To move or not to move?

[Ekkwhine]

To try and cut a long story short we've been in our current private rent for almost 5 years. In that time we've had a few issues with our landlord, turning up out of the blue, sending letters stating there was X, Y and Z issue after telling us he was happy during his visit, not fixing things for months after they were reported then sending letters telling us they should have been reported sooner (they were!) and a voicemail ranting and shouting that if he didn't hear from us within X hours he would serve us with a section 21, I didn't have a signal and had had one all day so he couldn't have been trying to get hold of me for more than hour.

The latest is a leaking extension, this has been going on for over a year, he sent a roofer out who couldn't find a leak so decided that was that, there's a hole in my ceiling.

I've the chance to move into another house. The rent is over 1/3 cheaper, which is a massive incentive, as we currently pay the upper end of the price scale, it's in a similar area, makes no difference in relation to dc's school. The thought of moving is a huge thing to me though. I want to call environmental health in over the ceiling/leaks, but was told the landlord would likely just evict us anyway as our tenancy rolls month to month. Our rent went up at the beginning of the year and he also mentioned he could be getting another almost £100 PCM, which I find hard to believe as it's already over £100 more than any of the others.

So I'm a bit stuck. I love my house, but I don't love the uncertainty of him popping up whenever and grumbling over toys out, not doing repairs (we do smaller ones ourselves, less hassle) I especially don't love the dripping roof lol.

The tenancy on the other house would be 12 months at a time, another bonus and I'd be allowed to decorate as I wish/put shelves, pictures up etc which I'm not allowed to do here, it's magnolia throughout and has to stay that way.

I think I've just answered my own question actually!

So, if I was to move do I give a standard "please accept my notice of one month as stated in my tenancy agreement, I will have vacated the property by/on blah blah" or do I give reasons why?

I had to pay my deposit early in order for the house to be finished as he ran out of funds, and I didn't receive any details re: the deposit scheme so I assume it's not in there, so I guess I won't be seeing that again

Do you rent through an agency or do you rent privately through the landlord? If your landlord took a deposit and didn't use the deposit scheme he must repay it himself. Otherwise he is stealing from you, I don't know if you could go through the small claims court if he refuses to reimburse you? If you rent through an agency they will have put the money in the scheme for him. I am a landlord and as far as I am aware I have to use the scheme - it's not a choice!

If I was you I would move ASAP - your landlord sounds awful and it must be horrible living with a dripping roof.

Yes i would be moving too. No need to say why.

If your landlord did not protect your deposit you can take him to the small claims court for 3 times that amount. I am surprised that plenty of ppl in the uk just let the landlord steal their security deposit. I hired a solicitor once to get my deposit since the deposit was more than the solicitor fee.

Yes I think you have answered your own question. Your current situation sounds stressful and your landlord sounds like a d*ck. New house sounds ideal.

I wouldn't hold much hope of sewing your deposit again unless you can be bothered with a long and/or legal battle, but definitely put something in your letter which gives your notice about arrangements for repayment of your deposit. That will give a clear indication that you expect it back from the outset.

*seeing

In my case it was not a long legal battle. As son as my solicitor send letters to the landlord the deposit reappeared.

Nolim hopefully that will be the case for the OP then!

I only have experience of trying to get money back from my student digs deposit. They took money off for there being chewing gum stuck to the sofa. There wasn't, and in any case we bought the sofas ourselves as they only provided us with deckchairs in the lounge and we let them have them when we left for free.

Thanks for replying.
We actually paid the deposit early as he ran out of money to finish the house, and forgot all about it until recently, when we've been toying with the idea of moving. I'll include in the letter something about arranging to meet at the house on a date/time convenient to the both of us with regard to handing over the keys and going through a property inspection together to ensure that he's satisfied. My skylights leak too, causing run marks he's bound to complain about, though I daresay he'll say it's fine then I'll get a letter a few days later. Maybe I ought to get something together for him to sign there and then stating that's he's satisfied. Though I haven't had the money, and it wouldn't cause a hardship as such as I've factored expenses etc and budgeted accordingly without it, it's a substantial sum and tbh it's our money, that we worked damned hard to get together for him.

Maybe I should text him and casually mention "oh by the way, I've just realised that you forgot to send details of our deposit" type thing...

I wouldn't put up with a leaking roof nor a landlord who turns up whenever he feels like it.

Sounds like you have been offered the perfect solution. Rally yourself and set to. The thought of moving is always harder than the reality.

Give notice in writing and get acknowledgement. Sounds a good idea to move as landlord sounds unprofessional.

GTF out of there. 33% more cash at the end of the month and more control? Do it.