to tell him to stop paying rent?

[Ilikepizza]

Nc for this!

My boyfriend has moved into a temp houseshare. The landlady said 'we don't do contracts' and it was week to week rent payments. There's no smoke alarms in the rooms/fire doors/fire blankets or extinguishers. There's also no Internet yet as they rented all the room within 10 days of completion (they've only just taken it on but have other houses). He's been there two weeks. It's quite a lot of rent for the area, and I'm pretty sure she's trying to do this as an 'under the radar' HMO. At the very least he's not getting what was advertised, but it's probably only for a few more weeks. Wwyd? I kind of want to suggest he stops paying rent until he gets Internet and smoke alarms!

He has no contract so isnt legally protected at all. She can kick him out whenever she likes.

Of course there is no legal requirement to provide wifi, that is not a necessity.

All things considered why on earth did he move in without a contract in the place? Thats as dodgy as hell. He needs to report her as the house isnt safe to live in, she is a landlady and has rules to follow. She cannot legally rent without safety checks and smoke alarms. He needs to find somewhere else, why is he paying over the odds for this place?

Dont be daft, stopping paying rent will have him on the street in a heartbeat. He chose to stay there and if he remains knowing what the place is like he has to pay rent.
She can put his things out on the street, change the locks and claim anything about him she likes he hasnt got a leg to stand on.

Why did he move in without any tenancy or anything? Was there really no where else for him to go not even with you temporarily?

By all means "tell" a grown man not to pay his rent to see what she does, but he will be in for a few very stressful weeks

Not all shared properties have locks on the bedroom doors, in my house share days I never had bedroom locks

Surely he should just move out - he can't have paid far in advance if there will still be rent to pay. Is he paying weekly? Did he pay a deposit?

He should look for somewhere else to live in my opinion. No point in risking being made homeless (having locks changed whilst he's at work or wherever, or having it closed down by the council) until he has somewhere else to go! Then report to the council and they will shut it down as an illegal HMO.

Report to council. Most HMOs need to be registered and the landlady should have a licence. She is probably doing it cash in hand too to avoid tax etc. Make sure any deposit he has paid is being protected too or she will just keep it and get receipts for everything!

Anything she tries (changing the locks etc) would have repercussions as his belongings are there.

Don't be so naive. She'll dump his stuff on the front doorstep.

BandeauSally it's not naive. As I said, my uncle is a letting agent. Let her try

I think there is a 28 day period to produce a Gas certificate. If he's that concerned he / you could report her to the council for non compliance re. Smoke alarms , fire doors etc.

She's doing so many things wrong I doubt she will balk at two more, changing the locks and dumping his stuff.

He needs to move out. Then report.

If you're telling him anything, tell him to move out and find somewhere else

Your uncle isn't working for her. It's nothing to do with him.

Willow2017 he knows the law though and what the likely recourse is.

He needs to extricate himself from this dodgy situation with the minimum amount of hassle. Not go in all guns blazing based what she technically is and isn't allowed to do to him/his stuff/his door lock. It won't stop her doing it anyway, and the fact that there will be repercussions for her later on aren't going to be much immediate consolation when he's out on the street with (if he's lucky) his stuff in bin bags.

People do things they shouldn't. He can deal with this but he needs to protect himself as he does so. Withholding rent will send the whole situation tits up very quickly.

He needs to extricate himself from this dodgy situation with the minimum amount of hassle. Not go in all guns blazing based what she technically is and isn't allowed to do to him/his stuff/his door lock. It won't stop her doing it anyway, and the fact that there will be repercussions for her later on aren't going to be much immediate consolation when he's out on the street with (if he's lucky) his stuff in bin bags.

Yup. Honestly, you have one solicitor (hello) and several LL (special etc) on here all chiming in with the same advice. Withholding rent with no notice isn't the way to go.

Even if your uncle is planning to cite the 'verbal tennancy agreement' thing your bf still has to stick to the agreement i.e pay rent or they are in the wrong. It doesnt give him the right to withold rent.

Why did he move in without an agreement and knowing what was included? Taking the moral high ground at this point to try and get free accommodation is a dick move imo.

He hasn't a leg to stand on really, he should just move out. Until then he is using the room, and I would buy a smoke alarm for £15 and take it with me when I go.

WiFi has never been included in any 'bills inc' deal I have seen

Bills included doesn't include internet access. It means power, water and council tax.

Of course he should not stop paying rent!

He should leave asap and get somewhere better, but he shouldn't get a freebie cos there's no flipping WiFi ffs!!

The HMO regs are there for a reason.

Please don't support bad landlords. Especially not when they are more expensive!

Why?? Just why???