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colin44
Joined: 07 Jan 2009
Posts: 338
Location: Bristol
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 Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 11:40 am Post subject: I have just givrn notice to a Tenant ... WHY ... Read on ... |
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I got a call from a tenant to say that the shower head was leaking !!! and could I fit a new one.
A bit miffed at being called at 11:40pm ... But hey I'm a landlord .
I have also had 2 phone calls from other Tenants in the same block complaining about him. (mainly noise)
I got to his flat at 9:30 this morning (as arranged)
The shower head is on a hose that is long enough to reach the shower try ... On inspection it was obvious that the shower head had been dropped ... Also the ceramic soap dish that is built into the tiles was broke ...
The whole flat looked like a tornado had gone through it ... Clothes / Rubbish / Dishes / You name it it was a mess everywhere ... The Kitchen was in such a state I ended up cleaning it ... Burnt food left in pans ... Top of the Cooker was filthy ... The Fridge stank of sour milk ... 2 old bikes in the communal hallway chained to the gas pipe ...
I could go on but I won't ...
I called him at his work to tell him of my disgust ... He told me that I had no right to inspect the place without his permission !!! ( WTF he asked me to fit a new shower head, did he think that I was going to do this blind-folded with a peg on my nose ??? )
I told him that he has 7 days to get the flat back into shape or he can leave ... His reply to me was -- I like living like that !!!
I have just returned from his place of work after giving him a months notice ... I will also be charging him for the damage to the shower and for cleaning up ...
This guy is 37 FFS ...
You will never guess what his job is ... He is a financial adviser in a Bank ... 
Colin  |
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greengirl09
Joined: 23 Apr 2009
Posts: 23
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| Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 2:23 pm Post subject: |
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Its not your place to decide the level of your tenants' cleanliness! Or make pointless discriminations based on their age or profession.
If he has caused damage, then take it out of his bond.
Is it written in your contractual agreement that he must keep the place to your standard of cleanliness and if so is there a 7 day clause?
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Elina
Joined: 30 Nov 2006
Posts: 19760
Location: London
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| Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 2:45 pm Post subject: |
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| Why would you clean your tenants flat? That's up to him to sort out |
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colin44
Joined: 07 Jan 2009
Posts: 338
Location: Bristol
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| Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 2:52 pm Post subject: |
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| greengirl09 wrote: | Its not your place to decide the level of your tenants' cleanliness! Or make pointless discriminations based on their age or profession.
If he has caused damage, then take it out of his bond.
Is it written in your contractual agreement that he must keep the place to your standard of cleanliness and if so is there a 7 day clause?
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Why is it that people of low inteligence are allowed to have a computer.
Making a statement about some ones age and profession is neither pointless or discriminating ... Going by this mans age and profession he should be able to keep a place clean and tidy ... What the hell is wrong with you ??? (maybe you just like to stir things up)
And in answer to your question ... Yes I do have a cleanliness clause, don't you ? ... Then again why would a tenant want a cleanliness clause ? ... If you own something that you rent out you expect it to be looked after and not turned into a tip ... And you would not want the neighbors ringing you up complaining about them ...
Colin |
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colin44
Joined: 07 Jan 2009
Posts: 338
Location: Bristol
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| Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 2:57 pm Post subject: |
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| Elina wrote: | | Why would you clean your tenants flat? That's up to him to sort out |
I did not clean his flat (more to the point my flat)
I cleaned my Cooker and Fridge.
I am NOT talking about a few spills here ... There were things on the cooker that were burnt, as if he had done out or to bed and left things on on the cooker.
If any of you had gone around to a flat that you own and saw what I saw you would be livid.
Colin |
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greengirl09
Joined: 23 Apr 2009
Posts: 23
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| Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 3:47 pm Post subject: |
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| colin44 wrote: | | greengirl09 wrote: | Its not your place to decide the level of your tenants' cleanliness! Or make pointless discriminations based on their age or profession.
If he has caused damage, then take it out of his bond.
Is it written in your contractual agreement that he must keep the place to your standard of cleanliness and if so is there a 7 day clause?
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Why is it that people of low inteligence are allowed to have a computer.
Making a statement about some ones age and profession is neither pointless or discriminating ... Going by this mans age and profession he should be able to keep a place clean and tidy ... What the hell is wrong with you ??? (maybe you just like to stir things up)
And in answer to your question ... Yes I do have a cleanliness clause, don't you ? ... Then again why would a tenant want a cleanliness clause ? ... If you own something that you rent out you expect it to be looked after and not turned into a tip ... And you would not want the neighbors ringing you up complaining about them ...
