Ok, thanks a lot for the feedback.

Solumtoya:


Yes, they do, but it may be based on tight negotiations but YES, they do. Initially, my folks said they couldn't give me but the Mortgage Advisor they recommended helped me push for it when he saw I was serious but needed that 5% to make it work ASAP

Hi Chief,

Please do you know if Persimmon gives 5% deposit contribution as incentive for the their developments in NW, Lvpl precisely?

Thanks

Solumtoya:


My personal experience from Persimmon has been fantastic.

As an aside, you can refer and earn £500. The person referred also gets £500. So if anyone wants to reserve with Persimmon, try and get someone's Referral Voucher first.

Thanks Zahra29

Zahra29:


Agreed...

@DadR

#1 should resolve the issues with your Experian report. You may also need to contact/review your reports with other providers like Clear Score in case there's also been any impact there.

#2. You could also make a formal complaint to the regular,Ofgem: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/complain-about-your-energy-supplier-0

Or when you contact the energy company, threaten them that you will be taking this matter to Ofgem, and Action Fraud if necessary, if they do not resolve this promptly

The call you made last week should be recorded - they should be able to retrieve this with your reference number and date/time of the call. Request a transcript of the call for your records in case you need this proof down the line.

Thanks Ticha!

Ticha:


1. Raise a dispute on Experian and attach your evidence as a first step so they can remove the information.
2. Raise a formal complaint with thr energy company again, detailing previous comms and requesting they uodate your information, call off their debt collectors and put all to you in writing. Obviously this is where you complain about the stress on you, your finances etc.
If they're part of of the ombudsman, escalate to them too at the same time. I am not sure if the FCA also regulates utility companies but it's worth researching into and escalating to them as well.
3. Litigation is expensive and there is no guarantee of success.

Greetings Elders,

Please, I need your guidance on how best to approach my situation.

I received a debt recovery letter from a Legal firm on behalf of the energy company I used in an apartment I vacated almost 2 years ago stating that I'm owing the sum of £2.2k for energy bills accruing from the date I vacated the apartment till date. I reached out to the energy company with my account details and the customer service person confirmed that my account had been settled and closed and that the other account in my name with accrued debt was opened by them internally. She apologised and stated that they would reach out to Experian to take it off my credit file (in my head, I assumed that it is not on my credit file as I usually check Credit Karma and never seen any of such report. I told her I wanted to raise a complaint which she raised for me, sent me the reference number and told me that someone from the Resolution Team will call me the following day. However, no one has called since over a week.

I ordered my credit report from Experian last week and it arrived today. Also, I've received another letter from the Legal firm chasing me for the debt I do not owe and stating that I have to arrange a repayment plan latest 30th July. After reviewing my credit report from Experian, I noted that the energy company had reported at least 3 missing payments on my credit report and this will stay on my report for at least 6 years, thereby affecting future credit applications, especially Mortgage.

Please can you advise on how best to approach this situation? Do I file a law suit against the company, demand financial compensation, etc?

Thank you.

cc Lexusgs340, Ticha, Justwise, Zahra29, et all.

I appreciate your feedback, thanks a lot!

Ticha:


My biggest issues with shared ownership
1. You will pay market rate rent on the portion you don't own and this increases annually or as detailed in the agreement (usually in line with CPI)
2. You will not benefit from any rise in capital value from the share you don't own
4. When you staircase, ie buy more of the builders share, you will have to pay costs including a valuation fee and the solicitors fee for the builder.
5. Any extra you buy will be at market rate valuation.

Do the calculations and see if it works out for you. Remember the max you can buy initially is 75% and majority of developers seem to cap it at 50% initially anyway. So whichever way, you will still be paying some rent

Greetings,

Please, for someone with no much deposit but wants to get on the property ladder rather than renting, is getting a mortgage through shared ownership (like 25% - 30%) worth considering?

What are the major cons and can someone opt out after paying off the % ownership and use that as a deposit for an another freehold property?

Thanks

@ticha, baba lexus!

I did not do any follow up and do not have any contact details. I was also surprised when I received the parcel because I wasn't expecting it soon.

SamReinvented:


This means that they are not following the queue accordingly. My biometrics was on 2nd May and I’m still waiting. Did you follow up with them at any point? If you can share the contact details, that’ll be helpful. Thank you.

Yes, it was delivered to my house. You will need to go with a £20 postal order and you will be a given a tracking number.

hustla:



Delivered to your house? Thought they ask you to come and collect it at their office like in Nigeria

Interesting

Do they provide a tracking number?

Collection may not take up to 3 months I think. My Son did biometrics on May 23rd and his new passport was delivered to us on July 15th.

@hustla

bigtt76:
Good you've done it, 3 months at least for collection but better you do it now than next year

Haha, the policy at that time will favour me and my family. 😂

I greet you Oga Lexus 🙌

Lexusgs430:



They are waiting for you, when renewal is up ........😂😁

Thanks, my Oga.

I've submitted our applications this afternoon. I couldn't afford to wait any longer because extra £2600 is not a small margin.

