Harrasment From My Landlord Help U.K.?

Question

Hi all and thanks for your advice in advance....

I recently lost my job a couple of months ago and therefore had to claim benifits.

Due to housing benifits speed the rent was a couple of months late so i started getting phone calls everyday for about 20 minutes at a time. He tells me exactly what i should be doing i.e. go to the local M.P. write a letter to so and so and phone these people.

Also he has added interest on top of the arrers and now is saying i owe him nearly £1000.

I could understand if he phoned twice a month to ask me if i had heard anything but every day???

That can be right also he has served me with a notice to quit because of this even though i have a 2 yr old son and a heavly pregnant wife.

After every phone call both me and my wife get really stressed and argue.

The landlord never listens to what i have to say and just trys to order me to do something. Also as i met this guy at my local church i assumed he was a nice old man.......

How wrong was i?

He acts all like hes doing nothing wrong and he's doing us a massive favour as the rent is sooooo cheap etc, ect.

I just don't know what to do i'm at the end of my teather i don't know what to do or who to talk to any advice would be appriciated.

Answer 1

It sounds bad, but he's running a business. He maybe can't afford to keep paying your rent since you don't have the money. I'm not saying that he should be a jerk about it. The lease could have indicated that he could add interest for back rent. I have a friend who owns apartments & she can't be charitable to everyone because she has her own bills to pay with the rent money she receives. Sorry to hear you fell on hard times.

Try looking for a new place if possible. Maybe with a nicer landlord! :o)

Answer 2

Your misfortune has become your landlord's problem. He counts on those rental payments to cover his expenses. When the rent is a couple month's late, you've put him in financial distress.

Trying to collect the money you owe him isn't harrassment.