Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that my (upcoming) landlord should pay to put me in a hotel?

260 replies

RogelioMyBrogelio · 27/08/2018 08:32

I’m due to move into a flat next Monday, but unfortunately I’ve had a call today to say that the upstairs flat has had a burst pipe and my (soon to be) flat has significant damage to the ceiling, walls and electrics. An insurance assessor is coming tomorrow apparently, but my new (upcoming) landlord says I won’t be moving in next week by the looks of it. I’ve asked if she can put me up in a hotel until then, as my current tenancy ends next week too. She has said no as the new tenancy hasn’t started so she doesn’t have me covered on her insurance, and I also haven’t signed a contract (she did send me one but I was just gonna leave it until the day I moved in to sign it). I have given her a month’s deposit, which she has protected and is offering to send back to me today out her own pocket so I don’t have to claim, but what I really want is to be in that flat! a contract has been drawn up and dated 2 weeks ago so AIBU to think that the protections stipulated in that contract should apply to me (it says in the case of emergencies that the landlord will put the tenants up in a hotel)

OP posts:
MilkybarGrownup · 27/08/2018 11:41

I'm with everyone else here. I used to let properties and I'm afraid this is little more than a rescinded offer before it has been accepted. The LL owes nothing other than the return of the deposit.
Now had the tenant moved in or paid any rent then signed lease or not, that is acceptance and commencement of tenancy and the LL is legally responsible to stick to her side of a basic AST.

Unfortunately the OP being willing to potentially leave the LL last minute in the shit without a tenant had her work situation changed, has massively backfired. Sorry OP. You'll have to look elsewhere.

bigmouthstrikesagain · 27/08/2018 11:41

Not a magic bullet definitely not - but they should at least set out expectations and be accountable for their advice. I am saying that if the op wants accountable advice she can get it. Online forums are useful but you have no way of verifying what you are told, without doing some independent research. The advice agencies are there to enable people to understand the reality of a situation and prepare for issues that might arise not to magically solve their problems.

Nikephorus · 27/08/2018 11:48

You didn’t want any obligation to your landlord but now you are making up obligations for her to provide for you
This ^^. It all sounds very two-faced to me. Would you have been offering to pay her the rent anyway if you pulled out at the last minute?!

Onthebrink87 · 27/08/2018 11:50

She has even offered to give you the deposit back from her own pocket rather than you having to claim it back and that can take weeks sometimes. She has no obligation to do so, she is just trying to be kind under ther circumstances. I hope she's on mn and reads this and changes her mind. You sound like a chance and are bvu. You have no legal rights to anything from her so give it up already.

goodgirls · 27/08/2018 11:50

I have a deposit protection certificate dated from the day I was supposed to move in, for 6 months. I know it’s not a contract, but surely that would count as an acceptance of my tenancy?

No, that is purely about protecting your deposit. You have not signed a contract and you have not moved in. They are not your landlord yet and you are not their tenant yet, so you cannot claim legal protections offered to a tenant. You are not the tenant of that flat and you are not entitled to be put up in a hotel as if you were the tenant of that flat.

Confusedbeetle · 27/08/2018 12:12

Doris Dog this is s abit sad, I rent in a town where the culture for young people has always been to rent not buy. Good landlords will provide good quality homes, well maintained for a fair rent so please don't paint us all as villains. The profit covers the mortgage interest ( not pays it off) as they are Buy to Let Interest-only mortgages. There is not a big income made as we maintain to a high level. Those who think the landlord will be easily covered by insurance, I would never claim under these circumstances as the cover is not applicable. Cover for damage has an excess of £1000, and for a tenant who does not pay rent does not kick in for six months. The alarm signals for this landlord would be not signing the AST . Sometimes I think MN is simply anti MIL, anti Landlord, Anti men , anti Brexit, anything else?

TerfsUp · 27/08/2018 12:26

Sometimes I think MN is simply anti MIL, anti Landlord, Anti men , anti Brexit, anything else?

Eh? Did you read the thread? Just about everyone has said that the would-be landlord has acted in an ethical manner and that the OP needs to stop being an arse.

wowfudge · 27/08/2018 12:53

FFS OP - you haven't signed the AST although you have paid a deposit which has been offered back to you. Either wait it out and see what happens with the flat or just find somewhere else.

