Landlord Attempting to extort money from Mother

@LOAM touched on a good point perhaps do some research quote the laws to the landlord etc on your mothers behalf, should scare him into order. I'd be looking for a new place, if you don't pay I would be very surprised if he doesn't kick you out.
 
I would also like to add that they refused to respond to our solicitors request for breakdown on costs etc etc. Obviously there costs was going to the local shop buying some paint and painting over a piece of wall -_-
 
Hyburnate said:
@LOAM touched on a good point perhaps do some research quote the laws to the landlord etc on your mothers behalf, should scare him into order. I'd be looking for a new place, if you don't pay I would be very surprised if he doesn't kick you out.
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Our solicitor has done this and has got ignored.
 
Caged said:
I don't think it's possible to cause damp, other that if you were to build a wall outside and fill it up with water. A tenant could cause mould to form on the walls but as said earlier this just wipes off.
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The wall on the other side of her wall and mine is bricked facing the road and pipes run through these were rainwater runs down and out of the brick wall to stop it building up... I personally see this as one cause of it... bad building design but i'm not an architect.
 
Caged said:
If you have a solicitor then let them deal with it. If they don't know the laws then get a new one.
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All that can happen now is small claims. I just know from being in court and how little people honestly care that she can loose this based on stupid things and there is NO proof that we did anything wrong and its pure extortion plain and simple how ever just because that may be true doesn't mean a judge will rule in her favor. I honestly want to just cave this guys skull in, his approach when ive been around with my mum has been completely passive in comparison to when shes been alone.
 
How about a hidden camera and invite him to come see youre mum on her won to explain himself.... hope he incriminates himself and acts aggressively and you get it on film?
 
Allnamestaken said:
Our solicitor has done this and has got ignored.
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In this case, the simply pay rent until the penultimate month of the contract, have somewhere else lined up, and don't pay the invoice or the final months rent. Then you can simply say I'll pay be he last months rent when the deposit is refunded.

If the landlord questions the invoice in the meantime then simply ask them to respond properly to the letter sent questioning the costs and liability.
 
Allnamestaken said:
The wall on the other side of her wall and mine is bricked facing the road and pipes run through these were rainwater runs down and out of the brick wall to stop it building up... I personally see this as one cause of it... bad building design but i'm not an architect.
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This needs a photo, not only to help describe what you mean but also as a record of the defect. It gets said so many times on here, photo, photo, photo, fill up an entire sd card if needs be. Have you got photos of the damp area in question prior to the work, the work being done, the completed work?. Do you have a diary of events, dates you reported it etc etc?
 
Allnamestaken said:
Our solicitor has done this and has got ignored.
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Then if he continues to demand payment he is breaking the law and therefore threaten him with legal action and hope he pulls out, if not then just keep threatening him with things like solicitor costs until you can find a new place.

Hope it all works out :)
 
AtreuS said:
Is that even legal? when you rent you are entitled to enjoy your home in peace and quiet... you should not have anyone coming into your home unless arranged. I think you could get him in bother for that alone.
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I'm 90% sure that its illegal for a landlord to access property like that if it's being rented out. The tenants are the legal occupiers and the property is your home even if you don't own the deeds to the building.

Sounds like you have rouge landlord to me trying to pull a fast one. The problem is if you don't pay it he might hold back the deposit and if you refuse to pay tbe final months rent as a way of getting back he can claim you owe him one months rent. The first thing I would do is check to see if your deposit is being held in the deposit protection scheme, if its not then in your case this could be good news as you Landlord is in violation of the law which gives you leverage.
 
Hyburnate said:
Then if he continues to demand payment he is breaking the law and therefore threaten him with legal action and hope he pulls out, if not then just keep threatening him with things like solicitor costs until you can find a new place.

Hope it all works out :)
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If it comes to court then you can't generally claim solicitors fees, as it would be a small claims case, so that would be a pretty empty threat. You also can't sue someone for giving you an invoice. They would need to sue you for not paying the invoice, and loose as it's both grossly exaggerated and they'd have a very hard time proving the damp was your fault in the first place.

At this point it's about keeping the ball in the landlords court, if they want the money let them do the leg work.
 
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mattyfez said:
If it comes to court then you can't generally claim solicitors fees, as it would be a small claims case, so that would be a pretty empty threat. You also can't sue someone for giving you an invoice. They would need to sue you for not paying the invoice, and loose as it's both grossly exaggerated and they'd have a very hard tome proving the damp was your fault in the first place.

At this point it's about keeping the ball in the landlords court, London if they want the money let them do the leg work.
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Aye I know, but it would be easier for them if they didn't have to find another property so if they can annoy the landlord enough to let him drop it, they win in their own way :)
 
Freddie1980 said:
I'm 90% sure that its illegal for a landlord to access property like that if it's being rented out. The tenants are the legal occupiers and the property is your home even if you don't own the deeds to the building.

Sounds like you have rouge landlord to me trying to pull a fast one. The problem is if you don't pay it he might hold back the deposit and if you refuse to pay tbe final months rent as a way of getting back he can claim you owe him one months rent. The first thing I would do is check to see if your deposit is being held in the deposit protection scheme, if its not then in your case this could be good news as you Landlord is in violation of the law which gives you leverage.
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He can claim you owe me a months rent, and you can claim you can't afford it until the deposit is returned.. Any deduction from the deposit would then have to be properly proven, or if the landlord is dodgy they would be forced to walk away at this point.. As I said above you have to ensure your holding all the cards in these situations.
 
LOAM said:
This needs a photo, not only to help describe what you mean but also as a record of the defect. It gets said so many times on here, photo, photo, photo, fill up an entire sd card if needs be. Have you got photos of the damp area in question prior to the work, the work being done, the completed work?. Do you have a diary of events, dates you reported it etc etc?
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My mother has recorded everything, she has the photos il dig them up later tonight or tommorow morning. Im so wound up right now I need to relax my brain. Illl try to get a picture in the morning tommorow of the outer wall, its designed in to he building btw.
 
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