Evicted for the 2nd time in less than a year!

[EvictedAgain]

AIBU to think this is just untenable?

Lsst landlord wanted to sell but did it really sneakily insisting we allowed viewings 4 months into a one year contract. We didn’t of course so were served with a Section 21 after 6 months.

We had to take current property last August (£500 month more than last place as nowhere else available). Now been served another Section 21 as landlord is not happy that we refused to pay for a professional gardener (his mate) which wasn’t in contract, or allow him to take the toilet seat that’s been in the property. This is revenge because he was unhappy about having to fix the shower and faulty dishwasher!

We are a large family and have loads of stuff. I can’t believe we’re having to pack up and move again!

AIBU to think that LL’s shouldn’t have the power to kick people out of their homes at whim and notice should be 6 months not two months?

We are landlords.
If the hedge required specialist tools or a professional, it is for the LL to fund / arrange this.
It is reasonable for a tenant to cut the lawn and keep weeds etc at bay (provided tools are provided) but it is not reasonable to expect that scale of works.
The hedge maintenance is in the fields of maintaining the boiler - for the landlord to do as specialist equipment and knowledge is required.

£400 a year is so expensive for a gardener twice a year. Especially as you didn't agree to it when you signed the contract. If it was me I'd have pruned the hedges right down. It's best in winter before the birds nest. Maybe your husband didn't do a good enough job.

As for the toilet seat I'd have let the landlord take it, as long as it was in writing otherwise he could try and claim for it out of your deposit. Unfortunately, large families can find it hard to rent due to private landlords not being able to get insurance if the house is overcrowding and they can now get fined. So it's better to keep on the landlords good side.

Theres a Facebook page called 'tenancy matters' which can help you get advice.

Hi OP, I really feel for you! Landlords have been abusing S21 laws for years, we were served one for not agreeing to renewing the tenancy 2 months before it expired?! As soon as we signed they retracted it - they just wanted to bully us into the astronomical rent increase and throw their weight around. I wouldn't mind but they hadn't given any prior warning or even chased the new contract so I thought we had time. Next thing I know I've got their odd job man on our doorstep serving us notice

Anyway, have you checked this link? https://www.gov.uk/evicting-tenants/section-21-and-section-8-notices There are certain criteria that the landlord must have fulfilled before they can serve an S21 - worth a read.

Good luck

At last someone with some empathy.

We ended up renting when house sale fell through. School lined up so moved and rented to live, and (eventually) rented out the house we own.

After 1 year got s21, so LL could sell, so 2nd house in 12 months. Now 5 mknth

It's a pain being a tenant. There is no security and it's not worth your dosh to sort simple things out when you inly have a year contract - but landlord won't do it either. So just remains substandard.

Reading attitudes here, I am becoming scared to raise things with the landlord in case it leads to s21.

Being a landlord is a pain too. Tenants don't have same attitude to looking after the house, and refuse to communicate. The agents are sly dogs, in it for a quick buck and an easy life, rather than really looking after your interests or your tenants.

@RedTitsMcGinty couldn’t have said it any better.

Leylandii should be trimmed in mild weather, Spring or early summer; absolutely NOT in January

Stay put, tell him that if he wants you out before end of contract, he will have to go to court to get an eviction order

If you don't want tenant issues, then buy a property and stop being a tenant.

Remember, it is not your property. Repeat, it is NOT YOUR PROPERTY.

Do you honestly truly think its that simple?

It's really not that easy for some people.

By Christ, you've solved the rental crisis, we just all need to stop renting and buy our own properties.

Problem solved, thanks to you!

Hallelujah!

But why pay a gardener if you do the garden yourself?

Noone can force a tenant to do that unless they're not doing the garden.

But I'd've let him take the toilet seat, seriously its of absolutely no consequence.

Good look @EvictedAgain

Housing costs, whether owned or rented, always find their level, as with anything with a supply and demand balance.

Rents are high because people will pay more due to lack of supply. A LLs priority is to have some rent coming in....if rents were "too high" properties would be empty. Obviously not every property is afforfor everyone.
Same with house prices/mortgages.

But if no-one was allowed to be a profit making LL and all rentals were via NP HAs what would happen?
HAs would struggle to maintain the aging housing stock....without the extra cash from higher rents they don't have the funds to invest.
Without profits to give to share holders there would be no ability to borrow.

I think you described yourself really well.

Your LL was unreasonable about the hedge. Re. The toilet seat. As long as the plumber replaced it with another one, I wouldn’t be bothered about him taking it.

It sounds like your LL wants you out, tbh.

If you don’t want to be evicted you need to buy a property. It’s theirs if they need to sell they need to sell. Why should they have to wait?

Not a LL, but you sound very unpleasant and seem to be on the edge, looking for something to get angry over with places you rent.

The LL's do have the right to want their properties kept neat and nice the WHOLE time the renters are there.

That said, the LL should have just added 35 quid a month to the rent and paid for the gardener themselves, or let you shop around.

The toilet seat was a strange hill to die on, imho.

I hope you find a place that fits your needs and has a LL you can get along with this move.

Your responses on here to anyone who disagrees with you shows your character. Landlords will keep on evicting you as soon as they can due to your poor presentation of a counter argument.

Learn how to negotiate with some charm and you will find yourself being evicted less. Unfortunately you present yourself as a nightmare person to deal with on things others would resolve amicably without a blink.

The landlord was probably being lenient not stipulating a specific gardner, but then OP did a shit job. I bet it will now be in the contract for the next tenant. LL are usually pretty lenient, until they have one or two PITA tenants and then they start to get tougher as you can't rely on people just to be decent. Not a LL myself, but seen it happen so much

You sound like a lovely tenant 🥴
maybe look at the hassle and cost of moving your family and check your entitlement a little bit?

landlord might not be great but like anything building good relationships is key- you sound like you enjoy getting one over the landlord.

big picture time on this one and you’d still have a roof over your head - albeit with a different toilet seat and trimmed hedges!

Yes because it's so easy to magic half a million quid out of thin air.

Why on earth do you need half a million to buy a house? You need a deposit and to live within your means.

I think you took the poster who said this to literally. A deposit to buy is alot of money. There are also many reasons people can't buy. If it was really as simple as you think it is. why are so maby people renting .

Why on earth would I lie about that? Do you think I can’t read a tenancy agreement?

Well, the OP certainly is getting a lot of practice. 😬