Landlords from hell

lounakin

What is there to be done when your landlord makes your life miserable but always barely within the law...
I just don't get it... why wouldn't you want your tenants to be happy? Surely it is in your own interest!
There should be an online site where people could review those landlords so that they'd have to make an effort to get tenants.

SEPT 23 1989

What has he done to make your life so miserable?

Celly Smunt

move?

steddyeddy

lounakin wrote: »

What is there to be done when your landlord makes your life miserable but always barely within the law...
I just don't get it... why wouldn't you want your tenants to be happy? Surely it is in your own interest!
There should be an online site where people could review those landlords so that they'd have to make an effort to get tenants.

There is actually. Ill send you a pm!

davet82

be your own landlord

fasttalkerchat

Stop paying rent for a few months then leave... strip all copper and sell it.

Or you could just move...

neil_hosey

in the current house i live in.. when we moved in, lightbulbs were going every couple of days.

We called Sherry Fitz who in turn called the landlord, she then sent her own "contractor" (who renovated the house) to have a look and see if everything was ok.

We basically got an email saying that the onus was on us, the contractor said that we left the lights on for too long , ie over night.. which we dont. We were told to pay 100 quid for someone telling us we were leaving the lights on for too long i was angry... we didnt pay..

Several days later the house went to complete darkness.. we couldnt trip the switch back up... we said we wanted a new contractor in.. a different one. That guy said the house was ready to burn down, he showed us melted sockets from the back and light fitting that were scorched and melted internally! was shocking.. considering theres only one working smoke alarm. We received a half arsed report over how the original contractor "fixed" the housel.. i was there when he done it, its still in bad shape.

RobbieTheRobber

steddyeddy wrote: »

There is actually. Ill send you a pm!

Send me that pm too

later12

My sister is renting a property in Dublin where the landlord routinely enters without permission. He walked in on her last week while she was floating about in a bathtowel, apparently to do some work on the bathroom.

He also insists that the rent be collected in cash, for which purpose he lets himself into the apartment when she's not home, and refuses to sign her application for tax relief for Revenue. He won't even stick to a specific day when he's going to collect the rent; just strolls in when it suits him.

He even tried making her pay for the PRTB registration fee when she first moved in, obviously she told him to buzz off.

They have awful rows and she keeps telling him she's entitled to break the lease because of his behaviour; which of course she is, but the apartment is in a nice area and is a steal!

I've lived in the UK and France and only in Ireland have I ever experienced (or heard of) the landlord letting himself in to pick up the rent in cash. It seems to be very common in Ireland; personally I wouldn't accept it.

Topper Harley

Your landlord is probably thinking the same thing as you.

Not being smart, but most tenants don't give a shit about taking proper care the property and expect the landlord to be more than happy with rent paid late or not at all and their property being destroyed.


EDIT: Just going to add that "most" means from what I've dealt with and yes I know there are dickhead landlords too.

lounakin

Yeah moving... forfeiting the deposit and spending loads getting our stuff out... I have a 6 month old baby! Anyway, it's the sort of landlord who is so scabby he has a collection of washing-machines and dishwashers he never throws out, when one of his numerous tenants calls to say the appliance is broken he just picks it up (after weeks of complaining and usually a bit of threatening has to take place) patches it back and on to a new tenant! We haven't been here a year yet, 9 months, we've had 2 washing machines, and waiting for our 3rd dishwasher. Everytime with weeks of nothing getting done, floods and the like. Harder when there's a small baby that needs clothes constantly washed!
Everything in the place is badly patched up and one day it will collapse. There is no long-term advantage in being this way.

Celly Smunt

lounakin wrote: »

Yeah moving... forfeiting the deposit and spending loads getting our stuff out... I have a 6 month old baby! Anyway, it's the sort of landlord who is so scabby he has a collection of washing-machines and dishwashers he never throws out, when one of his numerous tenants calls to say the appliance is broken he just picks it up (after weeks of complaining and usually a bit of threatening has to take place) patches it back and on to a new tenant! We haven't been here a year yet, 9 months, we've had 2 washing machines, and waiting for our 3rd dishwasher. Everytime with weeks of nothing getting done, floods and the like. Harder when there's a small baby that needs clothes constantly washed!
Everything in the place is badly patched up and one day it will collapse. There is no long-term advantage in being this way.

judging by that it sounds like you'll be left swinging for your deposit anyway,don't pay next month and keep it as your deposit,so i suggest moving.

bbam

Didn't you hear?
Renting is dead money!
Your paying someone else's mortgage!
You Need to get into the property ladder before its too late!

lounakin

Before the baby we lived with one of the best landlords I've ever known! Kept the place so well when we left it went within a second... people who used to live there show up asking to rent again, he can put whatever price he wants. Our idiot landlord had to lower his price a lot for us because the place is a dump.

lounakin

steddyeddy wrote: »

There is actually. Ill send you a pm!

