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.

I hear there are some spare cardboard boxes around kings cross.

Oh, I'm sure she will. But the deposit was just the equivalent of one month's rent, wasn't it? What about the rest of the money you owe her? You still have to pay that, you know.

I’d get onto your council too to see
if they can help, and quick!

LL stomping around house
can she come in my room? No lock

Pretty sure being evicted for non payment of rent is considered to be having made yourself homeless, and they're not obliged to help.

I'm not surpised she did, you are a nightmare tenant. She shouldn't go into your room, but if she's in one of the air bnb rooms I don't see an issue and she's watching you. Why do you think it's OK to not pay rent?

Ahh yes of course!

OP you say she can keep your deposit but you do know you’ll still have to pay anything outstanding on your rent…

You've never explained why you think you're entitled to free living while indulging a coke habit and a fantasy career as a dj. Do tell.

well you had less than 3 weeks left on the tenancy anyway.

and ' moved back in ' means you knew she lived in the property.

I would suspect that if she thinks / realises / knows that you have illegal drugs in her property she could call the police

as pretty sure taking cocaine will be against the tenancy agreement...

Hopefully you spent the weekend looking for somewhere else...

Now she's in the house, she'll be able to tell you're on coke, it's not hard to spot.

Yes, OP has always been aware that her LL lived in the property.

"Yes she only moved out about 6 months ago and she still has her stuff in cupboard under the stairs. "

So she only moved out one month maximum before OP moved in. I suspect LL moved out to move in with a partner, but has had to move back to get on top of the problems OP has caused her.

She can’t give you 2 weeks notice, you signed an AST. She needs to give you 2 months notice, but she CAN serve you a Section 8 as you are 2 months in arrears (did this myself recently). I suggest you remind her that you are legally entitled to 2 months notice, she can’t just decide you’re a lodger because she’s moved back in. However, you really need to pay rent. The court will have zero sympathy if rent is unpaid.

Your deposit is protected, so she is within her rights to evict you. How do you propose getting a reference for somewhere else? Also, any deposit scheme will refuse the return of your deposit due to lack of rent. Shitty of you not to pay rent as she will lose out. I know many anti ll mumsnetters will not care, but this will make life hard for you, she can call the bailiffs to physically remove you.

She can fast track going to court if you don’t move out when requested (in 2 months). It takes weeks, not months via the fast track system, I researched it very thoroughly to get rid of my aggressive alcoholic domestic abusive tenant who didn’t pay rent for 2 months and has the water/TV licence people chasing him having never paid in 2 years. Fortunately, he moved out on the requested date.

Very hard if the OP moves out and doesn’t leave a forwarding address.

Is this honestly real? We started off with I am a 40 odd year old lady with an overview that you are quite respectable and we’ve ended up with I don’t pay my rent and I do Coke.
it’s either a comedic drip feed or is a windup surely?

She might not need one if OP's doing coke in LLs house and she calls the police

She will be released back to the property almost immediately, police (CPS) won’t imprison her! They can only use the address where she currently resides.

Sorry to say - you're an absolute grifter.

i have adhd too - you're nearly 50 years old, stop blaming your issues on everything else - stop sniffing and act like an adult.

This was always going to happen. You honestly can’t expect to not pay your rent without consequences. You’ve also been spending your salary on cocaine rather than rent!

Do you really expect your LL to not act in her best interests and collect rent due in a timely manner whilst you do class A drugs every weekend?

You owe her rent, you haven’t paid and of course she’s going to evict you. You say you’re in sales. Surely you expect your own clients to pay for the products or services you sell?

If it is it’s a lousy one.

I was thinking the exact same thing!
Been watching this thread carefully and it's unraveled like a bloody onion!

OP, are you not worried in the slightest? Approaching 50 and facing a cardboard box for a home?? It's scary what you have been revealing on MN!

I hear Led Zeppelin in the background of every one of @littledragon99‘s posts.

And sometimes Ozzy & sometimes Iron Maiden.
But never Elton or the BeeGees.

Get your shit together, OP — before your shit gets you.

and just think it's 2024 and the Op hasn't come up with a way to ' remember ' to pay her rent...

You are an absolute disgrace OP.

Aren't you embarrassed?? Hard to practice your disc-spinning from a supermarket doorway.

I take it you're single and friendless?! At least that way you won't leech off anyone else....