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Issues with landlord's rep and no means to contact landlord directly

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  1. #1

    Issues with landlord's rep and no means to contact landlord directly

    Would need some advice on how to handle the following situation around my residential lease (other than that this landlord and his representative are more trouble than it’s worth and we have anyhow dedcided to move out as soon as practically possible).

    Landlord is in mainland, never spoke to him or even know how to contact him at all. All matters around the lease are discussed with the landlord’s representative who has been acting unreasonably for a while and is not answering any of the questions that have now arisen.

    Break clause for our current lease contract can be earliest served mid September with one month notice or payment in lieu of notice which I think is pretty standard.

    Last week I received, without any further comments, a ‘lease surrender agreement’ from the landlord by means of which I was supposed to give up the lease effective mid of September.

    I wrote to the landlord’s representative that there is no way I would be signing this agreement and asked her whether this is to be interpreted (I was told by our legal/HR that the letter might be deemed as a termination notice, which however would be void in my opinion as served too early) that he wants to terminate the lease by mid September and pay me the compensation, or (as he may have misinterpreted the break clause) wants to terminate by mid October or what is the intention.

    Landlord’s rep did not answer any of the questions and basically told me as I don’t pay her, she would not do any work for me and that the agreement came from the landlord.

    So if anybody has any ‘cultural’ advice what I could do to get anything else than a non-reaction from the landlord’s representative, that would be appreciated, all I have written back is to provide me with an address to contact the landlord directly, as I will serve the break notice myself mid next month.

    In case she does not answer, how could I serve the termination notice? I do not have any written power of attorney for the landlord’s rep so sending it to her might be uncertain even though she has handled all matters for the past 9 years we have been living in this apartment.

    Any other advice would be appreciated, I am at my wits end how to deal with all this b/s.

    Thanks.


  2. #2

    Join Date
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    FFS stop paying rent if you plan to move out, you may never see your deposit again if both the LL and the rep are both shite.


  3. #3

    Join Date
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    Consult a lawyer.

    riversidejr likes this.

  4. #4

    Join Date
    Apr 2012
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    I had that happened, and the letter they sent was written so badly. So I stopped paying the rent, looked for another flat.

    The day I signed the new contract they sent me a message saying we could stay...

    I cleaned the flat before leaving because I am not a savage, they were really surprised.

    chuckster007 and riversidejr like this.

  5. #5

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    Keep a record and approach the Lands Tribunal. They have authority over such matters.

    Lawyering up would 0robably also scare the landlords rep.. who is probably used to mainland bullying ways.


  6. #6

    Join Date
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    Quote Originally Posted by riversidejr:
    .....she has handled all matters for the past 9 years we have been living in this apartment. .
    If that rep has been "working" for the LL for 9 years without compensation should be no surprised she is uncooperative. The chance of getting paid one month to leave is zero, it's not worth considering particularly since the LL is in China. You should move on, work out the correct date from the contract, normally one year plus a month, and find yourself another place. I don't imagine that the annoyed rep will suddenly change mood after nine years.
    riversidejr and ndt like this.

  7. #7
    Quote Originally Posted by riversidejr:

    Landlord is in mainland, never spoke to him or even know how to contact him at all.
    Don't sign a lease until the landlord is able to provide their address and show up on the day of signing.
    riversidejr likes this.

  8. #8

    Join Date
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    even though she has handled all matters for the past 9 years we have been living in this apartment.
    (Assumption) Chances are things have gone sour between LL and Rep so she is not interested in handling this property anymore, LL serves eviction notice without caring what local tenancy laws are... Best solution is to move out of toxic environment without loosing single penny and move on..

  9. #9

    Join Date
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    Not very clear what is the issue. You said you are anyhow planning to move out as soon as practically possible. LL sends you a notice to move out. Sounds like a win win to me. The only issue is that you are not clear on the move out date? LL wants you out in September but you want out in October, is this the issue?

    Then just tell LL or rep the lease can be broken in September with one month notice and you will abide by this and leave in October. Also stop paying any rent now because they are arseholes, be polite and inform them that the rent stops now and give them clear reasons why you are doing this (because they are arseholes). Move out mid October and all is good.

    riversidejr and JAherbert like this.

  10. #10
    Quote Originally Posted by walkup:
    Consult a lawyer.
    Would you have a recommendation?

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