Colin |
Indeed Colin, its beyond all of us how you were allowed a computer! (and just for reference, it is spelt: intelligence)
You are being judgemental. So you are saying that all 37 year old males in the financial industry should have high standards of cleanliness?
What is "wrong with me" is narrow minded landlords like you who decide to make up new rules as and when they wish.
So, you actually have a "cleanliness clause" in your contract? I would be interested to know, word for word what it says. I have never heard of such a thing.
Perhaps you ought to use more stringent screening methods for your future tenants and not expect that based on a certain age or profession that they will live up to your standards. Someone much younger and with a more junior position might make a much better tenant but you would probably overlook someone like that purely because you might think they wouldn't be clean and/or responsible.
I'm really sorry if you originally posted this rant looking for sympathy, but you've only exposed yourself for being a complete slum lord. |
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colin44
Joined: 07 Jan 2009
Posts: 338
Location: Bristol
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| Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 5:25 pm Post subject: |
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greengirl09
I knew you were a tenant ... !!!
Do you know what clean is ???
No ... Thought not .
Colin |
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Bluey
Community Moderator
Joined: 21 Mar 2006
Posts: 5643
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| Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 6:27 pm Post subject: |
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Do you not undertake regular inspections anyhow, after providing advance notice and receiving permission to enter the property from the tenant?
I understand its a major frustration for landlords that have tenants who think their only responsibility is to pay the rent and don't appreciate that they are responsible for other things.
I'm not sure I'd worry about untidiness and dirt if the inventory/schedule of condition is water-tight as if they left the property in a bad state, they would have to pay to right it upon exit.
If I were a landlord, I'd definately serve notice on a tenant with anti-social behaviour (i.e. noisy) and for health and safety reasons if I believed their behaviour was risky and could lead to a fire, plus if they were lazy and wouldn't change fuses, lightbulbs or pay for things they'd broken.
but not sure i'd be inclined to lose a paying tenant who is a slob. |
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colin44
Joined: 07 Jan 2009
Posts: 338
Location: Bristol
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| Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 9:08 pm Post subject: |
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Hello Bluey
Thank you for your sensible reply.
Now that I have had time to cool off a bit, I think that maybe I should not have gone to his work place.
But I was right to give him notice ... I think that I was very lucky that he did not set fire to the flat judging by what I found on top of the cooker ... When I spoke to him about this he was very flippant about it ... He even had the cheek to tell me that I was only there to fix the shower, and not to inspect the flat ... There was a half empty bottle of milk in the fridge that looked like clotted cream and stank to high heaven ... Two old bikes chained to a gas pipe in a public hallway !!! ... Umpteen plates with dryed on food in the lounge and kitchen ... This was not something that had just happend, this was how he had been living for months (four months and two weeks to be exact) ... I let this flat furnished so I hate to think what the bed and the three piece will look like once all the rubbish has been cleared away (and I do mean rubbish, I don't think that he has ever been to the bin store since he moved in)
His references all checked out ... So why would I not I rent to him ?
To all you who have jumped to his defence ... I feel very sorry for your Landlords if you think that this sort of behaviour is acceptable ... One day you may own something ... Can you tell me if you would be happy with a tenant like this ???
Colin |
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greengirl09
Joined: 23 Apr 2009
Posts: 23
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| Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 9:27 am Post subject: |
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| colin44 wrote: | Hello Bluey
Thank you for your sensible reply.
Now that I have had time to cool off a bit, I think that maybe I should not have gone to his work place.
But I was right to give him notice ... I think that I was very lucky that he did not set fire to the flat judging by what I found on top of the cooker ... When I spoke to him about this he was very flippant about it ... He even had the cheek to tell me that I was only there to fix the shower, and not to inspect the flat ... There was a half empty bottle of milk in the fridge that looked like clotted cream and stank to high heaven ... Two old bikes chained to a gas pipe in a public hallway !!! ... Umpteen plates with dryed on food in the lounge and kitchen ... This was not something that had just happend, this was how he had been living for months (four months and two weeks to be exact) ... I let this flat furnished so I hate to think what the bed and the three piece will look like once all the rubbish has been cleared away (and I do mean rubbish, I don't think that he has ever been to the bin store since he moved in)
His references all checked out ... So why would I not I rent to him ?
