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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to lie about my address?

32 replies

RosesAreBetter · 29/08/2012 10:05

My LL is a nightmare, I desperately want to move but he refuses to let me, he sabotages any application I make for a new house by giving awful references and making up lies about me.

I have tried to warn the agents/LL's about the curent LL's false reference and that he is lying because he doesn't want me to move, and he is generally just a horrible man, but his reference still caused my application to be rejected.

I have tried everything but the only solution I can come up with is to not give the new agent/LL my curent LL's details, so he doesn't get to give a bad reference.

The suggestions I have been given are;

Give a friends address in place of LL's on the application. - the only problem with this being that I'm not sure I have anyone who I could ask to do this.

Say I don't live here anymore, that I am staying with my parents and that I had to move out so the LL could move in, then give this address for the LL and write the reference myself.

Does anyone have any other suggestions?

OP posts:

MrsJREwing · 29/08/2012 10:13

Pay rent upfront for six months, no references are needed, just lots of money.

Paiviaso · 29/08/2012 10:13

Do you need to state that you were living at that address at all? (can they find out you lived there)? Can you use references from your boss and work colleagues to show that there are people who think you are responsible and genuine? Do you have any other housing references who will be positive?

Bizzarely, I've never moved into a house where the landlady has asked for references. 4 houses in 6 years, and not a single reference was asked for. I have always rented privately, and it appears they are happy enough just meeting me :/Perhaps you can find a private landlord/lady who doesn't ask?

Floggingmolly · 29/08/2012 10:17

Why doesn't he want you to move? Is he stalking you? It sounds creepy, move back in with your parents (or just give their address) and there'll be no reference required. Definitely get out, though.

JazzAnnNonMouse · 29/08/2012 10:19

Just use a friend

littleducks · 29/08/2012 10:19

We kept it sweet with our previous LL even though they be and complete PITA after we gave notice. We then didn't need a reference! We rented from an agency that credit checks you then takes out done kind of insurance with 'letsure' instead, apparently they found references to be too easily faked so go in meeting you and credit scores instead.

As a side note watch your deposit, our LL waved goodbye saying we left the house in the best condition then cancelled the cheque

featherbag · 29/08/2012 10:25

When I was in a similar situation I just told the new LL/LA that the relationship between me and old LL was bad through no fault of my own, that I didn't trust him to give a reference at all, let alone a good one, and would they accept a record of my rent standing order from the bank (on bank paper) to show I'd always paid my rent on time? There was no problem with that, they were apparently used to LL's being twats.

Original poster

RosesAreBetter · 29/08/2012 10:27

The LL doesn't want me to move because the house was empty for several years before I moved in, and he is certain that he will not be able to find another tennant, and he needs my rent to pay the mortgages on both this house, his home and the flat his daughter lives in, so of I moved out and he didn't find another tennant immidiatly he would become homeless.
He ha given me this sob story several times, and while I am sympathetic to an extent it is not my problem, and is not going to be the reason that I stay in a house that I hate.

I can't afford to pay 6 months upfront I'm afraid.

OP posts:

squeakytoy · 29/08/2012 10:29

I would lie and use my parents address.

Margerykemp · 29/08/2012 10:31

Contact Shelter this may constitute harassment of a tenant, which is illegal.

MrsJREwing · 29/08/2012 10:35

move in with your parents, he is a low life harming you and its his priblem if he over extended his finances.

Original poster

RosesAreBetter · 29/08/2012 10:46

For various reason I can't actually move into my parents house.

I just want to move out of this house.

OP posts:

bubalou · 29/08/2012 10:53

I would also say I am staying at my parents house.

Have you lived somewhere before this with a nice landlord that you could use as a reference instead?

Even if it's a friend who maybe you can say you rented a room from?

By the way he sounds like a prick.

MrsJREwing · 29/08/2012 10:53

well find a ll who doesnt need referenced or report your ll to the police and shelter?

Blondeshavemorefun · 29/08/2012 11:23

i would use a friend and say you rented a room from them but obv dont say it was a friend

how long have you lived there, if a while then surely you cant be that bad tenant, or he would have kicked you out - maybe say that to the next people you are renting from -show bank statements to say you have paid on time every month etc

RuleBritannia · 29/08/2012 19:40

Of course, he'll get another tenant. He has only to notify the local Council that he has accommodation available.

MrsTerryPratchett · 29/08/2012 19:45

I work in housing (in Canada) and we tell people to ignore the current LL. If they hate you they could give you a good reference to get rid or they could do what your current LL is doing.

Things I would advise:
Tell prospective LLs that the situation is bad where you are.

