Blackmail

[brainfoggyandtired]

I am in a hellish situation. Private tenancy, multiple reports of disrepair from start and refusal to do any by the LL. Served a S21 and later accelerated possession claim which we are waiting to hear from court if it will go to hearing due to obvious retaliation and safety issues and also harrassment. Family circs were dire throughout and chicken out of school due to relocation and MH issues. It has been hideous and all of the above has severely impacted me and traumatised me and have been diagnosed with ptsd from chronic stress, anxiety and exhaustion.

Meanwhile have been actively hunting for a new home. Lots of nos due to dogs. A yes a week ago, paid holding deposit and started refs on open rent. Accountant verified income and as far as I know financially ok. They don't tell you. LL has ignored the messages from them and today emailed us to say we have to pay her legal fees for the claim if we want to stop the court process. And in not so many words get her to ref us. This is a sum in the thousands.

I've sent it all to our solicitors but I'm completely in shock that this LL could be so evil, we've been good tenants and her treatment of us has been horrendous. I'm scared that no matter what we do even if this house is a no, we will be stuck in a situation where without refs we won't pass the computer says yes test. Advice??? I'm feeling very low and desperately trying to move on from this nightmare.

@BloodOfTheRaven she has said both things. To sell and then saying she will move back in. Neither anything to do with us.

Anyway I think I've exhausted myself on here and thanks to posters who have sent all useful information and support.

You've been really confusing. You said you sold her furniture and dismantled things. Then when queried you said you had not. 🫤

@brainfoggyandtired

To be clear - I did none of those things. We arrived to a house with furniture she hadn't bothered to move. She then decided to sell it on gumtree for a grand and I had to facilitate the sale and removal. And paid a handyman to take the beds apart that she had contractually agreed to remove and had to sort it myself whilst trying to also work out how to fix ten year old white goods that were not useable.
Ok so you've clarified well here. But my point is that your posts are confusing and contradictory. What you actually said was that you had sold her furniture and dismantled stuff. Then you said you hadn't which was just confusing as much of your posts are. Now you have clarified but can you not see how difficult it has been to get a proper understanding of your situation?

So many people have queried the same things about the legality of your stay and the s21 because of how you wrote things. Very confusing and garbled.

"It has been hideous and all of the above has severely impacted me and traumatised me and have been diagnosed with ptsd from chronic stress, anxiety and exhaustion. "

I can only apologise for my lack of clarity at this time. Cheers.

I think my qualifications say I do.

I didn't say they were forced to I said they were forced to issue legal proceedings when you failed to leave at expiry of the section 21 notice which they were entitled to serve.

It is no wonder they don't want you as a tenant.

Is there a previous landlord that could provide a reference OP?

Can the agents provide it? I think you said that they couldn't but I'm not quite sure why not. If they don't have access to the rent payments you could show them on paper/ bank app. E.g. they make it clear they are filling in the document as an agency so the "would they rent to you again" they could say yes - (as they understand the situation is not your fault and thry would recommend you). I expect an agency would charge for the reference.

Would a chat with the landlord go a long way? This is obviously very emotive but if you could just give them the bones that there were major health hazards and rather than repair the landlord is evicting.

I rent out one property that was my house. No reference from the landlord would make me nervous but not if the agency could say this person has been a great tenant but the landlord has been terrible and the relationship has broken down.

I know my insurance only covers some things such as deliberate damage by tenants if background checks have been done but again I think a reference from the agency would cover this - or even perhaps a previous landlord.

On a personal level I'm so sorry for the terrible time you are having. Unfortunately successive governments are causing landlords to sell up without providing an alternative of social housing leaving tenants fighting for an ever reducing pool of properties. The situation is appalling.

Thanks @Winter2020 all good advice. I don't want to say anymore after the attacks on me below. I'm just going to keep looking for places and do as much as I can to protect my kids from the reality of what's going on. Feeling really low after the comments and vitriol.

The only rudeness on this thread is you OP

You were issued with an S21 as your LL for whatever reasons doesnt want you as a tennant. We have no idea what your relationship was, so we can only comment on what you have written - you also said they did a "accelerated possession claim" which they can only do if you have not left after the S21

You have been repeatedly snarky to anyone who is not saying what you want to hear - sure you are stressed, its understandable you are losing your home, but when you are rude to people, they dont want to help