Landlord Rant - Sorry

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AAARRRRGGGGG!!!!!!!!!!!!

Why is it that just as I think that I am getting everything sorted something always pops up and bites me in the butt.

Now I will apologies if this gets into a long post but I need to air how I feel and maybe get some advice.

Three years ago I split with my ex and had to move back in with my mum. I left with a few debt which I am still paying so no chance of being able to save so far.

My mum is on benifits and claims for her rent, I work fulltime so pay my "share" to amount told to me by our council (so all legal and above board). Now if I work overtime the amount I pay sometmes increases, not a problem you may think. But according to my landlord this is a problem that si apparently becomeing unaccpetable :thinking: which I don't understand why if he is getting the correct total in rent every four weeks.

He is now emailling me saying that these sometimes consant changes are unaccptable and that he is considering charging and "administration" charge for these changes and/or recovering possession of the property.

I think he is a first time landlord (he brought the property with my mum as a tenent and without getting a servey done).

Problem is each email in this bullying tone is reducing me tears and is rapidly setting my down my depresive slope that unil recently I have be able to control.

I am going to pop in to the Citizans Advice later to book and appointment to see them (as I need to print off all my emails first) and see what they say.

I can understand that for him the changes must be frustraiting but I am doing everything correctly, but I just done understand why he is resorting to bully and scare tactic.

Ok....................sorry for ranting on, but I just needed to air that.
And anyone who read that lot, thank you.
 
I would be talking to the Housing Association, assuming the rent is controlled by them (with benefits etc, it should be) and obviously, keep copies of all the emails as they could become invaluable later on :)

I certainly wouldn't allow him to be bullying you... You have a legal right to peace whilst you're a tennant
 
I feel like ranting about bloody tenants, but shall resist the rage inside me by not doing so..............:)
 
I do not understand your post....sorry.


Do you not pay the same rent every week?

If not why not?

Why does the amount you pay increase if you work overtime...? Surely the rent price is the rent price.

I have never rented so I am a bit thick when it comes to renting but I always assumed you pay the same every week????
 
jolsterj said:
I do not understand your post....sorry.


Do you not pay the same rent every week?

If not why not?

Why does the amount you pay increase if you work overtime...? Surely the rent price is the rent price.

I have never rented so I am a bit thick when it comes to renting but I always assumed you pay the same every week????
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Rent stays the same each week. But where I work full time and my mum claims the amount the council pays will change if I earn more one month. I guess they see it as the more I earn the higher percentage of the total amount I pay......does that make sense?
 
All my tenants are on fixed monthly rent,I don`t understand why yours would change as you earn more? Or is that related to what you receive from the clowns at the housing department.

If you don`t want to go into details online,feel free to pm me and i`ll try and help you from a landlords perspective.If I can......:thumbs:

Edit........just seen your last post,it make sense now.
 
I`m in the 10% then Gary.

I have a simple outlook to it, I treat tenants as they treat me,the houses are good and well maintained and I can be helpful and flexible. Some of the morons see that as a weakness and try to take the pizz,that is when problems start......:)
 
Rent is generally a month in arrears (at least) when the Council are paying and I assume your Mum's amount is going direct to the landlord? If he insists on the charges then maybe suggest that your Mum will get the council to pay the rent direct to her and you will pay him by one cheque once a month - that might shut him up as not many landlords like this option as at least if it is coming direct he has a chance of receiving it.


Like Fracter I shall resist ranting :)
 
I can fully understand how he feels with the changes and the letters from the council he keeps getting. But on the due date between me and the council he gets the correct amount. I am doing things by the book and declaring what I earn each month.

I just don't feel there is a place for the bullying......................it is really getting me down.
 
Kerioak said:
Rent is generally a month in arrears (at least) when the Council are paying and I assume your Mum's amount is going direct to the landlord? If he insists on the charges then maybe suggest that your Mum will get the council to pay the rent direct to her and you will pay him by one cheque once a month - that might shut him up as not many landlords like this option as at least if it is coming direct he has a chance of receiving it.


Like Fracter I shall resist ranting :)
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Actually that sounds a good idea and something it may be worth my while asking my council about. At least he will then get one payment from one source.

I know there are bad and akward tenents out there (and are worthy of a rant), but I have made a point of doing things correctly.
 
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I would also suggest taking the printed emails down to your local council housing officer and explaining why you would prefer it being paid direct to your mum. I can understand the landlords frustration, but he is wrong to be taking it out on you and your mum as you are both doing what is expected which is more than many would. The CAB may also be able to help you liase with the council about it.

Good luck and don't let it get you down, use your energies to get it sorted out for all concerned rather than mulling and getting depressed :hug:
 
So the rent paid to the landlord comprises of two elements - the Housing Benefit paid by the local council and the Top Up, paid by you (or you and your mother between you). Both of these elements will vary depending upon your monthly take-home pay. Does the HB get paid direct to the landlord by the council? Or is it paid to your mother first?

I'm not sure what the council can do about your landlord's rants. I think you should email him back telling him that you pay in accordance with directions from the council and, if he doesn't like it that way, he should direct his comments to them - not you.
 
I say kick him in the nuts
 
Why not ask the landlord what he would like to do about it? That way, at least you have an idea of what he is looking for, and if you can fit in with his requirements, then everyone is happy :)

I've rented a number of houses and apartments, and to be honest not going through an agency is not worth the aggro - they handle the payment, regardless of who pays them and if you have any issues they are in the middle to sort things out.

