Me and 4 other girls live in a rented student house, it is the first house our landlord has rented. We have lived here since September 2009 and our landlord has always come over without giving notice even though our contract says he should give at least 24hours notice. He lets himself into the house or garden and no one will know he is there. He has walked in on my housemates in their underwear and while were in bed and doesn’t apologise just starts up a conversation!
Recently he has gotten really bad and has shouted at me when I asked him to give notice saying he didn’t have to and would continue to come over unannounced.
We agreed with him when we first moved in that we would sign the contract for one whole year but would most likely stay for a second year as well so he agreed that he would lower the rent from £385 to £200 during June, July and August while we are not living in the house until we returned in September. We were still paying rent (although its reduced) and intending on returning in September 2010 we left belongings in the house that we didn’t want to take home for summer.
One housemate is staying the house over the summer, which the landlord knows so hasn’t lowered her rent. However since the other 4 of us left for summer, he has been coming over to the house 2 times a day unannounced searching our rooms to check if we are still living there (which we are not!) He has been ringing the housemate who is still there shouting at her that the rest of us are still living there and he is especially convinced that one housemate is still there which she isn’t and has been setting up traps in her bedroom to see if she is still there (he admitted to doing this to my housemate but didn’t accept that it was at all wrong of him to do so). One housemate returned to the house to collect some items and the landlord was in the house when she got there and he shouted at her for being there because she told him she was living at home for summer (which she is), she explained she was just picking some items up but he wouldn’t accept it and was convinced she was living there even though her room was empty.
My housemate who is still living in the house alone is getting really worried and upset as she feels like he is harassing her by ringing her everyday to shout at her and she can tell he has been over while she was at work each day to check if anyone else is living in the house.
He sent us all a letter complaining about the state of the house (our house really is not in a state and is always kept clean and tidy!) The only 2 things he found to back his complaint up was that the cooker was dirty (we clean the cooker regularly and is going to over time, not stay pristine and brand new looking) and that there were some scuff marks on the wall in the porch. He says he is going to deduct the cleaning costs of these from our deposits, even though we haven’t even moved out yet.
Sorry that this was so long but any advice or help would be really appreciated, as we don’t want to go back next year but have a dog so finding somewhere else to live difficult.
Recently he has gotten really bad and has shouted at me when I asked him to give notice saying he didn’t have to and would continue to come over unannounced.
We agreed with him when we first moved in that we would sign the contract for one whole year but would most likely stay for a second year as well so he agreed that he would lower the rent from £385 to £200 during June, July and August while we are not living in the house until we returned in September. We were still paying rent (although its reduced) and intending on returning in September 2010 we left belongings in the house that we didn’t want to take home for summer.
One housemate is staying the house over the summer, which the landlord knows so hasn’t lowered her rent. However since the other 4 of us left for summer, he has been coming over to the house 2 times a day unannounced searching our rooms to check if we are still living there (which we are not!) He has been ringing the housemate who is still there shouting at her that the rest of us are still living there and he is especially convinced that one housemate is still there which she isn’t and has been setting up traps in her bedroom to see if she is still there (he admitted to doing this to my housemate but didn’t accept that it was at all wrong of him to do so). One housemate returned to the house to collect some items and the landlord was in the house when she got there and he shouted at her for being there because she told him she was living at home for summer (which she is), she explained she was just picking some items up but he wouldn’t accept it and was convinced she was living there even though her room was empty.
My housemate who is still living in the house alone is getting really worried and upset as she feels like he is harassing her by ringing her everyday to shout at her and she can tell he has been over while she was at work each day to check if anyone else is living in the house.
He sent us all a letter complaining about the state of the house (our house really is not in a state and is always kept clean and tidy!) The only 2 things he found to back his complaint up was that the cooker was dirty (we clean the cooker regularly and is going to over time, not stay pristine and brand new looking) and that there were some scuff marks on the wall in the porch. He says he is going to deduct the cleaning costs of these from our deposits, even though we haven’t even moved out yet.
Sorry that this was so long but any advice or help would be really appreciated, as we don’t want to go back next year but have a dog so finding somewhere else to live difficult.