Rent Arrears and New Landlord

Rent Arrears and New Landlord

13:23 PM, 29th August 2014, About 10 years ago 10

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My flat was sold to a new landlord in July and my old landlord is querying one of my rent payments (saying I’ve missed one.)

I have spoken to him and we are investigating this, however now my new landlord is demanding to see my bank statements since I first moved into the property to prove I paid my old landlord the rent. Rent Arrears and New Landlord

My old landlord has told me not to show him anything, but I don’t no what to do.

My new landlord was very aggressive and quite scary, and threatening.

As a single woman living alone in the flat I feel very vulnerable here now.

Please help.

Thank you

Hayley


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Comments

Mark Alexander - Founder of Property118

13:34 PM, 29th August 2014, About 10 years ago

Hi Hayley

Leaving aside that you are a single woman living alone and that your landlord is "aggressive and quite scary" you are indeed still in a vulnerable position.

You are not obliged to provide your new landlord with the requested information but the flip side to that is that your landlord will have the right to seek possession of the property and to either sell it, move in himself, rent it to somebody else or leave it empty.

If you feel threatened in any other way, particularly physically, then you should inform the Police.

Just remember, you landlord must give you at least two months notice to leave before he can apply to the Courts for possession. However, if it can be proven that you are in default of your tenancy then the notice period may be reduced to two weeks.

If you want to continue to live there it may well pay for you to establish a better working relationship with your new landlord.
.

Steve Masters

17:24 PM, 29th August 2014, About 10 years ago

Tricky, you want to keep your new landlord happy but don't want him prying into your personal life which is none of his business. Perhaps a reference or a rent account statement from your old landlord would satisfy your new one. If that fails then try and establish exactly what it is your new landlord is really trying to accomplish. Good luck.

Mandy Thomson

17:28 PM, 29th August 2014, About 10 years ago

Hi Hayley

As a former female tenant who, like you, lived alone in the property (I didn't have a hostile landlord, but did have maintenance people who sometimes took liberties with access), I can sympathise with how you feel. I only visit my own tenants at a time that suits them with plenty of notice.

As a tenant under an AST agreement, you have the legal right to physically exclude your landlord from your home; you are not obliged to give him a key, and you are entitled to at least 24 hours notice if he wants to visit the property. Tessa Shepperson (a solicitor specialising in landlord and tenant matters) has written a blog about this, and has also addressed the position where a tenant might have a clause in their agreement giving the landlord the right to a key: http://www.landlordlawblog.co.uk/2010/07/13/locks-and-keys-%E2%80%93-what-are-tenants-rights/

If you were to change the locks and your landlord subsequently tried to let himself in without your permission, even if your tenancy agreement stipulates that the landlord should have a key, I reckon he'd be in much more trouble for unauthorised entry than you would be for changing the locks - you could just say you lost your keys and as it happened so quickly you didn't get the chance to tell him...

However, unless you've simply misjudged the new landlord, or he improves somewhat on better acquaintance, or you have little to do with him once this matter is cleared up, I personally wouldn't want such a dysfunctional relationship either as a landlord OR as a tenant. Unless you're really short of options for somewhere to live, I might consider giving notice once this is resolved.

All BankersAreBarstewards Smith

8:12 AM, 30th August 2014, About 10 years ago

If showing your new landlord bank statements proves that you are up to date with your rent.... what is the problem ? it may be an intrusion into your privacy but t least it will get an aggressive landlord off your back...... then find somewhere else to live......

Mandy Thomson

10:58 AM, 30th August 2014, About 10 years ago

Unfortunately, some businesses are so poor at record keeping, or with large businesses, the right hand often doesn't know what the left is doing, that showing bank statements is sometimes the only way a customer can prove they made a payment, at least quickly.

I've had three organisations ask me for bank statements within the last 18 months (two mobile phone providers and one of my freeholders) to prove payments that I'd made in good faith. I agree that it feels intrusive and it's certainly galling, but as others have said, probably the best and quickest way to put an end to this from your perspective.

When I sent the statements, I took paper copies, used a marker pen to redact everything but information the other parties needed, then scanned them and sent copies by email (if you don't have a scanner, high street printers, photography shops and public libraries will scan documents onto a USB stick for a small fee).

Rob Crawford

18:12 PM, 30th August 2014, About 10 years ago

You could show him your statements having first blacked out all other payments and incomes except the rent payments that you have made.

Jay James

19:08 PM, 30th August 2014, About 10 years ago

On the basis of the info at the top of the page, the new LL has no reason query a payment that was due to the previous LL. Only the previous LL could do that.

The new LL needs to take a hike (please excuse the unprofessional term), unless there is some other fact yet to come to light.

Reader

22:52 PM, 30th August 2014, About 10 years ago

If you are still a tenant via the AST of the previous landlord or periodic tenancy there after you need to seek advice as to if the new landlord is entitled to rent by reason of having informed you of his name and address etc. Good luck.

Mark Alexander - Founder of Property118

22:59 PM, 30th August 2014, About 10 years ago

Hi Hayley

As a matter of interest, how did your new and old landlords deal with your deposit and is a letting agent involved?
.

Romain Garcin

23:06 PM, 30th August 2014, About 10 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Jay Jay" at "30/08/2014 - 19:08":

That's a good question because upon the sale the tenancy was assigned to the buyer who became 'the landlord'.
Therefore, arguably, if rent was due under the tenancy it is now due to the 'new' landlord and no longer to the 'previous' landlord.

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