Needing some practical advice in regards to step dad in prison

[crazyhamsterbackonthego]

My Step Dad is been held on remand until the end of April at least .

He is not married to my Dm though they have a child together (7yo)

Now the problem is , he is renting a flat from a 'friend' & recently paid six months rent which will take his tenancy up to April .I have just spoken with his landlord who has said the bailiffs have been to his flat & have taken a list of everything that they are going to take if a payment is not made .

Step dad doesn't owe any money out we know this for a fact as he always makes sure everything is paid .
His landlord has his bank card & pin number and is going mad because my Dm has spent money that she was given permission to spend on the child .
Right now my problem is the landlord is a gambling addict & a compulsive liar/cheat & will not let us near the flat to get my brothers or dms possesions and he says that the bailiffs are going to take it all , we do not believe this as we think he will be selling it all so he can have the money & also wanting money from bank account etc .
I would happily stick all his personal belongings etc in my loft but the landlord won't let us .

What rights if any do we have as this landlord can not be trusted at all

Bump

your step dad is the tenant, he can give anyone he likes keys to access the flat. the landlord has no rights to access the flat unless to carry out repairs, carry out inspections etc. I'd get in there asap an take out everything of value

He didn't give the landlord the key .

The landlord won't let us in to get anything out as he wreckons the bailiffs are going to take evrything including my Dbs stuff

your step dad can give you keys, unless that is not possible because he is in prison.

or he can ask a locksmith to attend the flat, change the locks, give you keys - you can then access the flat.

the landlord probably has his own keys anyway. how did the bailiffs get in (if indeed they did and this isn't all a load of bollocks) if the landlord did not let them? the landlord had no right to do that, if he did.

the landlord needs to be reminded that your step dad has rights to peaceful and quiet enjoyment of the property to the exclusion of all others. he has the tenancy and the LL is not allowed in unless emergency/repairs/noticed inspections etc

if in any doubt speak to shelter

Report bank card and pin as lost. If the rent is paid then stepdad isn't in arrears so the ll has no reason to withhold access to the flats or to call in bailiffs.
Can you or dm move in to continue to occupy until you know if step dad will be coming home?

No its not Dms home & I have my own home so would not be practical for me to move in .
Can I ring and cancel the card even though its not mine ??

The LL has his own keys , found out he has opened some post as well , says he was given permission to but I just don't believe him as he has a reputation and is well known for thieving,lying & gambling.

Their is no way the bailiffs could of been let in as the LL lives in a different part of town & works nights & sleeps all day , its to much of a coincidence that he just happened to be their when the bailiffs turned up

You can cancel the card my dm lost her card yesterday and asked me to phone as she was out and didnt have the phone number. You just need the account number and sort code. You can't order a new card though.

I don't have either of those unfortunately

I'm sure if you ring the bank with his name and address and tell them he is on remand and therefore won't be spending any money they will canceled the card as otherwise when he gets out he will have absolute proof he didn't make any transactions that appear on his statement. So bank will be liable if they don't act on the info they receive.
Maybe you can get this in writing send recorded delivery or record the phone call.
Does he have a solicitor who can confirm in writing his whereabouts or maybe get him to give either you or DM authority to act in his behalf whilst he is unable to.

Why not report the the police - I know is sensitive as your dsf is on the wrong side of that at the moment but that doesn't mean he forfeits his legal rights not to be stolen from, his flat entered and his property illegally seized by bailiffs.

As a tenant not in beach of tenancy your dsf is entitled to quiet enjoyment which he isn't getting from the landlord entering the flat illegally and tampering with mail. What the landlord is doing sounds criminal to me and taking the bank card certainly sounds like theft.