Do!

bbam

Seriously OP.
You rented a place where the only way you took it was if the price was slashed down.
You say the whole place is patched up and not fixed.

Surely you should have known that it was a low budget low end property, usually run by low end landlords in my experience.

Like everything else in life, you get what you pay for.

I'm a landlord myself (by circumstance rather than planned) and it's in my interest to keep the house good, we do upgrades when we can afford it and problems are sorted as quick as possible. Have had the same tennants for four years. We look after them and in turn they look after our investment.

If a landlord isn't looking after the property, chances are he's an idiot, and best avoided.

lounakin

bbam wrote: »

Seriously OP.
You rented a place where the only way you took it was if the price was slashed down.
You say the whole place is patched up and not fixed.

Surely you should have known that it was a low budget low end property, usually run by low end landlords in my experience.

Like everything else in life, you get what you pay for.

I'm a landlord myself (by circumstance rather than planned) and it's in my interest to keep the house good, we do upgrades when we can afford it and problems are sorted as quick as possible. Have had the same tennants for four years. We look after them and in turn they look after our investment.

If a landlord isn't looking after the property, chances are he's an idiot, and best avoided.

You're right, I did take the place slightly cheaper, I thought it would be of slightly low standard. There is a ton I discovered after we signed the lease though, and I would not have moved in had I known that. We were told the appliances had just been put in (but within a week they broke), there was no mention of the water heater being broken but apparently it was leaking and in serious need of attention. That also happened within a week.

Stovepipe

@later12,
the landlord has absolutely no right to enter without permission, especially private quarters such as a bedroom and especially if someone can't wash in peace.Set up a webcam and record his unscheduled visits and keep a diary. If he gets nasty about it, go to the Gardai. If he's still acting the tool, get a solicitor involved. After that, move out and accidentally inform the Revenue.As the final sanction, of course.

regards
Stovepipe

Topper Harley

Stovepipe wrote: »

@later12,
the landlord has absolutely no right to enter without permission, especially private quarters such as a bedroom and especially if someone can't wash in peace.Set up a webcam and record his unscheduled visits and keep a diary. If he gets nasty about it, go to the Gardai. If he's still acting the tool, get a solicitor involved. After that, move out and accidentally inform the Revenue.As the final sanction, of course.

regards
Stovepipe

No, no, no. That would be impolite. I say we kill him.

optimistic_

bbam wrote: »

Seriously OP.
You rented a place where the only way you took it was if the price was slashed down.
You say the whole place is patched up and not fixed.

Surely you should have known that it was a low budget low end property, usually run by low end landlords in my experience.

Like everything else in life, you get what you pay for.

I'm a landlord myself (by circumstance rather than planned) and it's in my interest to keep the house good, we do upgrades when we can afford it and problems are sorted as quick as possible. Have had the same tennants for four years. We look after them and in turn they look after our investment.

If a landlord isn't looking after the property, chances are he's an idiot, and best avoided.

I'm sure she appreciates the morale boosting nature of your post.

OP tell your landlord how unhappy you are, check all terms in your lease and get advice from the PTRB. - Also, go to the property forums here and you'll get more helpful "advice" than that quoted in this post.

optimistic_

Stovepipe wrote: »

@later12,
the landlord has absolutely no right to enter without permission, especially private quarters such as a bedroom and especially if someone can't wash in peace.Set up a webcam and record his unscheduled visits and keep a diary. If he gets nasty about it, go to the Gardai. If he's still acting the tool, get a solicitor involved. After that, move out and accidentally inform the Revenue.As the final sanction, of course.

regards
Stovepipe

It doesn't sound like the OP has funds to be throwing at a solicitor for something quite blatantly illegal. Report him to the PRTB. Tell him you're reporting him. And be an absolute thorn in his side about all issues. His continued failure to address them may constiture a breach of lease terms. then you're free to go, WITH your deposit.

padd b1975

Stovepipe wrote: »

@later12,
the landlord has absolutely no right to enter without permission, especially private quarters such as a bedroom and especially if someone can't wash in peace.Set up a webcam and record his unscheduled visits and keep a diary. If he gets nasty about it, go to the Gardai. If he's still acting the tool, get a solicitor involved. After that, move out and accidentally inform the Revenue.As the final sanction, of course.

regards
Stovepipe

Final sanction my hole!

