Landlord problems.
Discussion
Driver101 said:
I've let a couple of places in the past when I've moved around.
One place I had a nightmare of a landlord.
Flat looked fine and was the going rate for the area. It was let from the main independent local estate agent, but every time we approached them, they had to wait for the landlord to make a decision.
The first issue turned out to be the mattress on the bed. I didn't notice when I quickly viewed the place, but it was basically a lump of foam that had been wrapped in plastic! Not only was it uncomfortable and noisy, it made us sweat like pigs during the night. Obviously it wasn't fire safe either. Valid complaint I thought. The landlord refused to replace it.
Then a few months into our lease, the electric cooker went bang and sparks went everywhere. It was an old looking thing anyway and stopped working after that. Another valid complaint
The estate agents couldn't get the landlord for days on end, then when they did get him, he wanted us to wait another two weeks before his electrician got back from holiday. This caused a bit of an issue as the landlord wouldn't back down.
I then forced the estate agent to do something as this was unacceptable to me. They sent round an electrician to have a look. He refused to fix the cooker and said it was dangerous. He isolated it and told us not to use it. He then sent a report back to the estate agents saying exactly that. The estate agents then promised the landlord had ordered a replacement.
Near enough two weeks later we came home to a note in the kitchen. The landlord had let his electrician into the flat and he had fixed the cooker.
Then the old tumble drier stopped working just a week later. So another complaint. I also said I wasn't happy about the cooker being fixed or entering the property without my consent or knowledge.
More stalling tactics before the estate agent gave me the landlord's phone number to speak to him directly. I phoned to discuss things with him and got an earful of abuse. I was this and that and making issues for no reason.
I spoke to the estate agent again just days later. This time I was told it didn't really matter now as I only had 2 weeks of my 4 weeks notice to go. We hadn't received any notification of the lease being terminated.
I still made an effort to leave the place in the best condition as possible. On moving the sofa I did end up marking the light carpet. Turns out the wheels had already been melted and didn't turn. When we pushed it there was plastic marks on the carpet that we couldn't get off. I got billed for a new carpet.
In my very short experience of letting, I've had a bad experience. I wouldn't say my landlord was a good guy at all. I also hated the way that I let through an agent who basically did nothing.
Yup, that landlord was an a$$.One place I had a nightmare of a landlord.
Flat looked fine and was the going rate for the area. It was let from the main independent local estate agent, but every time we approached them, they had to wait for the landlord to make a decision.
The first issue turned out to be the mattress on the bed. I didn't notice when I quickly viewed the place, but it was basically a lump of foam that had been wrapped in plastic! Not only was it uncomfortable and noisy, it made us sweat like pigs during the night. Obviously it wasn't fire safe either. Valid complaint I thought. The landlord refused to replace it.
Then a few months into our lease, the electric cooker went bang and sparks went everywhere. It was an old looking thing anyway and stopped working after that. Another valid complaint
The estate agents couldn't get the landlord for days on end, then when they did get him, he wanted us to wait another two weeks before his electrician got back from holiday. This caused a bit of an issue as the landlord wouldn't back down.
I then forced the estate agent to do something as this was unacceptable to me. They sent round an electrician to have a look. He refused to fix the cooker and said it was dangerous. He isolated it and told us not to use it. He then sent a report back to the estate agents saying exactly that. The estate agents then promised the landlord had ordered a replacement.
Near enough two weeks later we came home to a note in the kitchen. The landlord had let his electrician into the flat and he had fixed the cooker.
Then the old tumble drier stopped working just a week later. So another complaint. I also said I wasn't happy about the cooker being fixed or entering the property without my consent or knowledge.
More stalling tactics before the estate agent gave me the landlord's phone number to speak to him directly. I phoned to discuss things with him and got an earful of abuse. I was this and that and making issues for no reason.
I spoke to the estate agent again just days later. This time I was told it didn't really matter now as I only had 2 weeks of my 4 weeks notice to go. We hadn't received any notification of the lease being terminated.
I still made an effort to leave the place in the best condition as possible. On moving the sofa I did end up marking the light carpet. Turns out the wheels had already been melted and didn't turn. When we pushed it there was plastic marks on the carpet that we couldn't get off. I got billed for a new carpet.
In my very short experience of letting, I've had a bad experience. I wouldn't say my landlord was a good guy at all. I also hated the way that I let through an agent who basically did nothing.
Edited by Driver101 on Friday 6th March 09:49
I can almost guarantee the agent knew he was an a$$ too. Unfortunately, the landlord is the client and as such the agent makes recommendations (fix the cooker) and then takes the instruction from the landlord.
