Page 10 | To think my landlord is a spiteful dickhead

3kiddosandme · 2025-08-08T08:21:29+00:00

At this point im thinking my landlord is just a spiteful dickhead, I'll go into as much detail as possible here. Earlier this year I was sent a section 21 notice out of nowhere, I questioned this and the landlord said because of significant damages to the property I have to leave. Now I have evidence that these significant damages are not my fault, I had the environmental health in because I was fed up of living in a shit hole basically, the whole house needs ripping out and fixing including floorboards and external doors according to the local council who did the inspection, the landlord also has to take up an asbestos survey due to damaged ceiling in the hallway. I have 3 kids I the house, one is additional needs. I was offered a house by a housing association and I accepted, im yet to get the keys but the house was on major repair, I said this to the current landlord who said they were happy to let me wait it out, no repairs have done either by the current landlord as per the council report. They took me to court to evict me even though theyd said I could stay until my house was ready, ive never been behind on rent always paid in full and on time, a week ago the landlord turned up completely unannounced banging on the door I opened the door and I was told I should've moved out by now as the court stated the 25th july, I told them to get a warrant for eviction and come back with bailiffs, as of yet I haven't heard anything from the bailiffs. I emailed expressing that they didnt give any notice and they turned up with keys to let themselves in and since I haven't returned keys or made them aware that ive moved it was completely unacceptable. They stated that they sent a letter, they never did as ive still not recieved this magic letter they apparently sent. Anyway every single day they are emailing me asking for keys to be returned and I keep telling them I will return the keys once I have moved. At this point I just think they are being absolute dickheads. I hopefully should get the keys to the new property today. Wibu to move and then throw they keys into their office in an envelope and leave without saying a word.

DysgraphiaQueen · 08/08/2025 11:34

Livpool · 08/08/2025 11:29

She doesn’t have anywhere else to go…

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So why is that the landlords responsibility, she knew the date and had ample time to arrange new accommodation or an alternative place to stay.

ThejoyofNC · 08/08/2025 11:33

Livpool · 08/08/2025 11:29

She doesn’t have anywhere else to go…

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That's not the landlords problem. She can't stay there.

Housechallenge · 08/08/2025 11:30

TurraeaFloribunda · 08/08/2025 11:26

If environmental health issued an improvement notice and the landlord hasn’t done the repairs, have you reported that to environmental health? They can prosecute him or do the work and charge him.

When was the order issued? You can’t serve a Section 21 order until 6 months after an improvement notice from the council.

You should have gone to court to fight the eviction. He is clearly a dickhead but you are partly responsible for going about this the wrong way. If you have the keys to your new house today, move out today and return the keys. Tell him exactly when you will return his keys. He may try to recover his costs if he has to use bailiffs.

TBH, he is a slum landlord so he deserves everything he gets. Call environmental health today (they can’t do anything once your tenancy ends) and report him for not doing the required works. That will be a far better revenge.

Agree it would come under revenge eviction.
But in op case if she has beren offered housing association which gives her much more security. So there was probably no point in op fighting it.

Livpool · 08/08/2025 11:29

Swiftie1878 · 08/08/2025 11:20

We don’t and we certainly won’t get the truth from this OP.
Either way, she should have moved out as directed by the court.

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She doesn’t have anywhere else to go…

Livpool · 08/08/2025 11:27

While he does sound like a shitty landlord who you will be well rid of, I can understand his frustration that you haven’t left his properly yet

Housechallenge · 08/08/2025 11:27

ARichtGoodDram · 08/08/2025 10:56

Staying for bailiffs absolutely isn't unreasonable.

Anyone who has been a landlord in the last 10 years (I am one) is, or should be, well aware of their local authorities policy on housing people evicted from private renting. Going through the full legal eviction process with tenants is something landlords should be prepared for as it's a necessity for many tenants.

And in the OP's case if the landlord hadn't been one of the scum slum landlords she wouldn't have needed to be rehoused after the environmental health visit anyway as they'd have done proper repairs!

The more of the shit landlords like the OPs that sell up the better.

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Totally agree with you . I went through 2 evictions one of my landlords was a general arse. The other was nice. But regardless both landlords knew i had to go eviction route. And they were both absolutely fine with it. Its just part and parcel of being a lsndlord now and if it doesnt need to go eviction route that's a bonus. But I can understand why a LL may be pissed off i get it. But its the system not the tenant. No one want wants to go eviction route

TurraeaFloribunda · 08/08/2025 11:26

If environmental health issued an improvement notice and the landlord hasn’t done the repairs, have you reported that to environmental health? They can prosecute him or do the work and charge him.