Get as many personal and LL references as you can from others. Glowing ones.
Get a guarantor.
Get your financial records to show that you have always paid rent.
Pictures of your current place (with a newspaper with today's date so they know it is current)

JazzAnnNonMouse · 29/08/2012 20:09

Would he give you a good reference if you found a tenant? Gumtree etc?

Original poster

RosesAreBetter · 29/08/2012 21:32

I don't think he will get another tennant in here easily.
The place needs a lot of work. There is damp and the central heating is completely broken.
He would probably have to spend quite a bit on the house to get it up to letting standards, and I have already spend quite a bit decorating it myself.

To be honest the house has potential to be lovely, which is what I hoped when I moved in, but the LL just doesn't have the money to do any work on it.
I definitely don't think the council would want to find him a tenant.

I don't really understand why he is a LL to be honest, he is really bad at it, I think in his mind he had envisioned buying a 'bargain' house and letting it out for twice the mortgage payments and making himself a good profit, but the reality is not quite as simple, he has always expected far too much from me as a tenant. In winter the boiler broke down, he tried to fix it himself but failed. I asked a plumber friend to look at it and he said it was ancient and dangerous and needed replacing, but he offered to do it at 'mates rates' for me as a favour. I told the LL this and he was really angry with me for contacting a plumber and said he would fix it himself.
I was without hot water or heating for over 10 weeks before he finally gave in and agreed to replace it. Except he didn't get a professional in, he bought a second hand boiler that looked older than the first one and fitted it himself with the help of a friend.
I had to call out my plumber friend to check it for me because I was concerned that it was not fitted by a pro and it is in a cupboard in the dc's bedroom.
It wasn't actually fitted safely and my friend said it is in worse condition than the last one. Also the heating hasn't worked since.
I was so worried about it I ended up making the dc's swap bedrooms with me, just in case.

It a nightmare. I just want to move.

OP posts:

Enfyshedd · 29/08/2012 23:08

Did your friend tell you that your LL broke the law by fitting the boiler himself? I'm guessing that he and his friend aren't registered with Gas Safe (new name for Corgi). I'd be moving back with my parents anyway!

Enfyshedd · 29/08/2012 23:12

He was probably shitting himself when you said you'd had a plumber around himself as he can be prosecuted for fitting a boiler when not qualified - I have a plumber friend who was fined because he didn't check that a friend who he outsourced some work to had his up to date certificates (he didn't have them, and made a mistake which meant the homeowner contacted Gas Safe which led to the prosecution).

SmellsLikeTeenStrop · 29/08/2012 23:17

It's shitty landlord week on MN.

Could you get a qualified gas engineer out to look at your boiler? I'm assuming he hasn't been providing annual gas safety check on your boiler, would you be prepared to report him to the council?

If you make yourself a PITA he might decide it's more trouble having you there than letting you go.

UnexpectedItemInShaggingArea · 29/08/2012 23:24

Lie, get the hell out of there and then rat him out to the police for breaking the law - his boiler needs a gas safety certificate.

Or, stop paying your rent and get him to evict you!

It's always shitty landlord week on MN. There are too many of them out there

WhereYouLeftIt · 30/08/2012 00:05

UnexpectedItemInShaggingArea has a point there. He doesn't want you to leave because you pay your rent. What would he be like if you stopped paying? Surely not so keen? It would remove his incentive to give you poor references. And you could put it towards advance payment on your next home.

samandi · 30/08/2012 00:13

Of course you can give a friend's address, surely there must be someone? As another poster said private landlords often don't ask for so many/any references. But don't make the same mistake again and get a place in decent condition. He should also be reported for the boiler - that is incredibly dangerous. His finances are definitely not your problem.

Original poster

RosesAreBetter · 30/08/2012 01:04

I knew it was illegal and really unsafe, that's why I had my Gas Safe registered friend take a look at it to make sure it was safe.

The LL is just very cheap and lazy.
I did threaten to stop paying my rent, or use the rent to pay for the new boiler, when it broke in November, which is why he eventually came and 'fixed' it.
I have tried to withhold rent in the hopes of getting other things fixed, like the heating and draughty windows, but he just turns up on the 1st of the month regardless and refuses to leave until I pay him the rent.
I have threatened to call the police but he doesn't listen, and says he will take the cash or goods to the value of the rent 'it's my call'

I would just pack my stuff and leave, but I don't have anywhere else to go. I don't have any close friends in the area and I'm not that close with my family (even if the could give us somewhere to stay).
Which is why I am so desperate to get a new house.

There are very few private LL in my area, so there isn't much choice other than agent let houses.
I found this house through an agent, but it was transferred to LL managed after the application ect.
When I viewed it the agent said the LL has big plans for the house, and would offer reduced rent if someone was willing to move in while it was being renovated. They even listed the things he was planning to do to the house.
None of them happened. :(

OP posts:

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