Good morning,I am looking for advice on where I stand legally when landlord is trying to claim all of my deposit on a property I have now left. I lived at the property for seven years but was given one months notice to quit on October 4th(rent due on 5th of month) as the landlord informed me that she was selling the property after failing to remortgage it. I told her that I believed I required two months notice but she said that I was wrong,however I cooperated with many viewings on the property and was informed that the property had been sold and vacant possession was required. The sale fell through and she then said that she was in no rush for me to move. I found a property for which she gave me a good reference and I left the property on Nov 4th. I applied for my deposit through the DPS scheme,claiming back the full amount of £856.49 but she has declined the full amount for the following reasons: 1.Rent arrears of £550.00 which I assume would be for the month Nov/Dec as my rent was always paid in full to the date I left and had never been in arrears. 2.Missing items £250.00 - The check out inventory was not done by the landlord so I am unsure what she is referring to.The only items that I am aware of are a washing machine and a dishwasher.These items are no longer there as during the tenancy the items broke and the landlord was informed at the time and I was asked to dispose of them.I have text messages to confirm this. 3.Gardening £50.00 - The garden was left clean and tidy,the only exception being fence panels that had fallen during storms,I also have photographic evidence of this. I am not sure how relevant the next point is but when the estate agent selling the property spoke to me he asked for a current gas safety certificate but the last one I had was dated 2014.He informed me that this check has to be done by law every year. When I left the property I left new flooring and carpets that were purchased in August this year,everything was left clean and tidy,the only damage being structural i.e.severe.damp on a number of walls and ceilings,guttering broken, leaking pipes and upstairs electrics not working..The landlord had been informed of these issues but had taken no remedial action. I need to know if: 1/ I am liable for the rent arrears as she has claimed or can I leave during the notice period. 2/ Is she in breach of contract for not doing repairs or failing to carry out the yearly gas check. I realy cannot afford a solicitor and need to know my best course of action. Thank you.

Hi, we currently rent a house in England, we have a AST that was renewed on January 31 2014 for 18 months. Landlady has decided to sell the house, for sale board has already gone up. our AST says that we have to allow viewings within the last 2 months of the tenancy however, the letting agent is asking us to allow viewings now. would i be ok to write a letter barring all access till May? Any help would be great

I am on the verge of eviction by possession order granted on 1st week of November by judge how-ever I only received letters from court on 15th of November of the decision so I dont know what I can do in tis situation. I was not able to be at court due to me not even receiving the court date letters, so I wasnt aware to go to court so judge made decision of my absence. I have no where to go, can I appeal if how & what do I need to do? Can I get a new hearing date? Can I do "possession order set aside" or "Suspend or stay the warrant" I am totally confused of what to do please can you help me, Thank you..

Hi there, We received the 2 months notice from our landlord as he wants to get the property back. We found a new flat and want to vacant this property 3 weeks before the end of the 2 month notice given by landlord.We told him we want to leave 3 weeks earlier but he tells us we have now to give him one month notice on the day our contract gets renewed as per the contract states. If we do that, we will be leaving only on the date in which the landlord wants us to leave as per his original notice. We are on a rolling contract, after receiving the notice from Landlord are we still required to give notice to him? This doesn't make sense to me? Any help is much appreciated! Nataly

Certain I was being ripped off I left a property about a year ago and have since found my electricity bill has gone down massively during my time at my new place. But I am certain my old landlord was profiteering from the electricity. I would like to make the following points for my case and would like an answer as to how legally he was operating. 1 The landlord never showed to any tenant regarding a license enabling him to resell electricity. 2 The Bill issued on a piece of waste card would look like this (see below) Flat 3 Electricity for March £35.00 Signature of landlord. 3 He never provided any evidence of what the bill actually was during my 9 year tenancy in my bedsit where I was living and only used a computer, a light, a kettle and a hairdryer. Bills like the above were typical and normal to say the least. They would randomly go up and down but since I have moved in to this new flat I pay only £20 a month and run much more electrical appliances now than previously. I never even knew who his electricity supplier was and no bills ever turned up at the house either. 4 Each room in his property had a separate old meter downstairs that no one ever got to see but him but he calculated each tenants use from those meters downstairs in the basement. 5 There was no stipulation regarding utility bills in the tenancy agreement or to the payment of it. This would typically go on in many of his properties, most of his tenants that I have conversed with are in agreement that he is 'fiddling' the electricity bill but have no proof and cannot ascertain proof from the landlord of what the bill actually should be. I am quite certain myself that I and other tenants were being ripped off. What can be done and is there anything else I should know? I left the property owing some £200 in electricity arrears to the landlord, but I am fairly sure it is the previous landlord that owes me money and that's why I never paid him.