Updating post from Reddit.
I've been renting a house for a little over 2 years now, 6 months fixed and now on a rolling tenancy. The letting agent was just a guy, not a firm or anything but he did have a registered company etc. He stopped responding to emails about a year ago and deactivated his phone number around the same time.
We've had a leaky toilet for about 5 months (we did email but obviously got no response), and there's also a minor leak in the downstairs hallway from the radiator. We're having to top the boiler pressure up weekly. Neither are particularly terrible to the eye but its the sewage pipe that's leaking from the toilet so its not particularly nice to deal with and bits of the wall are falling off around the pipe so I'm guessing there's damage being done internally.
I've now noticed that his Companies House confirmation statement is overdue and they are about a month into striking his company off the register. He's aware of this as he filed to hide his PSC information, but you cant hide the director of the company so you can still see his name. I used to work there so I understand the strike off means his bank account will soon be frozen and we likely won't be able to pay our rent to him. Obviously I'll keep it saved in an account, but I'm concerned what's going to happen after this.
My belief is that the actual owners of the property probably think nothing is wrong and he's still sending the rent over, since we haven't heard from them. I have no contact information for them and we've never heard anything. Our gas safety certificate was due in February and obviously didn't get done, so I believe we cant be issued a S21 until this is done?
I'm not sure if we should go to the council for help at this point, or wait and see what happens. I'm just wondering if anyone has any clue what to do in this situation? Obviously I'd like to just move, but unfortunately my boyfriend has an old CCJ on his record (satisfied) and the area we live is in such high demand that we just get ignored when properties do come up (which is also rare and they cost around £400 more pcm than what we pay now)
You can do a land registry search to see who owns the property and then try to take it from there
Good idea, thank you!
I would send a letter to the agents last know address listing the urgent repairs you have been trying to sort out and the attempts you have made trying to contact him, give him 14 days to respond and advise that if you do not hear from him by this time, you will arrange to have the repairs done yourself and the cost will be deducted from your rent payments. Keep receipts for the work. Have the boiler serviced yourself and deduct that cost too. In this situation, you will be more than reasonable, and any landlord will have a hard time challenging you in court for rent arrears in this situation.
Your agent was probably running a Rent to Rent scheme. Never was a proper agent. Probably subletting without the owners consent.
Pocketing the money you've given him without passing it on. Now winding down the company and doing a runner.
You need to stop paying rent and find the actual owner from land registry. Maybe even see if your neighbours have a contact.
Who is your landlord? Whoever the agent is, your contract is with the landlord. Was / is he your landlord?
No idea, I was only provided a surname and no address. I asked but got no response.
You’re entitled to know who your landlord is. What does it say on your agreement?
Nothing, there are no names or addresses (other than the one I'm renting). The agents Companies House address is just a business address so not much help
Your agent is probably your landlord.
Stop paying your rent. They'll get in touch.
Your landlords postal address may be on your tenancy agreement. Or maybe worth a google/facebook of them….
It's not unfortunately. There's a surname but its a common one and not much to go off
I think it's a legal requirement for them to provide an address
Yeah i thought so, I've just double checked the agreement and there's no address for anyone - even the names of the landlords are just signatures, nothing typed out
It is a legal requirement
Ask your neighboors if the have the details of your landlord.
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