Hope you get it all sorted soon.
 
Kim said:
he is considering charging and "administration" charge for these changes and/or recovering possession of the property.
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He can't do that because that would be changing the terms of a contract after it has been agreed (or after the fact in legal terms). If your tenancy agreement comes up for renewal though, he could try to add it in.


Steve.
 
Our tenancy does say that the cash should come in in one payment so you may want to just check that yours does not.

Getting any benefits paid to you then you paying the total seems to be the most sensible solution.
 
Dig out a copy of your tenancy agreement and see if it contains any conditions about extra charges. If it doesn't then quite frankly there is b****r all he can do about it until your tenancy is up for renewal.

Now, more importantly, if he wants to send you bullying emails deny him that. Request that he does not email you any more and conducts his affairs over the phone or by post. Email is free and he could well just be a keyboard warrior who doesn't do normal confrontation.
 
tell him to wind his "flippin" neck in.. "administration fee" for pitys sake it probably costs him nothing.

fracster said:
I`m in the 10% then Gary.
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me too please. my tennants are getting a nice new double glazed kitchen window and french doors next week. as well as a replacement fence panel thats blown over. all out of my own pocket.
 
I do feel for you, as you're only trying to do things by the book and legitimately.
This sort of scenario is why alot of landlords don't accept Housing Benefit tenants unfortunately.

What I would suggest is instead of backing off and getting legal advice etc, try and work with the landlord. Don't respond to bullying or threats, just state that you'd rather work together to come to an amicable solution that suits you both.
Im sure everyone would agree when I say that if it starts to go 'south' and unfriendly then when your tenancy is up for renewal, he'll be needing a new tenant and you'll be needing to move...and Imsure neither of you would want that :)
 
Thanks guys. Had a chat to citizens advice today and they gave me some sound advice. It was also good to be able to speak to someone who was not directly involved.

I am starting to feel that my landlords biggest probelm is me being there and the rent coming in two parts. Plans are underway to try and rehome myself (fingers crossed the promise of this nice bonus actually comes through in Feb).
 
Marcel said:
This sort of scenario is why alot of landlords don't accept Housing Benefit tenants unfortunately.
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I see this a lot in adverts in the paper for properties for rent: "no housing benefit".

I always wonder why because if I had properties to rent, I think I would prefer housing benefit as it is a guaranteed income.

I think a lot of people get worried by a few horror stories they hear about a very tiny number of housing benefit tenants who cause trouble. I would imagine that there are similar problems with people not on housing benefit too.


Steve.
 
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Kim said:
Thanks guys. Had a chat to citizens advice today and they gave me some sound advice. It was also good to be able to speak to someone who was not directly involved.

I am starting to feel that my landlords biggest probelm is me being there and the rent coming in two parts. Plans are underway to try and rehome myself (fingers crossed the promise of this nice bonus actually comes through in Feb).
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I'm glad to hear that you are getting help. I applaud your honesty with the council- not everyone would tell them about extra earnings. I hope you get your bonus. Dont let it all get you down. You are in the right and there are always people who can help you, like the CAB.
 
Kim said:
Thanks guys. Had a chat to citizens advice today and they gave me some sound advice. It was also good to be able to speak to someone who was not directly involved.

I am starting to feel that my landlords biggest probelm is me being there and the rent coming in two parts. Plans are underway to try and rehome myself (fingers crossed the promise of this nice bonus actually comes through in Feb).
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This must be very frustrating for you, and I agree with the previous poster who commended you for being honest and upfront with the Council. I'm sure a lot of people in your situation would just have kept quiet about it.

One suggestion. I wouldn't communicate with the landlord by phone, because there's no record of the discussion. Snail mail is fine, and so is email. Some people do bang off inappropriate mails/responses (many of us have probably done this at times!), but this could actually work to your benefit.

Good luck, and all the best.
 
MartynK said:
One suggestion. I wouldn't communicate with the landlord by phone, because there's no record of the discussion. Snail mail is fine, and so is email. Some people do bang off inappropriate mails/responses (many of us have probably done this at times!), but this could actually work to your benefit.

Good luck, and all the best.
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I agree with this and this is why I have kept everything by email. Last night at work (because my printer is out of ink) I rattled off 50+ emails (not all intimadating). But hey, better to have a hard copy.

At least I am feel more positive today rather than wanting to throw myself under the local bus.
 
Steve Smith said:
I see this a lot in adverts in the paper for properties for rent: "no housing benefit".

I always wonder why because if I had properties to rent, I think I would prefer housing benefit as it is a guaranteed income.

I think a lot of people get worried by a few horror stories they hear about a very tiny number of housing benefit tenants who cause trouble. I would imagine that there are similar problems with people not on housing benefit too.


Steve.
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The reason a lot of landlords don't like housing benefit tennants is because the benefit is now paid to the tennant rather than to the landlord (at least it is in both the areas that I was letting property in), and the worry is that A, its not passed on, B, its not paid in advance as with a normal tennant, so if they leave you could be well out of pocket. I rented out my old house and yes it is to a housing benefit person who has (so far!) been the ideal tennant. Rent was paid in 2 parts (how it was received) but fortunately that has not caused a problem and its certainly no great hardship looking for 2 numbers and adding them together for me.

Kim, hope you get it sorted out cannot be nice for you having hassle when you are trying to keep things above board and legal.
 
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