I am sure they knew he was being unreasonable and were probably embarrassed relaying his instructions. But, they are there to represent their client and they get paid to sit in the firing line.
It's a thankless job sometimes! I think being a "property manager" is one of the worst gigs in the property industry.
Eleven said:
George111 said:
There is bad behaviour on both sides of the fence and landlords can be far worse than tenants in many cases.
As I have said elsewhere, having dealt with lots of landlord / tenant disputes, this is not my experience.
hole tennant and perfect landlord. Where this one lies is dependent entirely on the individual situation and not on your experience of other situations.
Just got the internet on at our new place today.
After talking to the council, and Social Services, due to my wifes disabilities, the decision was made to move out over last weekend.
The council classed it as an illegal eviction, due to the landlords threats.
We do not know if he is stupid, or just a crook.
The council explained that a 4 week housing benefit crossover would be happening, after he contacted them, due to us handing in our notice.
His claim was, as we had a new landlord, we had forfeited our tenancy, and therefore he was reclaiming his house, for insurance reasons.
The council explained how the crossover works, but he would have none of it.
He did turn up, with another guy, but was met by me, in an empty house. Following the councils advice, I handed him our keys, and walked away.
The council had me sign some forms Monday afternoon, and stopped paying him immediately.
Yes we could have stayed, called the police, and fought him legally, but we do not have the time, or energy for that battle.
After talking to the council, and Social Services, due to my wifes disabilities, the decision was made to move out over last weekend.
The council classed it as an illegal eviction, due to the landlords threats.
We do not know if he is stupid, or just a crook.
The council explained that a 4 week housing benefit crossover would be happening, after he contacted them, due to us handing in our notice.
His claim was, as we had a new landlord, we had forfeited our tenancy, and therefore he was reclaiming his house, for insurance reasons.
The council explained how the crossover works, but he would have none of it.
He did turn up, with another guy, but was met by me, in an empty house. Following the councils advice, I handed him our keys, and walked away.
The council had me sign some forms Monday afternoon, and stopped paying him immediately.
Yes we could have stayed, called the police, and fought him legally, but we do not have the time, or energy for that battle.
backwoodsman said:
Just got the internet on at our new place today.
After talking to the council, and Social Services, due to my wifes disabilities, the decision was made to move out over last weekend.
The council classed it as an illegal eviction, due to the landlords threats.
We do not know if he is stupid, or just a crook.
The council explained that a 4 week housing benefit crossover would be happening, after he contacted them, due to us handing in our notice.
His claim was, as we had a new landlord, we had forfeited our tenancy, and therefore he was reclaiming his house, for insurance reasons.
The council explained how the crossover works, but he would have none of it.
He did turn up, with another guy, but was met by me, in an empty house. Following the councils advice, I handed him our keys, and walked away.
The council had me sign some forms Monday afternoon, and stopped paying him immediately.
Yes we could have stayed, called the police, and fought him legally, but we do not have the time, or energy for that battle.
So the LL declined to have his void paid for and invited prosecution for illegal eviction. That's not rational behaviour at all. After talking to the council, and Social Services, due to my wifes disabilities, the decision was made to move out over last weekend.
The council classed it as an illegal eviction, due to the landlords threats.
We do not know if he is stupid, or just a crook.
The council explained that a 4 week housing benefit crossover would be happening, after he contacted them, due to us handing in our notice.
His claim was, as we had a new landlord, we had forfeited our tenancy, and therefore he was reclaiming his house, for insurance reasons.
The council explained how the crossover works, but he would have none of it.
He did turn up, with another guy, but was met by me, in an empty house. Following the councils advice, I handed him our keys, and walked away.
The council had me sign some forms Monday afternoon, and stopped paying him immediately.
Yes we could have stayed, called the police, and fought him legally, but we do not have the time, or energy for that battle.
Can you think of any reason at all why the LL might have been so desperate to get you out?
FrankAbagnale said:
Driver101 said:
I've let a couple of places in the past when I've moved around.
One place I had a nightmare of a landlord.
Flat looked fine and was the going rate for the area. It was let from the main independent local estate agent, but every time we approached them, they had to wait for the landlord to make a decision.
The first issue turned out to be the mattress on the bed. I didn't notice when I quickly viewed the place, but it was basically a lump of foam that had been wrapped in plastic! Not only was it uncomfortable and noisy, it made us sweat like pigs during the night. Obviously it wasn't fire safe either. Valid complaint I thought. The landlord refused to replace it.
