Friend's being evicted without warning now (London), help!

IceFjoem

Friend's being evicted without warning now (London), help!
Very quickly, a friend just moved over to London and got a place with a friend of a friend. (didn't have to pay deposit as a favour).

He works as a videographer and has only been in the property 10 days, he paid £300 for the first month's rent.

Today some officials from the civil service and police arrived to the door with a notice allowing them access to seize personal property to recoup two years of unpaid council tax. My friend allowed them entry and now the landlord is blaming him. It's known however that the bailiffs would have returned with a battering ram on Friday regardless.

The landlord wants him out of the house tonight and won't refund the remaining rent. This leaves my him essentially homeless and pennyless.

It's also come to light that the apartment is under a council housing scheme and that it shouldn't have been rented out in the first place.

I'm concerned that if my friend leaves the property now that he'll have no recourse to the remaining rent and will lose the money.

There was no written tenancy agreement although there was a verbal agreement. Any advice on how to proceed? Thanks.

mickdw

IceFjoem wrote: »

Friend's being evicted without warning now (London), help!
Very quickly, a friend just moved over to London and got a place with a friend of a friend. (didn't have to pay deposit as a favour).

He works as a videographer and has only been in the property 10 days, he paid £300 for the first month's rent.

Today some officials from the civil service and police arrived to the door with a notice allowing them access to seize personal property to recoup two years of unpaid council tax. My friend allowed them entry and now the landlord is blaming him. It's known however that the bailiffs would have returned with a battering ram on Friday regardless.

The landlord wants him out of the house tonight and won't refund the remaining rent. This leaves my him essentially homeless and pennyless.

It's also come to light that the apartment is under a council housing scheme and that it shouldn't have been rented out in the first place.

I'm concerned that if my friend leaves the property now that he'll have no recourse to the remaining rent and will lose the money.

There was no written tenancy agreement although there was a verbal agreement. Any advice on how to proceed? Thanks.

Run away fast, take his stuff and anything belonging to scumbag landlord that might recover his rent costs.

IceFjoem

mickdw wrote: »

Run away fast, take his stuff and anything belonging to scumbag landlord that might recover his rent costs.

Taking anything from the property is not really an option unfortunately as the landlord's partner is over at the moment for backup. The situation is fairly volatile alright but I'm just concerned that my friend is being bullied out of his accommodation needlessly. Does he have any legal recourse do you think?

Thanks.

mickdw

Sorry boards charter supports scumbag landlord ripping off genuine paid up tenants so there is no further comment to make.

Kristopherus

Report the landlord to the Housing Association/ Council in the area. Also it might be no harm to let HRM Revenue know about this scam.