UK Landlord Forum / Life

Hope somebody can give a bit of advice.  Found out today the husband, i.e. one half of the landlord has gone into the bankruptcy.  His wife isn't but we know through debt collection people that she owes a lot of money to Barclaycard, Santander, Next and Argos.  We have been trying to get in touch with the landlord about their mail and also about repairs to the outside of the property for a week.

Last year we asked about the soffits being repaired as the wood is rotting and parts falling off.  We also asked when the outside of the house would be painted as it is very green with moss.  The guttering also appears to be leaking or blocked.  This is worse this year and now we have found out one half of the landlord is bankrupt and we know his wife owes a lot of money we are concerned where we stand regarding repairs.

I do think we need to contact Citizen's advice or Shelter but wondered if anybody had some comments or advice. 

I think you have allot more to worry about than mossy walls and leaking drainage.

If the landlord is bankrupt the Bank will serve notice and repossess the house at some point.

I would probably start looking else where. Did he protect your deposit?

As it is only one half of the landlord, we are unsure whether the bank will be able to repossess the house as she (currently) isn't bankrupt and the house is in their joint names. 

Thankfully our deposit was in the Deposit Protection Scheme 3 years ago, I am now concerned whether this can be taken out without knowledge.  I'll look into that as I have the initial letter from DPS.

Your deposit is safe, I would have thought, that's the point.

Without knowing the financial details we cant tell, but I would chance a hand that things will get worse not better.

If I had a chance to get out sooner rather than later I would, rather than being at the mercy of other peoples problems.

Or hang on, and see if you can buy the house cheap from the insolvency people.

Quote from: scottysusan on March 08, 2014, 10:47:18 AM
As it is only one half of the landlord, we are unsure whether the bank will be able to repossess the house as she (currently) isn't bankrupt and the house is in their joint names. 

If he's gone bankrupt and has 50K as equity in something he owns I'm sure they will get that 50k one way or another.  i.e force them to sell.  They just won't be nice and say he can leave it where it is.

Quote from: Riptide on March 10, 2014, 03:47:57 PM

Quote from: scottysusan on March 08, 2014, 10:47:18 AM
As it is only one half of the landlord, we are unsure whether the bank will be able to repossess the house as she (currently) isn't bankrupt and the house is in their joint names. 

If he's gone bankrupt and has 50K as equity in something he owns I'm sure they will get that 50k one way or another.  i.e force them to sell.  They just won't be nice and say he can leave it where it is.

I finally got a reply from my landlord and he said something similar.  He said that they re-mortgaged the house just before we rented it (just over 3 years ago) and he doesn't think there would be much equity.  It appears that the house has to be valued at some point.  Fingers crossed.