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[DPT57]

I think they may have misunderstood your request. However, when I spoke to my council planning officer under similar circumstances, he indicated that it wasn't necessary to have the certificate of lawfulness as long as I had the evidence if it was ever requested.

[DPT57]

Yes I did and it doesn't say that the problem is "most often due to poor heating system, cheap outworn insulation."...

[DPT57]

Sorry, no, I meant the wording about having the right to withdraw permission. The clause reads "No animals are allowed in the property without our written permission. (We will not unreasonably withhold this permission.) We can withdraw this permission if we have a good reason."...

[DPT57]

It seems you have no evidence for that assertion....

[DPT57]

Interestingly, this is now standard wording in the RLA model tenancy agreement...

[DPT57]

I don't think thats right. I beleive that even private landlords are required to follow the pre-action protocol, (see here: https://www.landlordsguild.com/how-t...r-debt-claims/), although I think the court is unlikely to be too bothered about minor infringe...

[DPT57]

You may find that the 'tenants' were just a front for an organised crime gang and that they never really had anything to do with the flat and have now disappeared without a trace....

[DPT57]

ayearinmx, I don't think the landlord has a hope of making this claim stick. Just keep saying that you don't agree to the deductions and he will eventually either drop it or go to arbitration, which he would almost certainly lose....

[DPT57]

I think it's more reasonable if you promise to cover any increased heating costs due to running electric heaters.

[DPT57]

Was there a witness to the phone call or a note with the keys?

[DPT57]

Why cant you just tell your employer now that you are relocating and that in due course that will include leaving his employ, but not yet.

[DPT57]

I'm afraid that IS wishful thinking as the TFA applies to ex tenants....

[DPT57]

Sounds like she knows what shes doing. Write to you about the mould problem. Make it difficult for you to inspect without refusing access. If you serve a s21 notice she can show her complaint to the Council and ask them to serve an improvement notice, which would invalidate your notice. If you serve...

[DPT57]

If the tenants have made it licensable then I think that in theory they would have the liability, but this may not stop the additional tenants aiming a Rent Repayment Order in your direction. You may also find that your insurance is invalid and that Council penalties end up affecting your property....

[DPT57]

Absolutely. Check the utility accounts too if you can.

[DPT57]

Yes, if a case ever came to court and was won by the tenant, it would be interesting to see what redress the court felt was available....

[DPT57]

If you have no knowledge of this business you are putting yourself and your brother at great risk with a diy approach. I suggest that you find a good letting agent who will stand a better chance of getting it right.

[DPT57]

I realise that elements of my argument are more hypothetical than related to this case, but I do think there is an important point here. Consumer legislation is an enormous beast to which most landlords have hitherto paid lip-service. This is probably because it's not yet clear to what extent it applies...

[DPT57]

When you get access, gather as much evidence as possible of abandonment. Take an independent witness. Take photos of mail piled up, fridge empty, personal possessions removed, heating off etc. Witness statements from neighbours if possible. The more evidence you can amass, the safer you will be, including...

[DPT57]

If your deposit is not protected by a scheme then given that it sounds like you have a tenancy, you can claim not only the return of the deposit but it to 3x its value as a penalty.

Dont worry about thinking the worst of people, just read carefully the terms in your tenancy agreement about...