RB68 · 27/08/2018 12:59

Honestly you are better off NOT moving in if there is that much damage then there will be work for a few months I would have thought. I would maybe ask her for a week in a premier inn or similar plus something towards storage while you find something else. I would think that accepting the deposit is thin ground if contract not signed and would mean a legal fight and all that involves and mean while you still not housed

SillyMoomin · 27/08/2018 13:04

Stop whining op and go search in rightmove

TerfsUp · 27/08/2018 13:04

I would maybe ask her for a week in a premier inn or similar plus something towards storage while you find something else.

The OP is in a situation of her own making and it is up to her to sort out.

The would-be landlord has no moral or legal obligation to the OP, who is in this position because she lied. Said ll has gone above and beyond by offering to refund the deposit out of her own pocket.

Golde · 27/08/2018 13:10

Legally you don't stand anywhere.

You'll have to stay put u til it's ready or find an alternative, without a signed contact the LL has no obligation to you.

I'm sure it's a total PITA though.

Somanymistakes · 27/08/2018 14:39

You keep clearing on about “where do you stand legally?”

You need to rephrase your question because you have been told the answer to that. What you mean is
“Can I fuck over the landlord - I was intending to fuck over myself and who has behaved entirely correctly in this situation, for my own benefit.”

Or

“How can I make money out of her?”

Hope that helps.

Somanymistakes · 27/08/2018 14:47

@dorisdog
What the fuck does that have to do with anything?
This is a good landlord who is behaving in an entirely correct manner. The OP wants to find a way of making money out of her and behaved in a shitty manner herself.

Why should this LL put herself out for the OP? She has had a flood damage her flat. She hasn't just changed her mind. The flat is not inhabitable. She will loose money but that is the LL issue. But you think she should also pay for the OP? Get over yourself. You have a huge chip on your shoulder.

RolyRocks · 27/08/2018 14:56

But she is potentially going to be homeless, so a bit of sympathy rather than snipey bitchiness wouldn’t go amiss.

She has specifically said that she can easily extend the tenancy on her current place, just doesn’t want to. The hyperbole about ‘homelessness’ doesn’t help anyone.

drJava · 27/08/2018 15:02

This is a wonderful read.

I used to own 7 small properties but sold them all due to Brexit chavvy, entitled chancers like the OP thinking they're owed something by the world.

I know this isn't how karma works, but if it was, this would be a fantastic example.

zucchinicourgette · 27/08/2018 15:04

I don’t even understand why you would want to enforce your unsigned contract.

From what you say, the damage is extensive so it’s going to take weeks or months for the flat to be habitable. If you start the tenancy as planned you will have to start paying rent. And then live in a travelodge for weeks or months until the flat is ready?

You’re far better off extending your current lease for a month and looking for somewhere else.

dorisdog · 27/08/2018 15:16

Somanymistakes I didn't mention the OPs situation. I was referring to some of the very telling comments on here about how people view tenants (and less well off people generally.) Plenty of people are discussing the wider issues around the subject.

And if pointing out issues about housing poverty and inequality, and the way some people look down on others, is 'having a chip on my shoulder,' so be it.

optimusprimesmother · 27/08/2018 15:24

Maybe she heard what an utter entitled arse you are and back the fuck out.

No way will you ever be moving in that place now Grin

optimusprimesmother · 27/08/2018 15:28

Drjava snap !

Thatsfuckingshit · 27/08/2018 15:37

I am a home owner. Until 8 weeks ago I rented. I think the OP is a cheeky cow.

She wanted to be under no obligation to her landlord, but wants the landlord to be obligated to her. Takes the absolute piss.

CoraPirbright · 27/08/2018 15:37

OP has now toddled off to Legal Matters and asked the exact same question and is getting her arse handed to her on that thread as well. Hmm Grin

Thatsfuckingshit · 27/08/2018 15:39

CoraPirbright Grin

Mummyoflittledragon · 27/08/2018 15:40

dorisdog
I’ve reread the thread and I really can’t see that people are looking down at op for being a renter not owner. There will be plenty of people on this thread, who also don’t own their home.

Mummyoflittledragon · 27/08/2018 15:43

Cora
I missed it unfortunately been deleted.

I imagine this will be the last we vipers Wink hear from op.