If he is defrauding Revenue, report him, end of.

awec

later12 wrote: »

My sister is renting a property in Dublin where the landlord routinely enters without permission. He walked in on her last week while she was floating about in a bathtowel, apparently to do some work on the bathroom.

He also insists that the rent be collected in cash, for which purpose he lets himself into the apartment when she's not home, and refuses to sign her application for tax relief for Revenue. He won't even stick to a specific day when he's going to collect the rent; just strolls in when it suits him.

He even tried making her pay for the PRTB registration fee when she first moved in, obviously she told him to buzz off.

They have awful rows and she keeps telling him she's entitled to break the lease because of his behaviour; which of course she is, but the apartment is in a nice area and is a steal!

I've lived in the UK and France and only in Ireland have I ever experienced (or heard of) the landlord letting himself in to pick up the rent in cash. It seems to be very common in Ireland; personally I wouldn't accept it.

Sounds like this landlord doesn't want Revenue to know of his rental income.

Draco

later12 wrote: »

and refuses to sign her application for tax relief for Revenue.

You don't need his signature. Just fill out as much as you can and send it in.

In the 12 years I've been claiming rent relief I've never once needed the landlords signature.

Revenue use it as a way of chasing people who haven't declared rental income. Considering he's collecting the rent as cash I'd say there's a high chance that's what's happening here.

charlemont

There is a lot of landlords in this area that are a disgrace, Luckily for me I'v a tough but fair landlord, I was against him entering the apartment for rent when I first moved in, But because he would call at the same time every week I actually got to know him well over time and he could see I was a clean and relatively quiet tenant so I'm not bothered about it now.

One particular well to do, pillar of his local community, landlord actually goes to the homeless shelter to find tenants, And its not those that are down on their luck he chooses, No, Its the roughest of the rough he puts into his bedsits. I couldn't even count the amount of people who have died in that kip over the years.

fishy fishy

put everything in writing.

if he wants cash, get him to give you a receipt. No excuses.

get him to sign a statement saying he will not enter your house without giving notice - if he doesn't sign, tell him you are complaining to the PTRB - writ the date and time he refused to sign.

take photos of EVERYTHING.

You need to get things in writing and photos. Word of mouth means nothing.

From previous experience I know that while most landlords are fine you can get ones that are money hungry and will do anything to keep your deposit.

Make notes of everything. The PRTB will sort it out after, and if by chance you are paying rent in Cash, you can always tell the landlord to make sure he is declaring it all, as you will be sending in what you paid to him to the revenue.

charlemont

optimistic_ wrote: »

I'm sure she appreciates the morale boosting nature of your post.

OP tell your landlord how unhappy you are, check all terms in your lease and get advice from the PTRB. - Also, go to the property forums here and you'll get more helpful "advice" than that quoted in this post.

To be honest. She is better off out of there, Anyone who is a good tenant deserves a decent property and an honest landlord.

Let the bad landlords have the bad tenants, It will cost them more in the long term anyway. They will always pay for their greedy ways eventually.

Hippies!

Burn the house down, that'll learn him.

uch

lounakin wrote: »

What is there to be done when your landlord makes your life miserable but always barely within the law...
I just don't get it... why wouldn't you want your tenants to be happy? Surely it is in your own interest!
There should be an online site where people could review those landlords so that they'd have to make an effort to get tenants.

Get a Lend of a Travellers Horse and a Handfull of Nails, Lead same horse into property and Nail the door shut. Landlord will now do whatever you want.

later12

Draco wrote: »

You don't need his signature. Just fill out as much as you can and send it in.

In the 12 years I've been claiming rent relief I've never once needed the landlords signature.

Revenue use it as a way of chasing people who haven't declared rental income. Considering he's collecting the rent as cash I'd say there's a high chance that's what's happening here.

Sorry I meant PPS number not signature. Not sure if she even has an address for the man. Definitely not paying his taxes.

In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if tax evasion on rental income increases when the rent relief scheme disappears as scheduled. Very short sighted move by the Govt, who will have to be reliant on landlords giving the correct info to the PRTB, i.e. taking their word for it.

lounakin

Hippies! wrote: »

Burn the house down, that'll learn him.

Funnily enough, the place apparently did burn out! That's why there's a funky smell. We obviously didn't realise that before we moved in!
By the way, people seem to confuse me with another poster here, I'm not the one who's landlord walks in on them!
If that happened + the cash payments we would have reported him as it is clearly illegal.

relax carry on

later12 wrote: »

Sorry I meant PPS number not signature. Not sure if she even has an address for the man. Definitely not paying his taxes.

