Frustrated and soon to be homeless

Thanks Gents, especially the offer of the cottage Moggy, thats very kind. I might just take you up on it.

I have already sent a message to BBC Watchdog, but my feeling about that is they tend to go for stories that affect a large number of people vs one company. I might be wrong.

I’ll certainly look into discussing it with the press in general.

Just to add, local radio stations often have an ‘action line’ where they do some campaigning journalism / consumer rights stuff.

Not a winner on its own, but every bit of pressure – however small – that you add helps with the end result.

Practical help? I currently have an empty cottage here in East Anglia – it’s normally let to the visiting forces. Should you have an offer to work in this area ( an hour from Duxford / Ipswich / Norwich ) I’d be happy to let it to you short term on a – how much you can afford to pay – basis until you were sorted with something more permanent or were able to pay the full rent.

Moggy

Rob,

That’s appalling.

This is (or was until recently) just the sort of story that local TV stations like (and maybe even Watchdog if you can stand the thought of being interviewed by Nicky Campbell). A friend of mine from college days is now a reporter for BBC news nationally. Her first report, though, was for local radio, covering a dodgy landlord…

I’d also suggest getting in touch with your local MP. Not sure which constituency you live in, but you can find out who the MP is by clicking on http://www.parliament.uk/directories/hciolists/alcm.cfm and scrolling down to the appropriate initial letter.

Get in touch with the BBC/ITV first. Then get in touch with the MP, preferably talking directly to them rather than a constituency worker. Tell him/her that the media seem very interested in your story. It is quite likely that the MP will perk up at this, since they’ll know that they can get some free publicity (looking sympathetic, trying to help out, etc), while ignoring you isn’t an option (‘Uncaring MP refuses to help, I’m at wit’s end, says local man’ headlines).

Then, get back to the media. It is likely that your MP will mutter something along the lines of ‘this sounds disgraceful’ when speaking to you. If you feel sufficiently bold enough, tell the media that your MP was appalled, and is getting involved. Story is then (even) more newsworthy.

Then, get in touch with the local press – freeby papers that come through the door each week as well as the local evening paper(s). Your story isn’t the ‘cat found asleep on sofa’ that bedevils the pages of most local rags, so they’ll be interested too. If you can find a friendly solicitor who’s willing to profer the opinion to a couple of reportersthat as it stands, the law on this sort of thing is a bit of an ass, then even better.

Once the press start running with this sort of thing, then the target starts running for cover. In the case my friend covered, it transpired that the landlord hadn’t been entirely honest with the Inland Revenue about his income, and his efforts to hold onto a £800 deposit ended up costing him , IIRC either a five-figure or a £5000 tax bill (I don’t remember the exact details, since the story was recounted to me at a rather biblious post-graduation ceremony about twelve years ago…).

Just a thought, butwhatever approach you take, I hope that this gets sorted out for you.

accelerated possession procedure at county court means that Landlord can only gain access – usually 28 days – but sadly only a short term fix – sorry theres not much you can do if the premises were commercial or you had lived there for many years then that would be different….

soz mate

TT

RobAnt

Did you get my message ????

Its a disgrace the way your landlord is treating you Robant, I genuinly hope you can get stuff sorted out, good luck.

Fortunately – no deposit to really speak of. So I’m not worried about that.

But the main gist of your advice (al la rent) is certainly being considered!

For one thing

Hi
for one thing tell him he can kiss your a*se if he thinks he is getting any rent. Better still say nowt, have no communication with him at all just dont pay. It will take him more than 2 months to evict. If he wants to play the scum bag how about a new hobby, its called saw through as many floor beams as you can without the lot colapsing, liquidised fish into any hidden space you can find. I realy would not pay though. Do you think he will have your full deposit waiting for you when you leave if you play the game. I think not. Best of luck anyway

Cheers
Phil

Move to Nth Devon, and you can help the Hunter, Harrier, Tornado, Bucc and JayPee that are up here :diablo:

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Mmmmm – and the Sidmouth Festival – closer to the Midlands (Cosford) and the A4 set too.

Certainly worth looking at.

Thanks for everyone’s encouraging words.

Unfortunately, having taken advice from Plymouth Council Housing and Shelter, I don’t have a leg to stand on.

My local branch of the CAB is absolutely uncontactable right now. I’ve been trying to get through to them for some weeks, but as I’m working in Cambourne right now (63 miles away from home), I can’t pay them a visit 🙁

I have spoken to a couple of solicitors on the ‘phone, and they all seem to be of the opinion that so long as he has given me the correct amount of notice – other factors don’t matter, apparently!

The agents have now written to me, asking me when I will remove my belongings from the bedroom/bathroom so that he can effect repairs – but hasn’t rescinded (so far) the Notice to Quit. Neither has he offered to re-house me during the repairs or put those belongings I can’t store in other parts of the flat elsewhere safely at his own expense.

He says his insurance won’t pay for it. I say that doesn’t matter, it’s still HIS financial responsibility, and he should be chasing those responsible for the damage (if it wasn’t him in the first instance) for any otherwise uninsured financial losses. Called him a bully, too – in writing.

I’ve written to them offering them the length of my tongue (6.5″), in a more detailed fashion!

Sorry to hear about what has happened to you Rob. I can’t offer you any advice but would like to wish you good luck in the future.

Sorry to hear your plight Rob, for those not aware of Robs circumstances his webpage highlights the problem http://www.ramms.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/ . I’m no legal buff Rob but my first port of call today would be my nearest Citizens Advice Bureau, these people are brilliant and will understand your plight like no others.

Thats awful, what a bunch of to**ers 😡

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Sorry to hear your plight Rob, for those not aware of Robs circumstances his webpage highlights the problem http://www.ramms.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/ . I’m no legal buff Rob but my first port of call today would be my nearest Citizens Advice Bureau, these people are brilliant and will understand your plight like no others.

I’m sure we all wish you well in finding new digs and employment.

ps Ex RAF? Remember the RAFA and RAF Benevolent Fund they are there for your reasons stated as well as SSAFA

Sorry Rob, that post wasn’t very helpful to you, sorry 🙁

Do you want to stay in the south west, or are you pretty much looking at the whole country? If the latter, how about somewhere like Newark for example?

Move to Nth Devon, and you can help the Hunter, Harrier, Tornado, Bucc and JayPee that are up here :diablo:

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And if I needed any further reasons to move to North Devon, you’ve just provided them Dave 😀 Only two weeks since I came home and I want to go back already! One day, one day…:)

Move to Nth Devon, and you can help the Hunter, Harrier, Tornado, Bucc and JayPee that are up here :diablo:

.

Cheers.

Schools always seem to be in need of IT Consultants if thats any help, pay well too judging by the cars they have at my college, good luck with whatever you do though