Hello, I am hoping for some good advice here re a dispute I am having with my landlord after receiving a notice of termination....My family (wife and 2 children with 3rd child due shortly) have been renting a house since August 2013 on a 12 month fixed term lease. Approx. 4 months ago the landlord advised us he would have to sell the property. We made him an offer however he advised he wanted to place it on the open market. We offered to accommodate viewings of the house while we are renting it if we could have flexibility on a move out date if we did not purchase the house. The landlord agreed to this on e-mail.
The estate agent approached us and advised "she would help us buy the house" and "would keep us updated through-out the whole process" and asked for permission to take photos etc. We granted this. However the agent didn't take or return my calls 2 days after the 2nd viewing. We spoke with the landlord and he advised us to speak with the agent to see if we could match the existing offer. We did this after contacting the agent with the offer to continue with the paying the rent until we close. Days later no word back then our children hear through friends/neighbours he's selling to someone else at the same price. The landlord then confirms this and doesn't offer any explanation as to why our offer was not considered nor was there any feedback to it or even any apology for the our family hearing the news this way. He then advises us we have to leave at the end of the fixed term.
I then advise we couldn't move out in that time as my wife is due the baby in 10 weeks, that there are no available properties and that we have an agreement offering flexibility. I then receive the notice of termination with a shorter notice period (mid July) to move out. The notice was service correctly however my wife’s name is spelt incorrectly.
At this point we have given up on the purchase however we are going to appeal the notice of termination through the PRTB. The following are is everything I can think which may be relevant.
1. Name spelt incorrectly on NOT
2. Agreement we have on e-mail re flexibility of a date to move out
3. No BER ever being completed.
4. Gas Boiler last serviced in 2008 (as per sticker)
5. No adequate water pressure in the house. This was reported several times to the landlord. He did send out a plumber who agreed it was terrible and would need a 3 bar pressure pump installed to resolve. However the landlord said he didn't have the money to resolve this. We have been suffering since!
6. Faulty lawnmower provided. I purchased my own and may not now have any use for it.
Appreciate any advice on what course of action I should take as we are not prepared to be treated like this. Thank you, John.
The estate agent approached us and advised "she would help us buy the house" and "would keep us updated through-out the whole process" and asked for permission to take photos etc. We granted this. However the agent didn't take or return my calls 2 days after the 2nd viewing. We spoke with the landlord and he advised us to speak with the agent to see if we could match the existing offer. We did this after contacting the agent with the offer to continue with the paying the rent until we close. Days later no word back then our children hear through friends/neighbours he's selling to someone else at the same price. The landlord then confirms this and doesn't offer any explanation as to why our offer was not considered nor was there any feedback to it or even any apology for the our family hearing the news this way. He then advises us we have to leave at the end of the fixed term.
I then advise we couldn't move out in that time as my wife is due the baby in 10 weeks, that there are no available properties and that we have an agreement offering flexibility. I then receive the notice of termination with a shorter notice period (mid July) to move out. The notice was service correctly however my wife’s name is spelt incorrectly.
At this point we have given up on the purchase however we are going to appeal the notice of termination through the PRTB. The following are is everything I can think which may be relevant.
1. Name spelt incorrectly on NOT
2. Agreement we have on e-mail re flexibility of a date to move out
3. No BER ever being completed.
4. Gas Boiler last serviced in 2008 (as per sticker)
5. No adequate water pressure in the house. This was reported several times to the landlord. He did send out a plumber who agreed it was terrible and would need a 3 bar pressure pump installed to resolve. However the landlord said he didn't have the money to resolve this. We have been suffering since!
6. Faulty lawnmower provided. I purchased my own and may not now have any use for it.
Appreciate any advice on what course of action I should take as we are not prepared to be treated like this. Thank you, John.