

 

[Brains]

There is no signed inventory. As the property was occupied when we viewed, we confirmed with the agent whether certain items were included, and took photographs of what was his at the beginning of the tenancy. It was somewhat sparsely furnished in comparison to our previous place (which was over-furnished), so our main concern at the time was with establishing what was not there so he wouldn't be able to claim any property that we had to buy in. We asked about an inventory, and he has expressed an interest in compiling one, but has not managed to find the time to do so, and he lives a bit of a way away. There is no way I'd sign an inventory without the machine on it, or indeed without anything of importance that was provided when we moved in. When we initially asked for notification of the deposit scheme, he claimed the agents hadn't passed the deposit to him at all. He has since acknowledged he has it, but has yet to give us details - this has definitely been in my mind as leverage. Early attempts to get him to fix or improve non-urgent things have been unpromising, to put it mildly. I've had landlords like this before, but not since I was a student, when I'd have responded by similarly bypassing all legitimate process, ignoring the need for permission, getting things sorted and then deducting the costs from the rent and sending receipts. It's trickier when you're trying to establish a permanent home and have a co-tenant who is conflict-averse and doesn't do direct action/redress. You can't live with someone who is permanently stressed about living there.

I'm sorry but to me this is a serious issue.
Do you have an STA (Short Term Tenancy Agreement ? Read it, especially the bit about the deposit.

No signed inventory.
OK produce one yourself and send it to him, put what your like, make it as accurate as you can, you then have the proof when you move out that the red wine stain was on the carpet whatever he says.

The issue of no deposit certificate. By law he has 15 days from when you move in to provide it.
If he does not, then he is commiting an offence.
Also more to the point you have zero protection for your deposit, and I'd assume you are not going to get it back, therefore your only solution is not to pay the last months rent when you move out.

There is a very forceful method of getting deposit certificate out of a landlord which is not for general forum viewing.

 

[mangaman]

Right. I've got to go home and discuss it with the flatmate. Who doesn't drink! I don't know how anyone can spend the day contemplating the actions of a Bastard Landlord and not need to get completely off her tits, but it takes all sorts!

it's not got good if your co-tenant isn't up for a scrap. You seem clearly in the right.

Unfortunately you don't seem to have a lot of options - unless your housemate agrees to play hardball (withdrawing payment for rent seems reasonable if your house is not rentable.) but would need your housemate to agree.

Tough one. All I can say is good luck