Landlord advice

[cookiemonster]

Moved to a new place on 4th May. All was going well until last Monday when he arrived, un-announced, and kicked off about the fact that my partner was visiting. He wanted payment for his visit(s)

I have gotten advice and it has stated that this is illegal however, the harassment has not stopped and he has called me tonight saying that he has a girl lined up to view the room, when I'm still living there.

Any advice about what to do? I have sent a letter detailing my concerns but is there anything else I can do?

Thanks

 

[vernon]

I don't think that you've supplied enough information to allow anyone to give you useful advice. What sort of accomodation, period of letting/notice. Any contract? Letting agent involvement?

 

[cookiemonster]

I have an AST but there is no breach and as it will be 2 months written notice as it's within the first 6 months of the contract. I have been told it's unlikely that a section 25 would be granted by a court because of this, unless he can prove I have done something wrong, which I haven't.

 

[cookiemonster]

I don't think that you've supplied enough information to allow anyone to give you useful advice. What sort of accomodation, period of letting/notice. Any contract? Letting agent involvement?

Sorry Vernon.

No letting agents, got an Assured Shorthold Tenancy (6 months) and the problems are unannounced arrivals, taking too keen an interest in my private life, demanding extra payment for my partner staying over and saying I'm not allowed guests.

 

[cookiemonster]

[QUOTE 2507206, member: 30090"]Apologies. I misread your post as you were not allowed any visitors in your lease.

In that case then yes you are right.[/quote]

No worries, I'm guilty of writing my OP a bit too quickly as Vernon stated

 

[cookiemonster]

[QUOTE 2507212, member: 30090"][quote"cookiemonster, post: 2507207, member: 298"]Sorry Vernon.

No letting agents, got an Assured Shorthold Tenancy (6 months) and the problems are unannounced arrivals, taking too keen an interest in my private life, demanding extra payment for my partner staying over and saying I'm not allowed guests.[/quote]

Does it state anything in the agreement about having people over for the night?[/quote]

No. This was not even discussed until about 5 weeks after moving in and only when he arrived, un-announced, came into my room, un-invited (I was at work at the time) and saw my partner.

 

[vernon]

I don't see what the problem is if unannounced arrivals are not banned in the contract. But I am not a lawyer and I think you need to seek professional advice.

 

[Spinney]

Try asking on this forum:
http://www.landlordzone.co.uk/forums/forum.php

In spite of the name, there are plenty of tenants asking questions.

 

[cookiemonster]

It not joint occupancy. My partner stays over once a week at best, depending on my work.

Can't see why that's a problem?

 

[Spinney]

I don't see what the problem is if unannounced arrivals are not banned in the contract. But I am not a lawyer and I think you need to seek professional advice.

Tenants are entitled to 'quiet enjoyment' of the property they are renting, and any unannounced arrival by the landlord (which is what I think the OP is talking about) will spoil this, especially if they let themselves in while the tenant it out.

 

[Doseone]

Spinney is right. The landlord sounds completely out of order, this sounds like harrasment and possibly discrimination.

 

[400bhp]

From the little I can glean from the information you have, personal experience tells me your landlord is skating on very thin ice.

I'm not sure where the line is drawn between criminal and civil offences. It could be criminal?

Get some advice sharpish. Do you have home contents cover? You might get free legal advice.

 

[classic33]

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.u...?74053-Access-to-the-Property-by-the-Landlord
You'll have to scroll down a bit.
"The landlord has the right to 'reasonable' access to carry out repairs for which s/he is responsible, but s/he should always ask for the tenant's permission, and should give at least 24 hours' notice (s11(6) Landlord and Tenant Act 1985). If the landlord wants to enter the property for any other reason, for example, to show round a prospective purchaser, s/he can only do this with the tenant's agreement. The tenant is fully entitled to refuse his/her permission if the date/time is inconvienient. The tenant should not refuse without good grounds, as it may cause a breakdown of relationship with the landlord.

The tenant has a right of quiet enjoyment of the tenancy. This means that s/he can occupy the premises without being disturbed by the landlord or her/his agents. Quiet enjoyment is an implied contractual right whether or not it is written into the tenancy agreement. A licensee does not have this right.

Entering the property without the tenant's permission

If the landlord is repeatedly entering the accommodation without the tenant's permission, s/he is committing a civil offence because:-
• s/he is in breach of contract, because s/he has broken the implied term to allow the tenant uninterrupted use of the accommodation. This is known as breach of quiet enjoyment; and
• s/he is trespassing on the tenant's premises."

 

[400bhp]

Looks like civil on the face of it? Criminal leaves much more power with the tenant - civil stuff can be (and often is) walked over.

 

[ianrauk]

@Brains is your man to help out here