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.

You are taking OPs word that she paid on the dates she said, how did she pay? Are these manual bank transfers? That she can't manage to set up or cash withdrawls, if she paid cash she will need a receipt to prove she paid when she said she did and the deposit was protected late.

Your advice might be perfectly sound but you might not be getting sound information.

You don't have proof that LL doesn't live there at all. Two rooms are AST, yours is 6 months. The other may have a similar ending date. Another room is Air BnB, your LL hasn't officially moved out at all if her stuff is also still in the house. She could have been moving in to help a relative for a few months or trialling living with a new partner for all you know.

Not too ill to post here looking for loopholes.

You'll be evicted soon, that's priority, no?

There isn't any loss of room.
There is no mention of the living room on the AST.
She's paying for a bedroom and use of kitchen and bathroom
None of that has changed
Given the number of posts indicating her lack of finances it's clear that she cannot actually afford to live there.
She needs to move out

So this has been going on for quite a long time then? Even though you stated you were able to get on with things at work? When did your mum pass away?

Why would you decide to move to London into an expensive rented room when you had such significant financial and mental health issues? Have you got friends and family nearby that encouraged you to relocate?

I got offered a good job and was trying to have a new start. Full transparency I take coke at the weekends as it works as anti-depressant and helps with my severe ADHD. I can see this will make the most patient of posters lose hope here so I’ll probably sign off and say thankyou for all your advice you’ve all been patient and mostly kind

You're not paying your rent but you're paying for coke?? You honestly need to be getting appropriate MH and ADHD support with appropriately prescribed medication, not self medicating with coke.

Are you taking ADHD meds op? Hope you're able to work things out.

No just coffee & coke

Who has told you that cocaine works as an antidepressant OP?

You're prioritising buying illegal drugs over paying your rent? Is this a wind up? You're plummeting in the direction of street homelessness, if you don't get rent up to date sharpish.

Christ on a bike

I thought I'd seen it all on MN

1. Stop blaming everything on ADHD - take some bloody responsibility for yourself and your life

1. Move somewhere you can actually afford

1. Stop the coke - you can't have your cake and eat it. In this case, have your coke and a roof over your head

1. Pull your head out of your arse - this is what happens when you don't deal with grown-up life

Oh, OP, you sound like a nightmare tenant.

You know you have ADHD. Get yourself on some meds that will help, and set up a DD to pay rent on time.

Your poor landlord.

To get adhd meds you have to have a psych assessment which is in the thousands !

OP, gently, do you realise caffeine and cocaine aren't medications and aren't actually helping either your MH or ADHD? Are you getting any proper support for these? I've read your posts but don't think you've covered this (sorry if I've missed it).

Edit: Cross-posted. You've probably spent the equivalent of a private ADHD assessment in cocaine by now. Have you gone on an NHS waiting list?

@littledragon99 so are you officially diagnosed with ADHD or is this a self-diagnosis?

Well, coke isn't cheap either @littledragon99 . And are you sure? Have you seen a GP?

Anyone else starting to think we've been had and this isn't real?

A notice for the correct period has to be served.

OP says she’s gone no contact with the LL. That might mean she’s not reading emails. We don’t really know what the LL has done.

OP, you need to get advice, and fast. Make an appointment with Shelter. Just do it.

Keep in mind The Marylebone Project.

I’d recommend seeing your doctor re your anxiety and coke use.

@Cosyblankets i bloody hope so as nobody can be this chaotic, surely. I’d hate anyone to end up in the inevitable position facing OP.

So you are self diagnosed and spend your rent money on coke. Do fuck off and I hope your landlady sees you (legally) out of her house.

Yes.

No, this is wrong. The landlord moving in will not void your Assured Shorthold Tenancy. It will remain an AST, with the normal AST protection.

Actually op is similar to someone I know who was self medicating ADHD and depression. It isn't that uncommon. (Not defending it as a good coping strategy.)

terrible advice - she'll get a bad reference, and if in London ( and in her 40's) she'll struggle to find anywhere else.