Landlord asked me to leave, what compensation to ask for?

[Whooo]

I’m in my 20s and moved to London 5 years ago for work - renting the same apartment since.

My landlord wants to sell the apartment and issued an invalid Section 21 notice. I don’t believe this notice is valid as my deposit isn’t protected, so I mentioned it to my landlord in confusion. I added that I am happy to negotiate as ultimately I don’t want housing stress over my head.

They basically came back with a response to say, they really want vacant possession asap and are really wanting to avoid court. they have asked me if I’m willing to move out this month and essentially help them out so they can sell the property immediately as they need the money from the sale. As a starting offer they have said they will immediately refund the deposit.

I’m willing to engage with this but I am also thinking this isn’t enough. What would you ask for to facilitate this?

• for example, Royal Mail redirection costs
• I work fully from home, and to get my internet switched over will lead to me not having service for 3 days which will impact on my ability to work.
• Costs of moving my furniture/belongings and having to potentially put into storage as most places come furnished

just wanted to get feedback on if there is anything else I have missed, as it’s a stressful situation

Hahaha. And another one.

Start negotiations at 4x the deposit.

Accept no less than the legal 3x.

It's not your job to help him with his personal problems or his financial ones either.

I would have to agree. 5 years putting a roof over their head for free! Oh wait, OP was paying rent and there’s a good chance the landlord is making money out of it

have they been a good landlord to date? If so then why cause them a headache and big costs now? It's just nasty behaviour. Are you always out for what you can get in life?

“Use of their home”?
It’s the OP’s home. And she will no doubt have been paying though the roof for it

The LL should pay her off because he’s fucked up and actually owes her 3x the deposit. These laws and regulations were brought in because there were SO many dodgy landlords, they couldn’t be trusted.

The only CF is the dodgy LL here

Are you trying to be funny?

The LL didn't take in a homeless random from the streets and house them for five years rent free.

Moving unexpectedly is really expensive. This will cost OP significant amounts of time and money.

@Whooo have you considered agreeing a timeline with him?
“I realise you want to sell, would you consider the cheaper option of delaying your plans and me definitely moving out in December 26, when I’ll be in a position to buy?”

Would you be interested in buying the place you live in? That would be cost effective for you both!

It doesn't matter, does it? Obviously if it's now a rolling contract that's different but if it's fixed term for 5 years for example and she's still within that time frame, or if each year it has been renewed for a fixed year (five times) she still has a legal contract to stay there until the lease ends.

Is this a joke?

As the landlord has broken the law by not protecting her deposit they should count themselves lucky if this is all she asks for

I'd ask for 3 x deposit and a reference so you can move out and you'll only pay rent for the remaining weeks you're there. Say you'll move out when the reference goes through and your new rental is secured. If he wants you out he needs to provide a good ref anyway. You're entitled to the 3x deposit as he didn't do his legal duty.

Its either that or sit tight and let him evict you through the proper channels, save up and buy your next house as you don't need to worry about refs.

Its him who is inconveniencing you OP, he's only trying to hoof you out now before the law changes soon and you have more legal rights.

If they have returned the deposit they are no longer at fault and the section 21 is valid. It’s a long process though, so you’ve got a few months of you wanted to drag it out, but your still going to have tk move - so if they offer money, I’d take it.

If your deposit isn’t protected a section 21 notice isn’t valid.
Technically you could stay there forever. They can’t even take you to court as they haven’t followed the correct process.
Been exactly in your shoes. Contact shelter for more information.
I did move out but only because I wanted to buy somewhere.

If I were you, I'd speak to the Housing dept. at my local council. There are a lot of dodgy landlords out there who try to evict tenants without following proper procedure (which housing officers are all too aware of), so you'll probably get some good advice.

It's no wonder that new legislation had to come in when landlords:

• dont follow well established current legislation (deposit protection , notice requirements)
• Try to get tenants who have never caused an issue out with little notice

Flumoxed by anyone supporting the landlord in this scenario. The landlord wants her out at breakneck speed, and hasnt followed the law, ergo the discomfort needs to be on him. If a deposit protection wasnt put in place she can actually stay there forever!! I wouldnt however be too difficult just because I wouldnt feel safe in a house where someone else had a key and they didnt want me there. You have some good advice on how to get the best outcome for you

Ask them 4 times the deposit to start with as that what they will need to pay if you take them to court over it , plus moving expenses . Do not accept less than that . If they are smaller enough they will pay because court will cost them more and they will still need to pay the deposits

Definitely speak to shelter. However by not protecting your deposit, I think the landlord can be on the hook to pay you 3x your deposit if it went to court.

The Op might get awarded 3x deposit but if he has no money how is he going to pay it? The house will probably take at least 6 months to sell and might be mortgaged up to the hilt. He won't be paying out thousands to the op if he is desperate for money.

I think you should look for a place and go from there. We rent and have moved three times in three years - I'm not sure of your idea that internet is down for three days?
He can transfer your deposit into a scheme now and then claim section 21 I think.

Do you have a timeframe for saving up?
If you aren’t difficult or threatening now, so your landlord feels secure about being able to take vacant possession in the near future, you might be able to arrange to stay longer. For example, you think you will have a deposit ready to buy within 6 months and will be a cash buyer, you could say you reasonably expect to complete a purchase later this year.

Legal action, the same way you would with anyone who owes you money

Maybe you could offer to buy the place you are renting.

Clearly they haven't been a good landlord!
No annual gas safety checks puts the tenant at risk
No EICR (electrical inspection condition report) also puts the tenant at risk.
Not protecting the deposit leaves the tenant vulnerable and risks the landlord being in sole control about whether it is returned at the end of the tenancy.
This landlord is clearly an appalling landlord who has deliberately shirked their legal requirements to save themselves money. There is no excuse for this. A simple google would inform the landlord of their legal responsibility.
As a landlord myself, I'm very resentful that these sorts of landlords have created a situation whereby landlords are viewed so negatively, and that increased legislation has been necessary.

No he can’t it has to be done within IIRC 30 days

Nasty attitude of the land barons on here. Others looking down on renters. No it's not doing a tenant a favour to let them rent your house, you make a profit and are obliged to follow legal requirements.