When was the order issued? You can’t serve a Section 21 order until 6 months after an improvement notice from the council.

You should have gone to court to fight the eviction. He is clearly a dickhead but you are partly responsible for going about this the wrong way. If you have the keys to your new house today, move out today and return the keys. Tell him exactly when you will return his keys. He may try to recover his costs if he has to use bailiffs.

TBH, he is a slum landlord so he deserves everything he gets. Call environmental health today (they can’t do anything once your tenancy ends) and report him for not doing the required works. That will be a far better revenge.

DysgraphiaQueen · 08/08/2025 11:25

ThatOpenSwan · 08/08/2025 11:21

Yeah he's completely awful and it's outrageous that people are defending him. People like him should be banned from being landlords (and have the extra property they're hoarding requisitioned to provide council housing tbh).

Why do you know him personally or are you only believing one version of events.

JustBiscoff · 08/08/2025 11:24

I’m astounded at some of the replies. Are people truly suggesting that OP should make themselves and their three children homeless, to convenience a landlord who has seemingly neglected the property?

The AIBU forum can be truly heartless, but this honestly takes the piss. How many of those responses are from people on ridiculous £200k + salaries, living comfortably in their 5+ bed detached houses, I wonder?

OP is rightly putting her family’s safety first. If they have no other accommodation to move in before the new house is ready, I’m not sure what alternative they gave.

Spies · 08/08/2025 11:24

ThatOpenSwan · 08/08/2025 11:21

Yeah he's completely awful and it's outrageous that people are defending him. People like him should be banned from being landlords (and have the extra property they're hoarding requisitioned to provide council housing tbh).

It's not about defending him it's about acknowledging there are two sides here that the court will have heard and they made a decision based on all the facts that the OP is ignoring.

Whiningatwine · 08/08/2025 11:22

The court will have known your situation, they will have told you what is fair and reasonable. You have ignored that. Your landlord isn't the dickhead here.

ThatOpenSwan · 08/08/2025 11:21

Yeah he's completely awful and it's outrageous that people are defending him. People like him should be banned from being landlords (and have the extra property they're hoarding requisitioned to provide council housing tbh).

Concretejungle1 · 08/08/2025 11:21

Im confused, i thought if the court says you have to move by a date or the bailiffs will be in, i thought this was final?

Swiftie1878 · 08/08/2025 11:20

Lavender14 · 08/08/2025 11:18

It's also very possible the landlord is evicting op to try and avoid being held accountable by environmental health for the structural and health related issues in the property and take on a new tenant without spending on doing proper repairs. This happens far more than it should. We don't know that op has caused eviction worthy damage.

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We don’t and we certainly won’t get the truth from this OP.
Either way, she should have moved out as directed by the court.

Original poster

3kiddosandme · 08/08/2025 11:18

Lavender14 · 08/08/2025 11:03

I think you need to speak to a housing advice service like Shelter. Some areas like Northern Ireland also have the likes of the housing rights helpline depending on where you are it would be worth looking into who could give you free expertise on this. I think shelter would be a good shout as technically you're homeless given that you're overstaying your eviction. They might be able to negotiate with the landlord and your local authority and give you clear information on your entitlements and rights specific to the area you live in.

I would also ring the housing authority and ask for a clear timeline as to when you can get the keys for the property and I'd ask if they can put you up in temporary accommodation in between times due to the landlord being unwilling to let you stay for longer. Even if he did say initially you could hang on until the house was ready, I would imagine this was just a verbal agreement? So in that respect he's still entitled to change his mind, especially if there's work that needs done in the house that he can't do with you there.

I think if there is an argument re:damages having a tenancy advocate would also help in terms of protecting the deposit you paid on moving in. Some landlords will chance their arm and accuse a tenant of being destructive in order to claim the deposit paid and sometimes it's a genuine difference in opinion/expectation so having a 3rd party to advocate on your behalf would be beneficial.

I understand completely why staying where you are until the house is ready feels like the best option for you right now but you need a clear understanding of the consequence if there's further delays on your new house and if you could be held liable.

You say you were always up to date on rent. Have you paid rent for August given that you were meant to vacate the property in July?

Do you claim housing component of UC? I would also double check statements to ensure that is paid up to date.

Yes August rent has been paid in full on the 1st despite the fact I was supposed to recieve the keys on the 4th of august but it has been delayed

OP posts:

Lavender14 · 08/08/2025 11:18

Swiftie1878 · 08/08/2025 11:08

You’ve trashed his house and won’t move out (despite a court order to do so), but HE’S the spiteful dickhead? I don’t think so.

