Tweet
Back in march my new landlord tried, unsuccessfully, to lock me out of my flat, following verbal threats from both him and his wife, over a late rent payment. I was going to follow it up, but once the money was paid, he apologised and we called a truce. I didn't think he would try anything like it again after I'd explained to him how illegal it was.
I lost my job, and have been claiming job seekers allowance. I put in a claim for housing benefit, but the landlord refused to give me the details required.
Today, his wife wanders into my flat showing 2 girls around, and I ask her to leave as she has no right to walk in unnanounced. She yells at me a bit and says the landlord will 'come and sort [me] out'.
In a state of panic (I suffer from anxiety attacks) I grabbed a kitchen knife as two large black men (my landlord and his friend) charge in and start threatening me. His friend pushed past me and blocked me in the hallway, refusing me access to the rest of my flat and continue to threaten me, saying that they will physically remove me if I don't leave and that my stuff will be thrown out onto the streets. Since they made no move to actually hurt me, and were trying to provoke me, I threw the knife away into the hallway and called the police.
The police did arrive quite swiftly, and while I went to meet them downstairs my landlord took my keys from the flat, which I was not aware of until later.
The police were most unhelpful and somewhat rude.
I tried to explain that what the landlord was doing was illegal and they told me that he was in the right, that they knew nothing about tenanacy law, refused to find out anything when I asked them to, and said that if I didn't leave they'd arrest me for holding a knife - in those words.
They basically said it was ok for him to lock me out and throw my things out onto the street.
While I was collecting my shoes and bag, that were by my computer, I tried to bring up a webpage explaining how the situation was illegal and the police officer told me to stop wasting time, that he wasn't interested and anything I showed him wouldn't change his mind.
I called a friend and asked him to speak to the police, but they refused to listen and refused to give a badge number.
Completely shaken up by this point, I left the flat with the police. At this point I discovered the landlord had abducted my keys, and I had to protest to get my keyrings and other non-flat keys from him.
The landlord also called the rspca to try having my pets taken away (I hobby breed mice and hamsters and have several other pets - all completely healthy and well looked after). Fortunately they needed to know exactly how much of everything was there and I had to speak to them. When I told them that they just needed to be moved (I'd rather they be safe at a friends house than at risk from my LL) rather than rehomed, they said they wouldn't take them.
I ended up sat in the street crying, shaking, and wretching and the police told me to get up and leave.
I managed to get in contact with tenancy relations and thankfully they are helping with the issue. I have an appointment with them tomorrow and the landlord has agreed with them to leave the flat as it is for now, but has refused me access.
I just wanted to share this disgrace with the forum, and I'll let you know how it all turns out. I just hope my animals are doing ok.
I lost my job, and have been claiming job seekers allowance. I put in a claim for housing benefit, but the landlord refused to give me the details required.
Today, his wife wanders into my flat showing 2 girls around, and I ask her to leave as she has no right to walk in unnanounced. She yells at me a bit and says the landlord will 'come and sort [me] out'.
In a state of panic (I suffer from anxiety attacks) I grabbed a kitchen knife as two large black men (my landlord and his friend) charge in and start threatening me. His friend pushed past me and blocked me in the hallway, refusing me access to the rest of my flat and continue to threaten me, saying that they will physically remove me if I don't leave and that my stuff will be thrown out onto the streets. Since they made no move to actually hurt me, and were trying to provoke me, I threw the knife away into the hallway and called the police.
The police did arrive quite swiftly, and while I went to meet them downstairs my landlord took my keys from the flat, which I was not aware of until later.
The police were most unhelpful and somewhat rude.
I tried to explain that what the landlord was doing was illegal and they told me that he was in the right, that they knew nothing about tenanacy law, refused to find out anything when I asked them to, and said that if I didn't leave they'd arrest me for holding a knife - in those words.
They basically said it was ok for him to lock me out and throw my things out onto the street.
While I was collecting my shoes and bag, that were by my computer, I tried to bring up a webpage explaining how the situation was illegal and the police officer told me to stop wasting time, that he wasn't interested and anything I showed him wouldn't change his mind.
I called a friend and asked him to speak to the police, but they refused to listen and refused to give a badge number.
Completely shaken up by this point, I left the flat with the police. At this point I discovered the landlord had abducted my keys, and I had to protest to get my keyrings and other non-flat keys from him.
The landlord also called the rspca to try having my pets taken away (I hobby breed mice and hamsters and have several other pets - all completely healthy and well looked after). Fortunately they needed to know exactly how much of everything was there and I had to speak to them. When I told them that they just needed to be moved (I'd rather they be safe at a friends house than at risk from my LL) rather than rehomed, they said they wouldn't take them.
I ended up sat in the street crying, shaking, and wretching and the police told me to get up and leave.
I managed to get in contact with tenancy relations and thankfully they are helping with the issue. I have an appointment with them tomorrow and the landlord has agreed with them to leave the flat as it is for now, but has refused me access.
I just wanted to share this disgrace with the forum, and I'll let you know how it all turns out. I just hope my animals are doing ok.
Comment