Serious Landlord Problems- Help Appreciated!

iamharibo · 2012-05-22T14:49:46+02:00

I've posted a few times about the trouble I had with my previous landlord. When we moved out we paid him a lot of money- 750 for bills plus 250 towards some painting (I had marked the ceiling- we told him at the time and he told us not to worry about it but when it came to moving out he demanding payment so we paid for an easy life). There was nothing in our rental contract saying we must pay for cleaning when we moved out, and he told us all along he'd sort that. Then when it came to moving out he said it was left very messy (it wasn't) and demanded 98. I wasn't happy about this but he began sending emails daily and for an easy life I said if I can see an official receipt then I'll pay. The receipt he provided was a hand written scribble on a lined piece of paper. No heading, no company name, VAT number etc. Just Cleaning = 98 so I didn't pay it and blocked his email and telephone number. It is now 5 months since we moved out and he's written a letter to our new address (which he can only have got from the estate agent I believe?) saying if we do not pay by May 31st, there will be interest added and he will take legal action. He's also sent the same letter to some old UK addresses of mine, a random Doctor, and a lawyer. I don't feel like I can talk to our estate agent now as he's obviously giving my address out without confirming with me first, he also ignored a few emails I sent to him some months ago regarding another matter. I don't really know how I'd go about getting legal advice and I can't afford to be paying out lots when the issue is only over 98. Any advice? Can he take legal action in this case? Should I just continue to ignore him? I really do not want to pay this out of principle. If I pay it, whats to say he wont come up with ANOTHER excuse for another few hundred? I don't want to be bullied into handing over endless amounts of money to someone who failed to mention any of this to my face in the times we met after moving out- he was more than happy and polite. Only once everything was sorted and he knew he wouldn't see us again, the sexist ("as a woman you should have been more clean") emails demanding more money began. I have tried reasoning with him via email numerous times- I explained how the place was not left in such a state, how cleaning wasn't included in the contract, how a scribbled piece of paper does not qualify for a receipt. I also mentioned how he failed to inform us that a week after we moved in the building next door would be ripped down and rebuilt. We had to suffer for months of jack hammering just meters from us whilst we slept, we had our possessions broken as they fell off the shelves on the wall, the place was constantly covered in dust and fumes and we did not kick up a fuss. If the place wasn't totally clean it was only because of that building work and the fact the landlord didn't even get a cleaner in until about a month after we moved out.

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Toon Cyprus Expert

Member since 04 June 2011

ToonCyprus Expert30 January 2014 06:16:29

#81

9950

just remember that a signed contract doesnt really mean a lot to anyone... and even if it came to it - the law would in all likelyhood fall on the side of the landlord.

as many expats have experienced here - be prepared to not get the deposit back - even if you fulfill the contract requirements - they do like to keep the money in their pockets.

fergie11 Active member

Member since 16 November 2012

fergie11Active member30 January 2014 06:41:18

#82

yeah , have sort of resigned ourselves to losing the deposit anyway , have heard enough tales of landlords making up any old nonsense to get out of giving it back !!! I was just concerned that he would turn around and say he wanted the last 3 months rent that is left on the lease !

Toon Cyprus Expert

Member since 04 June 2011

ToonCyprus Expert30 January 2014 06:42:58

#83

9950

i must admit we have left property early (6months early in both cases) twice and lost the deposit (our choice for something better) but was never asked for the balance...

Moyes14 Active member

Member since 29 January 2014

Moyes14Active member31 January 2014 07:24:50

#84

Ok , thanks everyone !
Will just ensure all utilities are paid up before we depart.
Interestingly , when we arrived back in July , we got Melita in to connect Internet , tv , phone etc ! Engineer came , did the business and I signed his little screen to say the job was done ( he also liberated 100 for a " deposit " ) some time later I had to ring them and they politely informed me that we were locked into a 2 year contract !!!! At no point was this mentioned by the engineer and we have never received any contract or other paperwork relating to this !
We were only ever staying for a maximum of 1 year so I would never have contemplated signing a 2 year deal !!!! - got a feeling our relationship with this company might end on not such a positive note !!!!!😄

tearnet ViP

Member since 19 June 2011

tearnetViP31 January 2014 07:29:32

#85

2179

Moyes14 wrote:
Ok , thanks everyone !
Will just ensure all utilities are paid up before we depart.
Interestingly , when we arrived back in July , we got Melita in to connect Internet , tv , phone etc ! Engineer came , did the business and I signed his little screen to say the job was done ( he also liberated 100 for a " deposit " ) some time later I had to ring them and they politely informed me that we were locked into a 2 year contract !!!! At no point was this mentioned by the engineer and we have never received any contract or other paperwork relating to this !
We were only ever staying for a maximum of 1 year so I would never have contemplated signing a 2 year deal !!!! - got a feeling our relationship with this company might end on not such a positive note !!!!!😄

Just ask them for a copy of the contract you signed.
If they cannot supply one with your signature on it then your fine , although the chances of getting that deposit back are pretty slim.

Terry

georgeingozo ViP

Member since 24 March 2010

georgeingozoViP31 January 2014 08:10:33

#86

3703

signing the little screen is the contract signed - when I changed contract Melita emailed it to me beforehand

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