To all you who have jumped to his defence ... I feel very sorry for your Landlords if you think that this sort of behaviour is acceptable ... One day you may own something ... Can you tell me if you would be happy with a tenant like this ???
Colin |
I agree that chaining a bike to a gas pipe is a health and safety issue and I would be concerned about that if I were a landlord.
But I agree with your tenant's "flippant" comments. You were there to change a shower head. You had no business going through his fridge AND doing his dishes. Did you go through his underware drawer to check the level of cleanliness there too?
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Bluey
Community Moderator
Joined: 21 Mar 2006
Posts: 5643
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| Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 10:09 am Post subject: |
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| greengirl09 wrote: |
I agree that chaining a bike to a gas pipe is a health and safety issue and I would be concerned about that if I were a landlord.
But I agree with your tenant's "flippant" comments. You were there to change a shower head. You had no business going through his fridge AND doing his dishes. Did you go through his underware drawer to check the level of cleanliness there too?
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Heh, heh, heh - judging by his aversion to dusting, disposing of rubbish and washing up, I'd have thought only someone wearing rubber gloves and a face mask would have gone anywhere near his gussets... |
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colin44
Joined: 07 Jan 2009
Posts: 338
Location: Bristol
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| Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 10:23 am Post subject: |
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greengirl09
If you read what I have written you will see that I did not do his washing up.
As for going to the fridge , there was a smell a very over-powering stink ... What would you have done ? ... I have also had 2 phone calls with complaints about him ... I had every right to do what I have done ... If I had ignored what I had seen and done nothing and he had set fire to the place and everyone in the block had died, who do you think would have got the blame ? Get real with your comments ...
So you agree that chaining a bike to a gas pipe is a health and safety issue ... but you seem to thing setting fire to the top of the cooker is OK !!!
Let me ask you 3 questions ...
Q 1 ... Would you like to live next door to this guy ?
Q 2 ... Would you be happy with renting your place out, only to see it in this state ?
Q 3 ... What would you have expected a responsible landlord to do ?
Colin |
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greengirl09
Joined: 23 Apr 2009
Posts: 23
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| Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 12:18 pm Post subject: |
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| colin44 wrote: | greengirl09
If you read what I have written you will see that I did not do his washing up.
As for going to the fridge , there was a smell a very over-powering stink ... What would you have done ? ... I have also had 2 phone calls with complaints about him ... I had every right to do what I have done ... If I had ignored what I had seen and done nothing and he had set fire to the place and everyone in the block had died, who do you think would have got the blame ? Get real with your comments ...
So you agree that chaining a bike to a gas pipe is a health and safety issue ... but you seem to thing setting fire to the top of the cooker is OK !!!
Let me ask you 3 questions ...
Q 1 ... Would you like to live next door to this guy ?
Q 2 ... Would you be happy with renting your place out, only to see it in this state ?
Q 3 ... What would you have expected a responsible landlord to do ?
Colin |
Colin,
Seek help before it is too late:
http://www.angermanage.co.uk/
gg09 |
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colin44
Joined: 07 Jan 2009
Posts: 338
Location: Bristol
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| Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 12:25 pm Post subject: |
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greengirl09
Take your own advice !!!
Churchill once said ...
"Some people will never amount to anything"
Colin |
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colin44
Joined: 07 Jan 2009
Posts: 338
Location: Bristol
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| Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 12:26 pm Post subject: |
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greengirl09
I also see that you did not answer the questions ... TuT TuT
Colin |
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jeffc
Joined: 09 May 2009
Posts: 1
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| Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 5:34 pm Post subject: |
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Collin,
don't listen to these morons. It's utlimately your place and what you say, goes. It's not his to destroy. Being messy isn't so much an issue but if he is being really dirty(esp with food) then it could lead to mice, insects, mold, etc..
Then when these problems do occur then you will get another phone call about the mice problem.
You made the right decision. |
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Bluey
Community Moderator
Joined: 21 Mar 2006
Posts: 5643
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| Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 5:40 pm Post subject: |
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Good point about pest and mould problems that come from lazy and dirty tenants who won't keep the property clean, warm and ventilated.
A crumb is a meal to a mouse...
According to advice given about mould, the primary reason is tenant lifestyle - failure to open windows after steamy baths, put lids on pans, keep the place warm, drying damp washing in the house, etc.
