Burlesque Womens Institute

Millie Dollar · Joined: 06 Mar 2007 Posts: 351

we handed in our notice this morning for our flat, a tiny one bedroom in liverpool where we've had issues with builders first thing, the hotel next door, the pervy janitors of the uni over the road, annoying naighbours etc.
we have found the perfect two bed flat which is huuuge, and reasonable so we're getting the process sorted out on that but when we handed in our notice the woman then stated that she will be showing people around our flat between the hours of eleven and four, while we are still living in it, while it's full of our personal belonings.....!
we then asked if we could at least have an hours notice and a phone call so one of us can sit in (obviously to keep an eye on our belongings!) and she very rudely said we were being awkward and it was in their rights to do this, to which i gave my boyfriend a look of confusion (cos it doesn't seem right!) to which she snapped "what was that look for?!" erm...it's my home and you want to bring people in from the street!?
which is what they will literally do, whenever anyone comes in to her office she will be taking them straight around to our flat without notice or warning to us that she is doing so!
she was horrifically rude to us and very pig headed for someone who had to be in the wrong!
i've phoned citizens advice and they said they should give us 24 hours notice, and need our permission to do this, but we're so unhappy with the situation, and the fact that they'll probably make it very difficult to get our deposit back, that we're thinking of cancelling our rent cheques and just leaving, why should we do them any favours?!
oooh i hate when people act so in the right when they're blatantly not!!

Ivy Wilde · Joined: 09 Nov 2007 Posts: 222 Location: Manchester

I hope you get it sorted chicken, I know they do have to give you 24 hours notice but if it's not convenient for you to be there they can still go in anyway as long as the notice has been given.

I've been through a similar thing when I lived in a shared house, stick to your guns as far as the notice goes, they have to abide by the law, just tell them you know what's legal and what's not I'm sure they wouldn't protest too much then!

ladytwiglet · Joined: 10 Feb 2008 Posts: 112 Location: North West England

i was going to say, legally they cant enter your property whilst you arent there, and they have to give 24 hours notice, but you already know that thanks to the CAB Wink

i would up sticks and leave, or at least tell them you wont pay your last months rent in lieu of the deposit, that way you know you got your monies worth and they cant complain! well, they probably will anyway, but what are they going to do, evict you and keep your deposit? Laughing

good luck hun! X

Millie Dollar · Joined: 06 Mar 2007 Posts: 351

the thing is, we paid our last rent with the notice, in cheque, so think we could just cancel them...?!
spoken to my next landlord company and they're completely behind us and think it's awful and even said if we wanted to fax over our contract they'd take a look through it for us.
the main problem is they have our phone numbers, so although we did up, leave and cancel the cheques, it was due to their behaviour right? can they harrass us legally?
we can also move into the next flat quicker due to the situation which is obviously bonus for us!!

Stuart the photographer · Joined: 21 Feb 2008 Posts: 122 Location: Manchester

Hope you manage to get things sorted and I totally understand where you are coming from. When it comes down to bad landlords, they are often as lazy as they are bad. Once your gone and you have left them the deposit, technically you are all square on the money side. The only thing you could owe them for is any damage and I think the chance of them getting a lawyer onto you is really small if there really are no actual financial discrepancy.

I should qualify this statement by saying that I am a biologist and not a lawyer. But I have also paid a bad landlord with the deposit in the past because I didn't trust them to give it back to me.
_________________
www.manchesterphotographer.com

Stuart the photographer · Joined: 21 Feb 2008 Posts: 122 Location: Manchester

P.S. Never use "Pad Residential", they suck.
_________________
www.manchesterphotographer.com

ladytwiglet · Joined: 10 Feb 2008 Posts: 112 Location: North West England

Ginger Snaps · Joined: 18 Jan 2008 Posts: 218 Location: Brighton

your deposit should be under the tenancy deposit protection scheme. So, unless there was some serious damage made to the flat, and you dont clean it up to the standard that you found it in before you go (that means painting the walls back to the colour they were in when you first moved in), then you will get your deposit back.

Ginger Snaps · Joined: 18 Jan 2008 Posts: 218 Location: Brighton

It came into effect in April 2007. For the very reasons that you are worried about. Read up on it,very informative and this IS the Law.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TenancyDeposit/index.htm

Ginger Snaps · Joined: 18 Jan 2008 Posts: 218 Location: Brighton

And, hey , if your deposit isnt protected then you may be very interested in this little fact:

Tenancy Deposit Protection is designed to ensure:

* you get all or part of your deposit back, when you are entitled to it
* any disputes between you and your landlord or agent will be easier to resolve
* landlords and letting agents who do not protect tenancy deposits will have to pay their tenant back three times the deposit

So, I strongly advise that you DO NOT cancel that cheque you sent in! Let them have the money as you may get it back 3 fold Wink

ameliesoleil · Joined: 12 Jun 2007 Posts: 560 Location: UK

argh we had a similar situation living in bristol, five girls all sat in their pjs when the landlord at 11pm WTF! wandered in with five BOYS to show them round the flat

i did the bolshy five foot tall angry girl rant and kicked them all out, was straight round to the police station the next morning never mind citizens advice and got a formal warning letter sent to landlord

but we still lost our deposits cos he wouldn't return calls gar!

also word of caution re nice new landlord... edd and i had a similar situation with a landlord years ago; they said they were sorry to hear of our previous troubles and offered to look at contract. Sadly they decided our need to move out quickly meant they could charge an 'emergency cleaning and fast track reference charge' of £150 and effectively took advantage of our homeless status... so yeah careful it isn't fake niceness

current landlady is okay but have had one who stole my sofa in the past... why are they so evil... i've never once been behind with rent have always paid my bills...argh!!

xx
_________________
one half of Frayed Knot www.myspace.com/frayedknotcircus
one whole lotta trouble...
www.myspace.com/ameliesoleil

Millie Dollar · Joined: 06 Mar 2007 Posts: 351

we're moving our stuff into my mums till the new flat is sorted, and we don'treally care aout the deposit now as we are just completely disgusted with their actions.
i'm in my flat surrounded by boxes at the moment, so it's very odd how qickly we had to pack up our lives last night!
will keep you all updated!

corsetpanther · Joined: 12 Oct 2007 Posts: 133

aw Millie thats awful hope you get it all sorted soon! Smile

Heather Sweet · Joined: 13 Jul 2007 Posts: 1075 Location: Uk drifter

Hugs x sorry they are being utter cunts with you.

Your doing the right thing sweet x there is something better waiting around the corner for the hastle you've been put threw im sure of it. x x x
_________________
Hay yall

CrimbleFairy · Joined: 30 Nov 2007 Posts: 1175 Location: Leeds

I have just moved in somewhere and there is loads wrong but we can't find our landlord...... Question

we haven't even been able to give him any money because he won't respond to us????

Hope you get it all sorted out hun. Cancel that cheque! xxx