Rent - 2 Months Notice?

[KaptainKhaos]

I have just spoken (at length) to the legal department where I work & they said the 2 or 3 calls a days is classed as harassment & like you said, to give the "agent" my email address or something so there is a paper trail.

They also said that I can pay reduced rent & issue a letter for the reasons for the lesser amount (British Gas/plumber etc payments). The only thing is I don't have an address of the Landlord or Agent to send it to with the long list of issues.

AND they said I can contact the Housing Ombudsman to check the validity of the landlord/tenancy, as well as the Environmental Health Department of my local Council to check the house.

AAAAND they said that a Notice To Leave HAS to be done on an official form, not via a voicemail message or text.

Fingers crossed, I guess.

[islandgirl]

I would not speak to the agent. Text and give them an email address and say all communication must be through that and you will not answer the phone. But you must keep arrears under 2 months or else it is a gift to the LL

[KaptainKhaos]

Hi,

And so it goes on - my wife got another phone call & voicemail from a property manager saying he wanted to turn up to collect the rent, inspect the property & that the dog must leave immediately.

And he said he wants to put the rent up by £250 per month - the property isn't worth it.

I am working on the text message date/time he said, as is my wife. My son is at home but I told him not to answer the door.

I don't know what to do any more. My wife was in tears all evening, I was just apologising to her & my son. I'm just totally lost.

[islandgirl]

I would text the "property manager" again and say that you will not communicate by phone but only by a certain email address. Just keep repeating that message. Rent can be raised but there is an official process to go through and a specific notice must be issued. So ignore that for now! The text can also say that you will be happy to agree access in the new year once all other matters are sorted and once you have proof that he is acting on the LL's behalf. However I would certainly not speak to this person or allow them in. Once they email you, you can put together an appropriate response.

[KaptainKhaos]

Okay - I am just about to pay 2 months rent, but deducting the money that I have paid every month for 14 months plus 2 lots of £60 excess from British Gas Home Care thing that the landlord started, but then stopped. Surely it should be the landlord's responsibility for that, not me?

I am sure I will receive an email from the "agent" questioning the lower amount of rent. How do I word my reply to him/them?

Thanks.

[islandgirl]

The most important thing is not to owe more than 2 months rent at any time - this avoids the LL issuing a S8 - you can then sort things out!

[KaptainKhaos]

Thanks, islandgirl - I just paid £1000 rent which is 2 full months minus the British Gas Home Care thing for 14 months & 2 lots of £60 excess.

So I'm sort of up to date - I have only missed November 2021 out of 20+ years renting the house!!!

What should I email them if they question why it's less than 2 full months rent?

[islandgirl]

I suggest the same as you did above - itemize the things you believe the LL should have paid for and that you have deducted, I am unsure what the situation is re the BG thing - did he start the homecare and you then paid for it?

[KaptainKhaos]

Basically, for the past several years, the boiler was regularly going wrong (usually during Winter) - the LL started the BG Home Care thing, then in 2020, the boiler went wrong again, I phoned BG and they said that he had cancelled the direct debit!

So I started paying for it myself, just so we were covered. Which I shouldn't have to do, I'm sure.

[islandgirl]

Well the LL is oblged to fix the boiler but not obliged to take out a british gas home care package I would say.

[KaptainKhaos]

Ah that's okay then, because the LL didn't do either of them!

[KaptainKhaos]

Here again,

Over the last 3 days, someone has been knocking on our door every day while I was at work.

My 22 year old son spoke to somebody this morning who said he had a letter giving us 2 months notice as the landlord wants to sell the property, but had to give it to ME personally, not post it or put it through the letterbox.

What can I do? Can I refuse to accept him handing it to me and if so how do I do that?

I'm actually quite scared now.

[islandgirl]

It won't matter. LL only has to prove service (ie picture of him posting it through letterbox) and does not have to hand you anything. There is no guarantee of course that what you are handed will be correct. Don't be scared.