Landlord Using Unusual Tactics to Keep me Resident

[assisted blonde]

Good luck with both the therapy and finding a new place

[adridude]

Thanks. It's gonna take a while to find a new place.. It would be great if someone could give me some advise for the current position tho

[adridude]

Should Landlords pay for council tax if the property is let to you but they use your basement for storage?

 

...just to add, and if the garden is 'out of bounds' as it's their property?

 

*edit* just to add, tenants are NOT allowed access to the basement under any circumstances. in other words the LL has excluside storage here and it's used for business purposes (as our electrical breakpoints are down there)

Edited April 18, 2013 by adridude

[adridude]

Sorry about all the postings about this property, but I've been here for years and I do love it personally but the LL seems to be a bit of an idiot.

 

Anyway, All of the interior door locks (the old fashioned ones) had those overs which used to swing over them, they've ALL been painted over and there's no access to them any more.

 

THe LL claims that there's never been keys for the, and nor was there requirement to ever supply me with keys.

 

Being a lover of this property I've restored it to it's old self which cost ALOT of money (in the thousands literally) and they can't be bothered to find nor replace the keys as they say it wasn't part of the agreement.

 

They state they were decorative locks :-/

 

On that note, if they're decorative, why do they still function normally (As I made my own key after opening it up). Furthermore, despite agreeing to me restoring the flat, now they say that Ibecause I've taken the locks out is NOT their issue if they give problems.

 

The LL is a reputable letting agent in the area, and I was wondering if there's anything I can do about it?

 

Cheers

 

A

[Steve__M]

Access, or lack of access, to parts of the house or garden are a matter of negotiation when agreeing the tenancy contract.

 

Ultimately, the council will conclude that the tenant is liable for the council tax if only the tenant is living in the property, so any negotiations would best be related to the rent, not the council tax.

 

*edit* it is questionable whether it is safe or adequate that you may not have access to your electricity system, that LL is (presumably) using electric to light the basement at your cost, that landlord may be storing inappropriate materials in the basement, that you may incur liabilities for landlord's stuff...but I wouldn't like to worry you...

[honeybee13]

Hello there.

 

You seem to have a few threads running with property/landlord issues. Are they all about the same property please?

 

My best, HB

[adridude]

Indeed they are but they're all separate issues as I'm addressing each of these separately with the letting agent.

[adridude]

So in short I can buy a house, rent one bedroom out and use the rest of the bedroom as storage without having to pay CT? (a bit of a contrast) but still the exact situation. Surely if you own land and use it for storage you are liable for the CT on it? If anything business rates as the storage is used for tools etc... which belong to the property and which are used occasionally for repairs etc...

 

I know the LL is't storing iffy things down there, but in terms of the electricity, I'm not sure who pays for what thanks to that.

[assisted blonde]

Does the AST mention anything other than being able to go through the garden to your home, the bit you have posted up says any part of the garden etc etc which your tenancy refers to, unless it refers to the garden being used by you its not part of the tenancy I don't think, and the LL can do what he likes with it as long as you can still gain access to your flat. You need to put this question on something like the LL zone website and you may get an answer from someone who knows about this, I only have ltd knowledge about Landlord and Tenants as I didn't specifically study this in my Law degree

[adridude]

No there isn't anything referring specifically to the garden.The advert which I responded to stated 'studio flat with communal garden'. THings like the clothes line etc... will also vanish when the garden goes, which is a major inconvenience :-/ Luckily enough, I confronted the LL and said 'you don't pay council tax here, so you have no rights'. She slipped up and said 'just because I've never paid council tax on the property, doesn't mean I have NO rights'.

 

I gently reminded her that she should pay CT as she uses the basement for storage. She laughed at me until I called the council up whilst she waited and handed the call over to her. Needless to say, she now has a CT bill backdating to 1992 LMAO!

[assisted blonde]

if they are internal doors I and you have never had keys for them I don't think there is a lot you can do, if the keys were not on the inventory they wernt, also ll may not have the keys anyway also if you took the locks out I don't think it is their problem.

[Lea_HTH]

No there isn't anything referring specifically to the garden.The advert which I responded to stated 'studio flat with communal garden'. THings like the clothes line etc... will also vanish when the garden goes, which is a major inconvenience :-/ Luckily enough, I confronted the LL and said 'you don't pay council tax here, so you have no rights'. She slipped up and said 'just because I've never paid council tax on the property, doesn't mean I have NO rights'.

 

I gently reminded her that she should pay CT as she uses the basement for storage. She laughed at me until I called the council up whilst she waited and handed the call over to her. Needless to say, she now has a CT bill backdating to 1992 LMAO!

 

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?388942-Should-LL-s-pay-for-Council-Tax

 

In the above thread you state that the garden is 'out of bounds'. So, which is it? Was the garden part of your tenancy agreement, or not? The snipped you linked to appears to make it an access issue, and they've solved this by providing alternative access.

 

I think the site team should merge your threads as whilst they appear to be about different things, they are about the same property and now you're referring to the CT in this thread, it doesn't make sense to leave them separate, especially as they are all in the same section of the forum.

 

If you are as fond of this property you are living in as you say, then you perhaps shouldn't be playing the games with your LL that you appear to be playing. It's simple enough for her to serve you with notice.

[adridude]

Theyre going to knock out the area where my bins go and install a gate there. So I guess I'll have nowhere to put my bins now!

 

Merge them as they're about the same property? Hell lets not merge all the threads in the debt section as they're http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=53600973? They're individual issues which I'm individually address with the LL.