It's also very possible the landlord is evicting op to try and avoid being held accountable by environmental health for the structural and health related issues in the property and take on a new tenant without spending on doing proper repairs. This happens far more than it should. We don't know that op has caused eviction worthy damage.

DysgraphiaQueen · 08/08/2025 11:17

The court gave you a date to move you, you are the one who is in the wrong.

Also the landlord did not force you to live there in the first place, did he force you to rent it in the first place.

Id stop being an idiot and just move out, your new living arrangements are not his concern, he owes you nothing.

ThejoyofNC · 08/08/2025 11:16

You're taking the piss. You keep saying he told you that you could stay, he's made it pretty damn clear that he wants you out so that's completely irrelevant.

Original poster

3kiddosandme · 08/08/2025 11:15

Swiftie1878 · 08/08/2025 11:08

You’ve trashed his house and won’t move out (despite a court order to do so), but HE’S the spiteful dickhead? I don’t think so.

Okay, so ive caused, rising damp in the downstairs hallway and living room , asbestos damage to a ceiling, doors to be unsecure, front and back, bathroom floor to be unsafe due to rotting timbers, landing to be unsafe due to rotting timbers, excessive cold due to windows being poorly fitted and warped out of shape, flooring to be inadequate due to mould and damp damage, along with so many other issues, if you can explain how that's my fault id be grateful

OP posts:

Luckyingame · 08/08/2025 11:13

No, I wouldn't say so, based on your post.
But you can always choose to move somewhere else.

Swiftie1878 · 08/08/2025 11:08

You’ve trashed his house and won’t move out (despite a court order to do so), but HE’S the spiteful dickhead? I don’t think so.

Original poster

3kiddosandme · 08/08/2025 11:07

Wowthatwasabigstep · 08/08/2025 11:00

It will be so much easier for the landlord to do the repairs when you and your children are not there so I completely understand why they are not doing any whilst you are still living there.

It is the landlords property and they probably have a mortgage to service every month, refurbishment costs, legislation to comply with and then tax on the eventual income left over.

You have an alternative place to go to, why not focus your energies on chasing the housing association and getting into the new place as quickly as possible rather than antagonising your old landlord.

I have done that, ive been chasing daily for the last 3 months almost, and the delays are due to the contractor doing the refurbishment. I dont really have any contact with the current landlord except for when they're constantly emailing me every day from 9am, ive lived in this house for a pretty long time now and for the past 3 years no repairs have ever been done despite requesting them which had led to serious disrepair which I was then blamed for but like I said I got the environmental health involved so I could prove that the issues weren't down to me

OP posts:

Spies · 08/08/2025 11:05

Ok so why not continue to calmly reiterate that to the landlord and focus on the new house instead of fighting the landlord and repeatedly saying I'll let you know when I've left. Sharing the timeline would probably have helped the situation be less fraught, for all he knows you'll still be there next week or next month.

Lavender14 · 08/08/2025 11:03

I think you need to speak to a housing advice service like Shelter. Some areas like Northern Ireland also have the likes of the housing rights helpline depending on where you are it would be worth looking into who could give you free expertise on this. I think shelter would be a good shout as technically you're homeless given that you're overstaying your eviction. They might be able to negotiate with the landlord and your local authority and give you clear information on your entitlements and rights specific to the area you live in.

I would also ring the housing authority and ask for a clear timeline as to when you can get the keys for the property and I'd ask if they can put you up in temporary accommodation in between times due to the landlord being unwilling to let you stay for longer. Even if he did say initially you could hang on until the house was ready, I would imagine this was just a verbal agreement? So in that respect he's still entitled to change his mind, especially if there's work that needs done in the house that he can't do with you there.

I think if there is an argument re:damages having a tenancy advocate would also help in terms of protecting the deposit you paid on moving in. Some landlords will chance their arm and accuse a tenant of being destructive in order to claim the deposit paid and sometimes it's a genuine difference in opinion/expectation so having a 3rd party to advocate on your behalf would be beneficial.

I understand completely why staying where you are until the house is ready feels like the best option for you right now but you need a clear understanding of the consequence if there's further delays on your new house and if you could be held liable.

You say you were always up to date on rent. Have you paid rent for August given that you were meant to vacate the property in July?

Do you claim housing component of UC? I would also double check statements to ensure that is paid up to date.

Wowthatwasabigstep · 08/08/2025 11:00

It will be so much easier for the landlord to do the repairs when you and your children are not there so I completely understand why they are not doing any whilst you are still living there.

It is the landlords property and they probably have a mortgage to service every month, refurbishment costs, legislation to comply with and then tax on the eventual income left over.

You have an alternative place to go to, why not focus your energies on chasing the housing association and getting into the new place as quickly as possible rather than antagonising your old landlord.