Bats in the belfry, windows are jammed - London flat renting, deposits & landlords

Yes, and he'll need a court order to evict you before then, plus to serve you with the official forms.

Don't tell him this as if he doesn't he's broken the law and you can then sue him for being the massive cunt that he obviously is.

Check out Landlordzone.co.uk and search for similar for advice/info?

I found it pretty useful for my recent flea infestation woes...

Cheers I'll check out the site, part of me just wants to say OK, I'll move out in 2 months if you I can have the 2 months rent free?

Pls, do this.

No.

Please allow them to try to evict you illegally.

Then sue them.

Given that they are fucking clueless, and that their emails are...written in the tone used by someone with the brain of a gnat, I'd imagine your deposit isn't protected properly.

Find out, and if so, then sue them for that, too.

Unfortunately, the only thing they have done properly is put the deposit in scheme.

Ah yes...but there are plenty of technicalities on which they can stumble...

I think best advice is to start looking for something else and agree with the landlord to burn the contract once you do.

Situations like this are no fun and being in the right doesn't help when the stress of it all is spoiling your daily life.

Life's too short to argue with cunts in real life. That's what internet forums are for.

This may be the best solution, we're saving for a house at the moment and hoping to be there in about 12 months. The reason we live in our flat is because it has an amazing terrace, but it's not great during the winter. This might be a good occasion to find something cheaper for the winter in order to (hopefully) buy something next summer.

The whole thing is just so depressing, you pay an insane amount of money in rent, on time, without fail and you get treated like shit.

From a litany of recent experience I'm prone to agree with this now.

And when lawyers charge £250 an hour or charge £150 for writing a holding letter being in the right is still a very expensive privilege to have...

Still, if you've got the cash reserves (or your household insurance covers legal expenses) and have let the fucker dig himself a nice large hole lined with stupidity and greed then you might come out the other side a bit stressed but quids in if you play your cards right @So_Gewürzt_it_hurtz

Hi all, quick question relating to inventory.

I'm moving into a friend's house, with three other guys, replacing three guys currently living with my friend. The estate agent states that a change in occupancy means we must accept the inventory as the contract was originally signed - i.e. when the original tenants moved into the property last time, and that any differences in condition (damage to property etc) from that time should be resolved between the incoming and outgoing tenants. It also means that we'd be moving into a dirty house. Does anyone know whether this is legal, as it certainly appears unrealistic?

Also having not gone through an estate agent for a couple of years, screw their charges. I may also be back here with a couple of questions, specifically relating to move out charges.

Thanks all.

Does anyone know whether this is legal, as it certainly appears unrealistic?

As a landlord I've made similar arrangements in the past when a tenant has moved out part way through a fixed term.

Because I offered the tenant an escape from their contract they had to offer me the management of their replacement and to ensure there were no problems as you describe.

If I were you I would lean heavily on the outgoing tenants to prove to you that the inventory is made good and that the property is suitably cleaned before you move in.

Thanks Howard. As it's all part of an extended friendship group that's what is currently happening. It's a one year lease going into another one year lease though, rather than partway through a fixed term, which is where the annoyance arises. I'm currently looking at just getting a separate (new) lease...

If you go down the 'fresh start' route it's likely the landlord will charge you for a new contract and the admin that goes with it, i.e. they check the inventory, deal with anything that requires use of the existing deposits and whatnot.

I suspect what will happen is that the Friend who is the constant will be the 'lead' tenant, the deposits will be in his name, and to keep things easy for everyone, you and the new tenants will be a straight swap with those that are moving out. you are right in that it means you can be financially responsible for damage caused by the previous tenants.

So you have a choice - go down the 'fresh start' route that means you get charged up front, or be a swap, and just keep on top of stuff and make sure that everything is A+ (or raised) with the landlord when you swap in.

If you plan to be there for a long time, I would go with the later, if not, the former.

Potentially an extremely stupid question but this is my first time renting in London:

I'm moving out of my flat and so the estate agents are showing people around, however they're turning up with c.30mins notice to show clients around. From what I've read, there's nothing I can do about this since I'm in the last 28 days of my tenancy right? Or should they provide 24hrs notice? I've got my bikes around the flat and I've asked them to "please provide more notice" to which I got a half arsed "it was short notice for me too". Might lock all the bedrooms to make a point next time

Pretty sure they have to give you 24hrs notice. Just don't let them in. I did that when I moved out of my last flat. Had a call from estate agent asking if they could show someone round in an hr. I said no, I want 24hrs notice. They turned up anyway. I didn't let them in.

The most recent one, I was taking a dump and then three strangers plus an estate agent I've never met before arrived. So I come out and leave the door open behind me... The least they could have done is ring the doorbell

Yeah that's completely out of order! I've been shown around a flat before where a house party had clearly ended a few hours earlier and there was a couple, erm...getting to know each other, in the bedroom. The agent knocked on the door before letting us in but they we're obviously too busy to hear.

My Tennancy is coming to an end. Are there any obvious things to do to get my deposit back? I have not had a great time with the landlord and im pretty sure he will try andsquuze as much out of me as possible

Clean, hoover, photograph everything, keep reciepts for cleaning products and wet vac if you rent one. Did you complete an inventory list when you moved in? Is the deposit in a scheme?

Thanks for advice. We will be giving it a clean. We had a check in and the deposit is with a scheme. Fingers crossed

What does your contract say and was was sent/given to you when you moved in?

For eg if you need to get it professionally cleaned, then get it professionally cleaned and keep the receipt.

Yep, I had an issue renting from Galliard's in that the flat needed to be professionally cleaned.

It was perfectly clean when I left (more so than when I moved in). When I asked for the invoice to evidence their professinal cleaning that they'd charged me for it was, surprise surprise, from a subsidiary of Galliard's.

I argued with them about it for a while but didn't have the time to pursue it properly. I wouldn't rent from them again though

Looking for some advice.

I live in a 5 person houseshare, our contract is up in November, and after almost two years I'm very ready to live in a smaller, less hectic environment.

My housemates have mostly decided they want to stay, one is moving out but doing a straight swap with another person in the houses friend. Simple (although they are incurring #2).

I have now began the process of leaving when the contract ends. However a few things seem to be in my way.

1 - Housemates say i need to find someone to replace me (they dont want to do it, but I also have to find someone 'suitable')
2 - Our agency charge £400 for a change of tennant

This all seems kind of annoying because well, my contract is up on november 14th. Obviously its a whole house thing, but it seems as though i basically cant leave without fulfilling 1 & 2, is there any other way>

Why is it your responsbility to find a replacement tenant? Surely it should be the remaining tenants issue. Also, sounds like the £4oo charge should be for the new tenant.