 

I was only fond of the property as I loved the garden and poured loads of money and time into it. Now that's gone, I'm looking elsewhere for properties. In terms of the LL, I'm not playing at all. She's put me in an awful position in a VERY hard time in my life, so I'm returning the favour. In terms of notice, if she does I wouldn't care. On my way out I'll be issuing her with a LBA as I plan to take her to court over all of this unfair treatment.

[adridude]

Hmm, I thought about replacing it, but you can't get locks like that any more :-/ This thing is literally from the 40's :-/

[45002]

Theyre going to knock out the area where my bins go and install a gate there. So I guess I'll have nowhere to put my bins now!

 

Merge them as they're about the same property? Hell lets not merge all the threads in the debt section as they're http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=53600973? They're individual issues which I'm individually address with the LL.

 

I was only fond of the property as I loved the garden and poured loads of money and time into it. Now that's gone, I'm looking elsewhere for properties. In terms of the LL, I'm not playing at all. She's put me in an awful position in a VERY hard time in my life, so I'm returning the favour. In terms of notice, if she does I wouldn't care. On my way out I'll be issuing her with a LBA as I plan to take her to court over all of this unfair treatment.

 

Sorry it's very confusing with 4 threads going !

 

Anyway

 

As you have a AST

 

Your LL may end up taking legal action against you and serve you with a s21 ....

 

http://www.tenancyagreementservice.co.uk/section-21-notice-to-quit.htm#what-is-a-section-21-notice-to-quit

 

No faults Eviction ... you need to back off a bit with your LL.

Edited April 18, 2013 by 45002

[citizenB]

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?388942-Should-LL-s-pay-for-Council-Tax

 

In the above thread you state that the garden is 'out of bounds'. So, which is it? Was the garden part of your tenancy agreement, or not? The snipped you linked to appears to make it an access issue, and they've solved this by providing alternative access.

 

I think the site team should merge your threads as whilst they appear to be about different things, they are about the same property and now you're referring to the CT in this thread, it doesn't make sense to leave them separate, especially as they are all in the same section of the forum.

 

If you are as fond of this property you are living in as you say, then you perhaps shouldn't be playing the games with your LL that you appear to be playing. It's simple enough for her to serve you with notice.

 

Agreed, as you are now referring to other threads that you have then it is now time to merge these. This has now been done.

[Lea_HTH]

Merge them as they're about the same property? Hell lets not merge all the threads in the debt section as they're http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=53600973? They're individual issues which I'm individually address with the LL.

 

Yes, merge them (which the site team have done anyway) - it's logical, they're all to do with you and ONE property and ONE LL, so are ONE issue. You couldn't go to court and issue four or five separate claims for your issues. Your analogy about debt threads isn't even comparable.

 

I haven't actually seen any 'unfair treatment' that would constitute a cause of action in a court of law.

[seanamarts]

You really need to talk with your council and get the environmental health officer to come and have a look around the property. If there are any problems that need fixing then the EHO will write to y0our LL and tell them to get them fixed within a certain time scale.

 

If you want to move most council's have a list of private lets that will only take on DSS. I would have a word with the housing officer and see what they suggest.

[adridude]

Yeah, I've decided that I want to move so I've arranged a meeting with the council.All of these issues are adding extra health issues on top of what I've already got so I might get my therapist to write a letter or something...

[seanamarts]

Good move, keep us informed.

[adridude]

Wow, had an interesting day.. Today I've had a few issues happen at once.

 

First was theLL tried to place a UKIP sign ouside my front window (blocking my general view) so I removed it) and got a warning

Second I had a sales agent place another bleeding sign outside my window (same place)... THis is the garden which is under dispute as it's in my letting contrct despite the LL selling it

 

Surely I have some right about this? Surely I have a say on the land I pay tax for?

 

Im fuming! bang goes my therapy

[adridude]

Also can thelandlady just 'pop a letter in my postbox' when I've signed a contract with the letting agent?

 

*feck im fuming* this just started a war

[adridude]

have I got any rights as a tenant? THis is going beyond silly :-/

[45002]

Wow, had an interesting day.. Today I've had a few issues happen at once.

 

First was theLL tried to place a UKIP sign ouside my front window (blocking my general view) so I removed it) and got a warning

Second I had a sales agent place another bleeding sign outside my window (same place)... THis is the garden which is under dispute as it's in my letting contrct despite the LL selling it

 

Surely I have some right about this? Surely I have a say on the land I pay tax for?

 

Im fuming! bang goes my therapy

 

 

 

Also can thelandlady just 'pop a letter in my postbox' when I've signed a contract with the letting agent?

 

*feck im fuming* this just started a war

 

 

have I got any rights as a tenant? THis is going beyond silly :-/

 

 

This thread has become silly and your problems seams to be of your own making,picking fights just for the sake of it !

 

Given that fact you have a AST http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/renting_and_leasehold/private_tenancies/assured_shorthold_tenancies

 

Your LL will end up taking legal action against you and serve you with a s21 .... No faults Eviction

With all the correct dates and so on and the judge is happy with everything.

 

LL will win and be granted a possession order,be able to evict you lawfully using Bailiffs in the end...

 

From what you have posted in the whole of this thread,your be better off finding somewhere else to live ASAP.

Edited April 29, 2013 by 45002

[adridude]

I am finding somewhere else. I'm not picking fights etc... basically my personal space is being constantly invaded by this senile old bat. All in all, why is it silly that I defend my right to a peaceful tenancy? Are you saying that you'd be happy if someone places a large sign in your livingroom window.

 

All in all, I am finding somewhere else and if need be will move back in with my folks to gather up a deposit. She knows all too well that she wont be able to rent out this property at the rates shes charging, so all I can assume is that she's pushing her luck.