My landlord is trying to evict me because I stopped paying rent after he failed to make repairs

Question: I have spoken to the council who have been of little help as the landlord is a private landlord. I have made numerous requests to repair a leaky roof which is allowing water into my kitchen which is causing puddles to appear when it rains heavy. He has told me that it isn’t so bad and that I’ll have to wait until he can come and look at it, but this has been for over three months now.

I can’t go on like this so I stopped paying the rent to force his hand, instead he threatened to kick me and my children out, so when I threatened legal action if he did, he has now taken me to court for the arrears. The council’s housing officer also told me that I should also have been paying the landlord with the housing benefit payments I was receiving. I have not spent the money, simply kept it in a bank account until the repairs were made.

Answer: The housing benefit officer is wrong. Your decision to keep the money in a separate account is spot on. The important thing is to write a good legal letter, typed chronological firm but courteous, and same as unless the roof is repaired within 14 days you will take the landlord to court.

It is not as daunting or expensive as it sounds and many litigants in person can manage with the help of a ‘McKenzie friend’ all law you just being brought in as required. That is where we come in

Consult Hylton-Potts, the experts who offer fixed fees, and give excellent value.

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