Landlord can't pay the rent, what happens to the tenants?

Question

My landlord has been getting CCJ's regarding her non payment of the mortgage! In the worst case scenario, can we be made homeless?

Also - there have been ongoing problems with the flat we are renting. (no hot water, washing machine incorrectly plumbed, fridge on and off). Being the peaceful sort I have managed to get people in eventually to fix things, since the landlady is a little unresponsive - but should I be putting things in writing and sending to her? Is there anything she owes me in terms of reimbursment since that has taken me a stupid amount of time to organise.

Answer 1

From what you say, not only have you been paying for things to be fixed, but the chances of the Landlord re-reimbursing you look non-existent.

Since the Landlord has real debt problems I would suggest the chances of getting you getting your deposit back are zero as well.

I would write to the landlord detailing all the things you paid for (and enclosing photo-copies of the bills) and inform her that unless she pays up within 14 days you will withhold a portion of the rent to pay for these bills.

IF you have sufficient income, you might consider buying the Property off the Landlord (since there is a 'sitting tenant', chances are you will get a very good price :-) )

The place may well be sold out from under you, however don't move out until you have to .. if you are on a fixed length contract, and they want you to go early (for example, so they can get a better price when the property is sold) you can negotiate a payment (a sitting tenant can knock £10-£20,000 off the value of a property .. it's not unheard of for Tenants to receive thousands to leave early ..)

When you come to move out, I suggest you withhold sufficient Rent to match the Deposit (and again, write informing the Landlord that this is what you have done).

Answer 2

If she's getting CCJ's then the house will end up possessed by the mortgage company at some point. You shouldn't be the one that's sorting out the problems with the flat either, that's the landlord problem. I wouldn't pay to live in a place like that, please go find somewhere else to live before you end up losing out on more money! Keep all the receipts all the work you've done on the flat. Threaten to report her to the council and environmental health for letting out an unsuitable abode! She clearly isn't keeping to her agreement, you just pay to live there, she has to make sure the flat is up to standard.

Answer 3

They have to find another place. It almost happened to us, but before it could reach that point, we already moved out. Try talking to her to fix things up, if she doesn't respond the way she should have, start looking for another place.. good luck!

Answer 4

Better start packing and looking for a new place..foreclosure sounds inevitable!!!