In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if tax evasion on rental income increases when the rent relief scheme disappears as scheduled. Very short sighted move by the Govt, who will have to be reliant on landlords giving the correct info to the PRTB, i.e. taking their word for it.

PPS not essential. Nice to have but if he won't supply it, then you can't force him. Name address + contact number will suffice. You can if you wish attach a cover note detailing his refusal to provide his PPS. State how rent is being paid.

csi vegas

later12 wrote: »

My sister is renting a property in Dublin where the landlord routinely enters without permission. He walked in on her last week while she was floating about in a bathtowel, apparently to do some work on the bathroom.

He also insists that the rent be collected in cash, for which purpose he lets himself into the apartment when she's not home, and refuses to sign her application for tax relief for Revenue. He won't even stick to a specific day when he's going to collect the rent; just strolls in when it suits him.

He even tried making her pay for the PRTB registration fee when she first moved in, obviously she told him to buzz off.

They have awful rows and she keeps telling him she's entitled to break the lease because of his behaviour; which of course she is, but the apartment is in a nice area and is a steal!

Tell your sister to get out of there pronto! The place is rigged with hidden cameras SURELY! :eek: I am serious.

steddyeddy

Just back guys pm's are on the way. I found out about the site from America and theres only a few Irish landlords rated on it. So fill in any info about any dodgy landlords to warn others.

Pottler

steddyeddy wrote: »

Just back guys pm's are on the way. I found out about the site from America and theres only a few Irish landlords rated on it. So fill in any info about any dodgy landlords to warn others.

Include me and you're going in the boot of my Primera.:D No, really, you are..

Smidge

steddyeddy wrote: »

Just back guys pm's are on the way. I found out about the site from America and theres only a few Irish landlords rated on it. So fill in any info about any dodgy landlords to warn others.

Count me in also for the PM please

lounakin

Be careful what you write on it though, there was a similar website for solicitors and everyone got sued.

toexpress

lounakin wrote: »

There should be an online site where people could review those landlords so that they'd have to make an effort to get tenants.

Yeah do we all remember ratemysolicitor.com such a website would be a hot bed for defamatory action

Why don't we as landlords have a website where we can review tenants from hell?? Same reason really

ringadingding

A good system here in Austria, almost all rentals come with nothing.
No kitchen, no bathroom, no appliances , nothing.
You rent your walls and floor, ( relatively cheaply) the landlord takes a big deposit ( 5 months rent ( which goes into a secure high interest account which neither can touch, with the interest accrued going to the tenant) )
You can do whatever you want in the apartment, but you must return it back how you found it - walls and floor.
The landlord has no real rights, legally can not hold keys for the place and once the rent is decided by the financial index inflation guide.


People invest in their rentals here and it's perfectly normal to rent for life.

It's financially tough the first time with the big deposits and no appliances ( when I moved in there wasn't even light switches) but you invest a bit knowing you're pretty well protected.

Naturally, there's places to stay if you're a student or not long term with supplied furniture etc, but they are costlier.

Also, the government here make renting more appealing than buying, they have avoided any kind of recession or property boom, rents are kept artificially low, council housing is superb, it's unnappleing tax wise to buy to rent and banks will only give you a mortgage if you have 60% of the house price saved up.

UCDVet

lounakin wrote: »

Be careful what you write on it though, there was a similar website for solicitors and everyone got sued.

It should be easy enough to make a website that is completely anonymous. Would make the suing of users awfully difficult.

MistyCheese

UCDVet wrote: »

It should be easy enough to make a website that is completely anonymous. Would make the suing of users awfully difficult.

Yeah but then how could you trust the reviews? If just anyone can log in and claim ridiculous stuff like "the house had no upstairs floor" or "the flat would go on fire every day at four and again at half past six".

mattjack

Pottler wrote: »

Include me and you're going in the boot of my Primera.:D No, really, you are..

Hey , I've a Primera too, I recently discovered I could fit herself and one of the little 'uns into the boot.

Now there's an idea... I'm sure I could rent the boot out

GRMA

In the first place I was in a few years back the landlord used to let himself in, first few times I calmly told him I wasn't comfortable with that and he was to ring in advance of he wanted to come into the house "yeah yeah yeah", didn't listen.

Lost the plot one day when I came home from a really long day at work, just before nine and caught him rooting through my records (I collect vinyl) with loads of them out of their sleeves. When I asked him wtf he was doing he told me he was passing the time listening to them until I got home - then asked me what took me so long as I was usually back at seven!!!! He wanted the rent.

