Witholding my rent AIBU

[littledragon99]

I'm a woman in my late 40s, living in a 3-bed Victorian terrace in West London, where I pay £1,200 a month with all bills included. I signed an AST in May.
I work in recruitment and DJ on the side. Despite being skilled in my job, financial difficulties have arisen following my mother’s death, and I've struggled with timely rent payments. I’m currently in therapy to manage my depression.
Recently, my landlady has begun Airbnb-ing the living room, removing the communal space I was paying for. Given this change, I believe the £1,200 rent is no longer justified.
Additionally, she inappropriately contacted my boss, (my boss was my reference) about paying rent directly and has threatened eviction. I’ve consulted Citizens Advice and suspect my deposit wasn’t placed in a Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS), which may breach legal requirements.
Due to these issues, I’ve withheld my rent since August 1st and am prepared to take further action if needed.

Council won't help if you're evicted for not paying rent. You're then 'intentionally homeless' and they have no obligation to do anything.

Nope, i get paid in 2 weeks but i've gone no contact with the LL as don't know how to deal

You need to pay the rent or find somewhere else. Don't make up excuses not to pay. You are the problem not the landlord.

Well you are an absolute fool OP. You are heading for deep shit and its all your own doing.

Going no contact is a really bad idea. You need to keep her updated.

You are a horror tenant.

So landords have 30 days to protect the deposit once they receive it.

You say you're two weeks into arrears but don't get paid until another two weeks time. Surely then you're due to pay again so are you going to pay 2 months rent?

OP, why are you not going to pay your rent? L?? Where will your pay go? Pure madness!!

You can’t just go no contact with your landlady wtf 😬

Do you even want to live there because you sound like you don’t. Trying to find little gotchas and not paying rent.

You can’t just decide oh well I’m going to pay half now and some later. Jesus. Your lucky rent payment are not on credit files. I think they should be tbh.

You are your own worst enemy. How did you even end up in this house share. Your poor reference provider must regret their choices.

So op can’t pay the rent, had never paid on time and is now looking at any excuse not to pay? Absolute nightmare tenant and at this rate is heading for homelessness of their own making. There are no rights here. Op has not been paying rent.

So you will be a month behind on rent by the time you get paid. Will you be able to pay two months rent at once?

You are out as soon as she legally can get you out. She may have to pay the deposit x 3 etc, maybe not since you seem to be confused about months from your previous posts, but if so, you can use that for a new place. But don't expect a reference from her.

Pondering out loud here.

If the landlady moved back in.. would than end the ops ast on the end date and then transfer her to a lodger….

Unfortunately for the landlord it does make it a bit more difficult to get her out:

If your landlord has not protected your deposit properly or given you the prescribed information in the right time period, then it should be difficult for them to evict you with a section 21 notice (this is an eviction notice for tenants).

Your rent is two weeks late now, and you won't get paid for another 2 weeks so you aren't going to pay this months rent until its 4 weeks late?
Won't next months rent be due then? Are you going to pay both together?

Also - how did you sign a rental contract without having to sign order form? When ever I was renting (last contract was 5 years ago) I had to sign a standing order form as part of the papers when I was signing the contract. Rent then came out of my account automatically.
Top tip - have a accommodation bank account. My payslip goes into my current account, the next day I have a standing order which moves money to cover mortgage/rent into another of my accounts. Standing order takes out housing money when its due. I don't need to think about it, and day to day money can't impact housing money. Took me about 5 mins to set up 10 years ago when I started working. Used the account to pay rent and now mortgage.

Yes, it will.do, but I bet she'll be trying her best. I would be. Not talking to her is really not helping.

It doesn't seem you are doing yourself any favours here. Any housing advisory service will tell you that withholding rent is never a solution. You say you have been late paying every month 'if you are honest' and are now not paying at all. Obviously you can't just live there free of charge.

@littledragon99 what have you spent your money on??

I have looked at TDS - she has protected the deposit but 2 months late, and i never got a certificate

I have debts/overdrafts and credit cards as i had a business that went bust previously

You’re making a major problem for yourself because

1. your current landlord won’t give you a reference if you don’t pay your rent
2. your employer is your referee for the rent

Baby steps

1. email your landlord apologising for the delay in paying
2. set up a chat with Shelter. Do this now. They are busy and you need a chat where you can get detailed advice.
3. you will need to tell your employer that you’ve fallen behind with the rent

@littledragon99 so what are you planning to do? You will owe two months rent any the end of the month!

YABVU! You have so many excuses! West London is a very expensive area! Why can't you move to a place that suits your income!

So now you don’t have that leg to stand on either, as it’s protected.

so the deposit is fine, you don’t hav4 a right to the living room. and the bottom line is you can’t afford to live there and should never have rented it, and don’t have the money to pay this months rent,

As PPs suggest, you'd be well advised to bundle all of the necessary information together and seek advice on MSE.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/categories/house-buying-renting-selling

The advice there should set you up to talk to Shelter etc. and form a clear picture of what to do.

However, you need a clear vision of what you want.

@littledragon99 why are you so bothered about the deposit at this rate you’ll owe the LL so much you’ll never be entitled to it back!!