Landlord from HELL!

[gmb27]

Hi,

I needed to arrange last minute accomodation and found a flat to rent in the southwest. The landlord told me there was no deposit to make, just the first months rent in advance, so i signed a contract and paid the month up front. A week later when i moved in I still had not received a copy of the contract I had asked for and the landlord met me on the move in day. He told me I owed another months rent within the first week as the initial payment was to secure the property and would count as my last months rent! Not wanting to casue a problem I paid another months rent and took a receipt. He gave me a key and left.

After looking inside the place was not as it should have been, it was damp, smelly, had mould on the walls and broken exposed electrical sockets! I called him up and asked him to come back, which he did and I explained how unhappy I was, he really lost his temper and I ended up handing the key back and walking out. Now all I have is a phone number for him which he continually fails to answer (4 weeks on!) and he ignores my messages to return my money. Can anybody tell me where I stand on this and if anyone has any advice?! Please help, I want to pursue a small claims case but on what grounds?

Any advice would be great! :-(

[cassa333]

How did you hear about this landlord?

Perhaps you can get a friend to ring him 'looking' for accomodation and when he goes round to view the property ask for his details and persue him afterwards.

Or get the friend to view the property and turn up as well.

Or you turn detective and find out details from land registry and the LA etc.

Otherwise if you have no details for him then you are stuffed?

[sue11]

I know hindsight is a wonderful thing but why did you sign a contract without even seeing the place you were due to live in (even if it was some miles away)? Also you should have taken a copy of the contract before you returned it! As I said it is easy to see what you should have done, but now it is done, you really need to get some good professional advice re this. One of the problems is that when you sign a contract, normally it is for 6 months and legally you can be pursued for the full 6 months rent due if you move out before the official end of the contract, therefore it may be that if you attempt to pursue a small claims case he could counter claim and it may result in yourself being the one who owes the landlord money. If the flat is dirty, smelly and damp that is not pleasant, but probably is not dangerous, (the exposed electrical sockets may be another matter), and you may find it difficult to use this as an excuse for not taking up the rental of the property as per the contract you have signed.
Best of luck, I would really look to take some professional advice before trying to take this any further.
Cheers Sue

[quizgirl_65]

Check out -
http://www.direct.gov...ngYourHome/DG_4001391

This details a landlords responsiblity in renting out a property. These things include:-
1. repairs to the structure and exterior of the property, heating and hot water installations, basins, sinks, baths and other sanitary installations
2. the safety of gas and electrical appliances
3. the fire safety of furniture and furnishings provided under the tenancy
4. ensuring that the property is fit for habitation (which it sounds like it wasn't)
5.repairing and keeping in working order the room and water heating equipment
6. the common areas in multi-occupancy dwellings
7. providing an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) to new tenants

It sounds like you may need professional advice to issue proceedings against him.