Lost my temper and started yelling at him to get out, the ****er wouldn't leave ' his house' and started challenging me to a fight in the street. I was 18 at the time and this guy was a fat ****er twice the size of me in his late thirties. He eventually left after he got an apology he insisted on. If it happened me today Id have punched the dickhead or rang the guards (probably the best thing to do), but as i said i was only 18 and v intimidated. Text him the next day and told him I was leaving.

Who knows what other stuff he snooped through? hope it doesn't sound ott but I literally felt ill at the thought

I'd already paid that months rent and he wouldn't give me my deposit even though the house was even cleaner than when I moved in, place was shining, I'm a bit of a neat freak you see. place wasn't cheap either but I liked it so paying a little more than it was worth didn't bother me too much, was fair innocent back then. He also started demanding a few more months extra rent because I was breaking the lease, got very threatening on the phone saying stuff like "we're going to have a major problem if you don't, don't make me have to settle this face to face", he then told me to call around to his house.

Changed his tune though when I called around to his house with a few of my more politically aware friends. Nearly shat himself when he saw them and heard the northern accents! "We're here with GRMA to collect his deposit, discuss the money you are demanding off him and to make sure there's no problems " was all it took. Was all polite, please and thank yous, then and gave me my deposit. Typical bully.

Obviously thought he had the IRA calling at his door rather than a few Republicans, three in their twenties and a couple of aul fellas, from Belfast!

Learned a few valuable lessons, most importantly never pay cash in hand. Make sure they are registeted etc If the landlord does something you don't like nip it in the bud straight away even if it makes you feel like a bit of a dickhead. Contact the relevant bodies. Don't be afraid to involve the guards.

MistyCheese

GRMA wrote: »

Who knows what other stuff he snooped through? hope it doesn't sound ott but I literally felt ill at the thought

Doesn't sound OTT to me at all, I hate the thought of my landlord in my flat when I'm not there. I don't think he's doing anything, and I'm not hiding anything, but he still shouldn't be there.

steddyeddy

toexpress wrote: »

Yeah do we all remember ratemysolicitor.com such a website would be a hot bed for defamatory action

Why don't we as landlords have a website where we can review tenants from hell?? Same reason really

Well Ireland doesnt have decent laws protecting tenants deposits. Many if not most landlords I came across didnt even supply a rent book and a lot take cash in hand. There needs to be a way of warning about about dodgy landlords.

HavingCrack

There don't seem to be as many private landlords here in the north of England, seems to be an awful lot more letting agencies. On the whole they seem to be a lot better than some of the lads back in Ireland. I came across some absolute fcukers of landlords in the US as well, far worse than Ireland in my experience.

lounakin

toexpress wrote: »

Yeah do we all remember ratemysolicitor.com such a website would be a hot bed for defamatory action

Why don't we as landlords have a website where we can review tenants from hell?? Same reason really

Sure why not! I don't care, I'm a brilliant tenant so I wouldn't fear a review!

B.A._Baracus

Sorry if this is a stupid question

But whats all this mention of tax relief and contacting the revenue?
If you rent, you are entitled to lower tax or something back or something?

ArtSmart

'no business logic' 'no advantage' 'self-defeating'

LOL

You know what qualifications, education level, business savvy, etc one needs to be a landlord?


Dat's Righ'


None.

None what so ever.

toexpress

steddyeddy wrote: »

Well Ireland doesnt have decent laws protecting tenants deposits. Many if not most landlords I came across didnt even supply a rent book and a lot take cash in hand. There needs to be a way of warning about about dodgy landlords.

Utter nonsense. We have the PRTB which is totally focused on the tenant and to hell with the landlord. As regards taking cash in hand for the rent I don't know how anyone gets away with that these days because if the landlord doesn't register the tenancy with the PRTB there is a huge fine and the tenant can report that to the PRTB. I can't see to many landlords taking that risk unless they are as dumb as a box of hair

In respect of rent books, you have a lease agreement that states a payment date for the rent, most rents are paid by standing order from bank to bank providing a reference and so your bank statement is the receipt

Milk & Honey

toexpress wrote: »

Utter nonsense. We have the PRTB which is totally focused on the tenant and to hell with the landlord. As regards taking cash in hand for the rent I don't know how anyone gets away with that these days because if the landlord doesn't register the tenancy with the PRTB there is a huge fine and the tenant can report that to the PRTB. I can't see to many landlords taking that risk unless they are as dumb as a box of hair

In respect of rent books, you have a lease agreement that states a payment date for the rent, most rents are paid by standing order from bank to bank providing a reference and so your bank statement is the receipt

A huge fine? You must be joking. Since when is €90 a huge fine? Even to a landlord.