UC PLEASE HELP. Need to prove housing costs, landlord refusing to give proof/tenancy agreement/letter? What to do?

[Lele101]

Landlord recently raised rent by a 300.

i reported this to uc and they need proof of housing costs.

but landlord doesn’t want to sign new tenancy agreement or give a letter about rent increase.

he says verbal agreement is enough.

im scared to explain to him too because im worried he’ll want to do an affordability check, when I first rented I wasn’t receiving universal credit.

the only thing I have is his text message.

what should I do???

I would speak to somewhere like Shelter to se what they suggest. he sounds like a rogue landlord. Isn't it against the law not to have a tenancy agreement?

I agree with this! he wont evict you because it will cost him way more money to evict you than it would cost to actually write an updated tenancy agreement.
he sounds really dodgy

Why don’t you want your landlord to know you are claiming UC?
it sounds dodgy doubt they’d accept a text anyone can send a text under pretence of being the landlord….

Tell the landlord that without written proof of the new rent you will have to keep paying the old rent, but you will ve happy to agree to the new rent as soon as he cooperates with making sure you can get the right amount of UC based on the new rent.

Is it?? he says we have a rolling one…even with old price it’s still effective…and verbal agreement is enough too and legal

He’s up to something probably pocketing the extra if he doesn’t want a paper trail

Even if I look online, which I did, it’s still all just a guess

he is not giving me a reason why

Your landlord has to serve you with a section 13 notice if he wants to increase the rent. Please speak to shelter to get advice as this increase sounds dodgy. england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/private_renting/rent_increases/periodic_tenancy

Honestly he can’t just evict you like that over night ! He probably won’t bother )98!5 to all the hassle

if he wants more rent he gives you a new contract

or you pay same rent as always.

.

That will take him up to a year and cost him a load of money so he probably won't
He HAS to issue a new contract or amendment to increase the rent, its very risky for you to pay more without anything in writing

He made it clear when I first rented he doesn’t want people on uc (I then wasn’t)

worried it will make him do affordability checks/want to get rid of me

its impossible to find a place to rent with uc already

He made it clear when I first rented he doesn’t want uc tenants. (I then wasn’t)

worried it’ll make him do affordability checks/want to get rid of me.

It’s already impossible to find a place to rent with uc

don't fake anything OP! Go to Shelter charity and ask for advice. you are perfectly within your rights to request written confirmation from the landlord.

I would seek advice from Citizens Advice or a housing charity such as Shelter.

OP are you a Tenant or a Lodger?

Do you have any Bills in your Name?

Is your Landlord a registered Landlord? (Probably not ... )

I would put this on the TENANCY MATTERS UK Facebook Group as they are really, really helpful and someone will be able to give you good advice.

Do NOT pay the increased rent WITHOUT a Tenancy Agreement!

Could you draft a Tenancy Agreement for your Landlord with the increased Rent ... sign and date it and leave a copy for them to sign for their part and send that to UC ... you need to make sure you have a Date and the Name printed under the Signature on the Tenancy Agreement very clearly ...

Good Luck OP!

Also, did they provide you with a HOW TO LET GUIDE and a HOW TO RENT CHECKLIST ...

Here are some useful links for you and for your Landlord!

How to let guide

How to rent checklist

Do keep us posted OP!

He wants you gone there is no way out of this.

How do you pay your rent? Bank transfer?

Yes

Tenant

yes have bills in name

yes he is registered

ive already filled in tenancy agreement, all it needs is his signature

im worried uc won’t accept with his signature missing.

I remember your previous thread OP.

Landlord is on really thin ice here.

One - he can't ask for an affordability check now or evict you on the grounds your claiming UC. He might not have given you a tenancy if you were trying to rent the property now, but he can't change his mind now because your circumstances have changed.

Two - a text message is NOT a valid way to increase the rent. It is legally of no value UNLESS you pay the increased rent (then legally you've accepted the increase). Don't pay it until he serves you a correct S13 notice.

Assuming you are on in a rolling periodic tenancy, serving a S13 notice doesn't change this (it doesn't introduce a new fixed term). All it does is change the rent.

It is perfectly reasonable of you to ask for S13 notice. There is no GOOD reason at all that the landlord isn't doing this. Keep asking. You don't need to say you're claiming UC, just say you need it for your records or something.

Three - the worst case scenario for you is that the landlord serves a S21 notice. These are going to be abolished in summer, after which you'll have much more security. So basically, if you can drag this out without the landlord serving you a S21 notice, you'll be in a better position. But even if he does serve one, there's a fair chance it won't be valid (the landlord needs his ducks in a row for it to be valid), so if he does serve one, don't panic and don't move out unless you have found a suitable new place to move into.

Broadly speaking you need to show you are occupying the property, liable to pay rent and actually paying.

A tenancy is created by the offer and acceptance of rent. Informal tenancies are far less common then they were but still around. A colleague I met on a training course says they're common in former coal mining areas in the Midlands.

UC staff should know about oddities and how to deal with them but I've lost count of the number of times I've been told 'it has to be in writing'.

Shelter are a good shout and have a good helpline service.

My thought would be to produce anything and everything you have including any original tenancy agreement, the texts you mention and bank statements and/or any other proof of payment. Don't be fobbed off by UC helpline or whatever and insist the facts go to a Decision Maker.

I suspect that will be enough but if you have a refusal you can ask for a Mandatory Reconsideration and go a the Tribunal. .

They won’t as that’s what they need to verify your housing costs.

You either pay the old rent amount. Pay the increase out of your own pocket or get the Landlord to do his job and give you an updated tenancy highlighting the new rent amount.

You’ve had some good advice on here but I don’t think we can help much tbh

I’d reply that until he sends written confirmation of the rent increase you will pay the contractually agreed amount.