Then a few months into our lease, the electric cooker went bang and sparks went everywhere. It was an old looking thing anyway and stopped working after that. Another valid complaint
The estate agents couldn't get the landlord for days on end, then when they did get him, he wanted us to wait another two weeks before his electrician got back from holiday. This caused a bit of an issue as the landlord wouldn't back down.
I then forced the estate agent to do something as this was unacceptable to me. They sent round an electrician to have a look. He refused to fix the cooker and said it was dangerous. He isolated it and told us not to use it. He then sent a report back to the estate agents saying exactly that. The estate agents then promised the landlord had ordered a replacement.
Near enough two weeks later we came home to a note in the kitchen. The landlord had let his electrician into the flat and he had fixed the cooker.
Then the old tumble drier stopped working just a week later. So another complaint. I also said I wasn't happy about the cooker being fixed or entering the property without my consent or knowledge.
More stalling tactics before the estate agent gave me the landlord's phone number to speak to him directly. I phoned to discuss things with him and got an earful of abuse. I was this and that and making issues for no reason.
I spoke to the estate agent again just days later. This time I was told it didn't really matter now as I only had 2 weeks of my 4 weeks notice to go. We hadn't received any notification of the lease being terminated.
I still made an effort to leave the place in the best condition as possible. On moving the sofa I did end up marking the light carpet. Turns out the wheels had already been melted and didn't turn. When we pushed it there was plastic marks on the carpet that we couldn't get off. I got billed for a new carpet.
In my very short experience of letting, I've had a bad experience. I wouldn't say my landlord was a good guy at all. I also hated the way that I let through an agent who basically did nothing.
Yup, that landlord was an a$$.One place I had a nightmare of a landlord.
Flat looked fine and was the going rate for the area. It was let from the main independent local estate agent, but every time we approached them, they had to wait for the landlord to make a decision.
The first issue turned out to be the mattress on the bed. I didn't notice when I quickly viewed the place, but it was basically a lump of foam that had been wrapped in plastic! Not only was it uncomfortable and noisy, it made us sweat like pigs during the night. Obviously it wasn't fire safe either. Valid complaint I thought. The landlord refused to replace it.
Then a few months into our lease, the electric cooker went bang and sparks went everywhere. It was an old looking thing anyway and stopped working after that. Another valid complaint
The estate agents couldn't get the landlord for days on end, then when they did get him, he wanted us to wait another two weeks before his electrician got back from holiday. This caused a bit of an issue as the landlord wouldn't back down.
I then forced the estate agent to do something as this was unacceptable to me. They sent round an electrician to have a look. He refused to fix the cooker and said it was dangerous. He isolated it and told us not to use it. He then sent a report back to the estate agents saying exactly that. The estate agents then promised the landlord had ordered a replacement.
Near enough two weeks later we came home to a note in the kitchen. The landlord had let his electrician into the flat and he had fixed the cooker.
Then the old tumble drier stopped working just a week later. So another complaint. I also said I wasn't happy about the cooker being fixed or entering the property without my consent or knowledge.
More stalling tactics before the estate agent gave me the landlord's phone number to speak to him directly. I phoned to discuss things with him and got an earful of abuse. I was this and that and making issues for no reason.
I spoke to the estate agent again just days later. This time I was told it didn't really matter now as I only had 2 weeks of my 4 weeks notice to go. We hadn't received any notification of the lease being terminated.
I still made an effort to leave the place in the best condition as possible. On moving the sofa I did end up marking the light carpet. Turns out the wheels had already been melted and didn't turn. When we pushed it there was plastic marks on the carpet that we couldn't get off. I got billed for a new carpet.
In my very short experience of letting, I've had a bad experience. I wouldn't say my landlord was a good guy at all. I also hated the way that I let through an agent who basically did nothing.
Edited by Driver101 on Friday 6th March 09:49
I can almost guarantee the agent knew he was an a$$ too. Unfortunately, the landlord is the client and as such the agent makes recommendations (fix the cooker) and then takes the instruction from the landlord.
I am sure they knew he was being unreasonable and were probably embarrassed relaying his instructions. But, they are there to represent their client and they get paid to sit in the firing line.
It's a thankless job sometimes! I think being a "property manager" is one of the worst gigs in the property industry.
Imagine the Agent's surprise when we turned up to inspect the property to find that builders were already gutting it, ready to make it into a posh london pad (no work on it for 25 years), there was not a lot said when I asked that since we can't inspect the items (carpets already gone and walls knocked down) that I would like the money wired today.
Not a lot they could say but she did go a nice shade of red, when she realised the LL was trying to fleece us.
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