I read a landlord forum and many landlords have sent in damp specialists after complaints from tenants only to find that the tenants have switched off the heating to save money and have blocked vents and fans. |
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colin44
Joined: 07 Jan 2009
Posts: 338
Location: Bristol
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| Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 6:47 pm Post subject: |
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Hello
jeffc . & . Bluey
jeffc ... Welcome to Gumtree Forums.
Thank you for your replies.
I have been renting out Houses / Flats / Shared Houses / Bed & Breakfast places for over 20 years (not all my own properties, as I have acted as an agent in the past) I have seen a few things over the years but this really took top prize ... There is a management company running the building so I will inform them on monday ... Although they can't be doing too good a job or they would have reported the 2 bikes to me ...
I will keep you informed.
Colin |
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colin44
Joined: 07 Jan 2009
Posts: 338
Location: Bristol
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| Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 12:48 pm Post subject: |
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UP-DATE
This morning , I got my flat back ... On inspection it will need a complete clean and a few items replaced. The people living in the flat above have been telling me stories of noise ( loud music and doors slamming ) and smells ... They did tell me that he always looked very smart and well dressed, this is not the image that the flat shows.
Colin |
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jenniferdawson
Joined: 07 May 2008
Posts: 17
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| Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 2:15 pm Post subject: |
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| You'd be amazed how some people live! |
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Brightonman
Joined: 29 May 2009
Posts: 62
Location: Brighton
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| Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 5:03 pm Post subject: |
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colin 44, I guess that you don't own many flats! Try to be less emotional about your properties. Now you have a period of void (no rent) whilst you clean up and find a new tenant and no guarantee that the next one will be any better!
I prefer the "well, I don't have to live with the scumbag approach" and let sleeping dogs lie. The only time I intervene is when there are complaints from other tenants, the smell in the commonways is overpowering or there is a problem extending beyond the flat ie water through ceilings or rubbish/junk in the commonways. I find the best way is to use my charm and personality (or lack of it) to manage the problems away. At the end of the day, you have remove the scumbag's slime whether he remains in your place for 6 months or 60 years.
You could always try another way to win a crust but its my guess that it won't be as lucrative so stop whining and make yourself happy spending the financial rewqards!  |
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colin44
Joined: 07 Jan 2009
Posts: 338
Location: Bristol
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| Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 8:50 pm Post subject: |
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| Brightonman wrote: | colin 44, I guess that you don't own many flats! Try to be less emotional about your properties. Now you have a period of void (no rent) whilst you clean up and find a new tenant and no guarantee that the next one will be any better!
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Maybe this is not much to some people .........
7 Flats ( 4 x 1 Bed, 2 x 2 Bed, 1 x 4 Bed )
5 Houses ( 2 x 3 Bed, 1 x 4 Bed, 2 x 5 Bed
B+B ( 11 Bed )
2 x Shared Houses ( 2 x 3 Bed )
And a 50% share of 4 other properties. ( 4 Bed Houses )
80% are run through an agent the rest I look after.
'Emotional' --- Yes --- only 40% have a mortgage, the rest I own out-right.
I give a damn about all my properties, anyone taking the piss are out.
I don't give a damn if they are empty for a few weeks.
"I guess that you don't own many flats"
Colin |
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Brightonman
Joined: 29 May 2009
Posts: 62
Location: Brighton
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| Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 9:17 pm Post subject: |
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A few more than 50 Colin, a mix of houses and flats, run the whole lot myself, no agents! Maybe its that I don't have time to get emotionally involved with it.
I hope to live and enjoy myself rather than run the risk of ulcers and heart attacks! I also appreciate that there are many people who are disadvantaged in life and I often take on tenants without deposits in certain circumstances. Sometimes they let me down and other times not. But then I can still afford the very nice things in life, take regular holidays to see friends in far away places and still find time to write down certain events as "life experiences" with a smile. Perhaps we should compare notes to see who can win the prestigious "scummiest tenant award"! |
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PhilipTapper
Joined: 21 Oct 2008
Posts: 13
Location: Reading
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| Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2009 4:56 pm Post subject: where are your properties based |
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what is your rental price and would you accept tenant on housing benefit
and how long is the tenancy agreement for |
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Brightonman
Joined: 29 May 2009
Posts: 62
Location: Brighton
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| Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2009 5:02 pm Post subject: |
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| In some of my places, I take tenants in receipt of Housing Benefit but only through Brighton Housing trust and only on condition of payment direct to landlord. Tenancy agreement for an initial 6 months and then a lapsed periodic tenancy! |
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