Landlord changed the locks

[LolaLolaLolas]

I posted a thread back in October about my ex partner, he was the named tenant on the rental house and I was a permitted occupier.

Here is the original thread if you're interested

Urgent help needed, Permitted Occupier http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/amiibeingunreasonable/4391032-Urgent-help-needed-Permitted-Occupier

Since then I am still in the house, I have been looking for properties but also trying to convince the landlord to let me stay temporarily. I was told my ex had paid the rent up until the end of March, but also told that he had ended the tenancy. The landlord declined my offer and said he wanted to move back into the house on the 1st April.

On Friday 11th March I received an email from my ex's solicitor offering 50k to me if I moved out of the house by the 18th March. I explained that 7 days was unreasonable, and was there any movement on that date.

I never received a reply from her, I sent 2 subsequent emails during w/c 14th March. Again, no reply.

Yesterday morning I was at work and my ex turned up with a locksmith and they changed all the locks, the tenancy was over. I was not allowed any access to the house, not even to collect my cats and medication I need to take daily. . I called the police and they persuaded the landlord to to let me get some things.

All of my things are in that house. Everything I own. I have found an Airbnb locally which I would not have had to do if they had been open with me. No one said at any point that the locks would be changed. I had communicated that I had found a house.

I have been told to contact his solicitor to gain access through a third party and that removals would be arranged. But she is awful and won't discuss anything with me. No one will talk to me.

I really don't know what to do. My things are being held from me. I received nothing informing me about any date to move out other than the 31st March. I didn't decline the financial offer, they never responded. I am living in an Airbnb. My dog was tied up outside the house. My son's girlfriend was in the house when the men turned up. She was traumatised by it.

I don't know why my ex was there, if he had given up the tenancy. But the landlords dodgy mate was there locked in the house. They were all in on it together.

I don't know where I stand.

Sorry it's so long

You knew you had to move out at the end of the month, so why didn’t you take the 50k and go?

I remember your thread from before. You have had lots of time to move out. Did you open all your post? Did you get a section 21 at any point?

Why did they bother offering you 50k?

I would go back to police and show that you have made every effort to contact the solicitor to retrieve your belongings but that you are being ignored, and ask them to tell you what to do next.

When does your new tenancy begin?

I don't really know what you expect people to say. You should have moved out of this property ages ago. You're in this position now due to your own choices.

They offered you 50K that was more than enough to make arrangements in 7 days

Sorry to hear about this. It must be very difficult for you. Good that you have found a place to stay though.

Unfortunately as a permitted occupier of a property you have no legal right to stay after the tenant has ended the tenancy. This appears to be the case here.

www.libertygate.co.uk/news/landlords-before-signing-a-tenancy-learn-the-facts-about-permitted-occupiers.html

Thank you for your replies. I completely agree and will take criticism on board.

I was not aware when the tenancy officially ended. As it turns out it ended yesterday.

@Torrennce

They offered you 50K that was more than enough to make arrangements in 7 days

I asked for some leeway. I had no response. If I had been told that it was a done deal on the 18th then of course I would have moved out.

You need to speak to Shelter asap.

I’m also baffled as to why you didn’t take the money. It would have covered storage and a chattery for a month whilst you worked out what to do (and I say that as a cat lover with 3 chattery hating outdoor cats - but sometimes needs must)

You put yourself in a precarious position moving in and not being on the tenancy and we’re given plenty of warning and a very generous offer to move but didn’t.

Usually I’m incredibly sympathetic to people being screwed over by Landlords and Exs. but, in this case, you haven’t by either and you need to take responsibility for your own actions and deal with it.

*chattery not sure we’re chattery came from

@astoundedgoat Not sure where Karen came from!!

astoundedgoat has asked some perfectly reasonable questions.

I really, really hate the misogynistic bullshit with Karen.

@astoundedgoat Yes, the section 21 said 26th April. And then another saying 31st March.

Cross Post.

Stray Karening is different!

@CheshireChat

Cross Post.

Stray Karening is different!

Sorry

[quote LolaLolaLolas]@astoundedgoat Yes, the section 21 said 26th April. And then another saying 31st March. [/quote]
That’s weird then - but I guess it only applies to your ex, as you had no legal standing in the house, as you confirmed with Shelter, but I wonder if you might have had some leeway if they hadn’t turfed you out so unceremoniously, hence the 50k so that the ex didn’t face repercussions from the landlord? All speculation though - the important thing is to get your stuff back & get into a place of your own.

Shelter might be able to advise, or the police. You need an advocate, I suspect.

@astoundedgoat I doubt that, they've clearly been in cahoots the whole time. It was a well orchestrated procedure yesterday once I left for work.

to reply as a LL to your comment 'l don't know where l stand'

The LL is completely within his rights to change the locks.
You were given warning, yet you seem determined to bend the situation to your will, but unfortunately life doesn't work like that.
Here is a reality check

You say you made it your home well it is a rented home, so it is not permanent..and it is not your home for that you need to buy or accept this fact.

You want to take over the tenancy yet you have bad credit, this is for you to sort out, surely you can see why your LL will not allow you to take over the tenancy.

You completely disregard the law and your whole post reeks of spectacular entitlement.

You completely disregard the law and your whole post reeks of spectacular entitlement.

I totally agree. You are a squatter, not a tenant.

Between the £50k 'inducement' to leave a week early (?) and the £4k a month rent, and the paying off of the entire six-month tenancy by the ex despite his moving out after four weeks and apparently knowing the landlord, I'm starting to wonder if there might be a teeny weeny backstory to this situation...

£50k to move out?

Sorry you turned down £50k to move out of a house you are not entitled to live in? That’s insane

I’m confused why were you offered £50,000 to move out of a house you didn’t own?! That’s a insane amount of money.

@Dragongirl10 That's a little bit harsh. I've obviously not gone into every nitty gritty in my posts. I moved in with my ex in good faith. I thought it would be a stepping stone. He chucked me under a bus, literally pulled the rug from underneath me.