Make eye no see evil, na all the body be the medicine. 😂

Goke7:


Am hearing it has been implemented, chai this is bad mhen, no update whatsoever, just a press conference and direct implementation

Your feedback is appreciated, thank you.

Schoolhike:



Another angle to this is that, securing a job with less than 2 months left on the visa might be a little bit off to some employer most especially those that can’t sponsor, except if you are only pursuing sponsorship jobs.



Last year December, I locked up not to only apply for jobs that can sponsor, so I started applying to jobs that can’t sponsor after getting the psw, eventually got one, after 4 months on the job, like 10 of us in the company were made redundant, eventually got another one (which would probably come with sponsorship from my research), after a month of thorough searching with lots of interviews rounds like 2 in a week,



(then I remembered an advise from the thread that not to be too loyal with a company when opportunity arise, some other opportunities did arise when on that job, but turned a blind eye)




Well all in all, would advise you apply as soon as possible cos of the increment and also be able to apply for jobs without the fear of an expiring visa which some employer might take serious because sincerely, I got to know during my job search that the competition out there is stiff, compared to when I came in in 2021.

Thank you, Chief!

I hope the increment is not about to happen with this planned maintenance. 😂

Goke7:


I think you should calm down, there should be further announcements on when the new increase will kick off so keep an eye on it. If the increase will kick in before your September when you visa expires then I will advise you apply for your psw before the date the new increase starts. For now pursue your desire for work visa, you never know what’s ahead.

Greetings, my people!

The news of the imminent significant increase in IHS and Visa Fee don wake silent reader up o! Please, I need your kind opinion.

We are currently on Tier 4 visas which will expire towards the end of Sept. 2023. Also, my spouse has just been cleared by her school hence we are now eligible to apply for postgraduate study work visa .

While we are still exploring the possibilities of securing a job with Tier 2 sponsorship, our plan was to wait till a week before the expiration of our Tier 4 visas before applying for PSW visa with the hope of securing a Tier 2 sponsorship before then. But now, we are worried that the proposed increment in IHS and visa fees might take effect before the end of Sept 2023.

So, please, do you think this increment might happen sooner than we think or will they announce on a particular day and state that it will take effect in a month's time, for instance?

Should we just apply now to hedge the risk of not incurring any additional costs?

If the above is yes and we later apply, in a short while, to switch from PSW to Tier 2, will the Home Office refund the unutilized portion of the IHS paid for 2 years PSW?

Make una no vex for my long story o, I no fit sleep like dis cos na fam of 3 we be and dis additional cost no be small tin!

Thank you!

Congratulations Bro!

mcstan18:
After nearly six years on this journey, with several expired profiles, IELTS results, and ECAs in-between, the curtains have now been drawn on my quest. It’s CoPR people and below is my timeline:



YOU are next!

Thank you for your response.

justwise:


Yes as long as he gets there as early as 6.30-7AM so as to avoid long queue.

SamReinvented:


Did mine this month.

I also had appointment for 11am. I got there at few mins past 10. There was a large crowd, but I still managed to get everything finished by 1:30. So you should be fine.

They had a tally ticket machine that made the process orderly… but the thing stopped working just before I had almost completed my process and vawulence was about to break out as I was leaving

I greet o my people, it's been a minute!

Please, my son has an appointment at the Nigeria Embassy in London to renew his expired passport in 2 weeks time. The appointment time is 11am so I would like to confirm from those who have been there recently if it's possible to conclude the process latest 5pm on same day.

Reason I'm asking is because we live in the North-West area and would like to go and return by train on same day to avoid cost of lodging in BnB and for my son not to miss school for 2 days.

Thank you.

Will surely takehim up.

Thanks

AlphaUno:



Ah! That’s unheard of.
Youth exuberance is worrying him and he knows he has gone against the law.

Take him up on it legally and let’s see what happens

Thank you very much for your feedback.

I had reached out to the 3 custodial deposit schemes and they all confirmed to me by email that my deposit was not protected.

Also, the answer to 1, 2 & 3 below are no.

I will take it up from here.

Kind regards,

Ticha:


Majority of the information you need is in my response that you quoted. Did you check that the deposit wasn't protected? You can call up any of the 3 custodial deposit schemes and they'll tell you yes or no. It's better to get all your ducks in a row first.

You should have:
1. A rental contract
2. Right to rent documents (EICR certificate, gas safety check certificate, carbon monoxide alarm fitted and evidence)
3. Documents telling you where your deposit has been protected.

If no for any of the 3, you need to start county court proceedings. It costs 300 quid ish but you can ask that the landlord pay your costs. Claim all your rent back, plus your deposit x 3 and your costs.

https://www.gov.uk/tenancy-deposit-protection/if-your-landlord-doesnt-protect-your-deposit

Na Britico, a young guy under 30 managing his father's property.

AlphaUno:



What nationality is your LL , e get why?

Thank you for the feedback.

Viruses:


Type in Google - my landlord did not protect my rent deposit. You should be able to claim x3 times of the deposit back. You are supposed to have a rental agreement but just give it a try.

No tenancy agreement was signed in writing. He sent a draft to us by email, we reviewed and replied him that we are ok with the terms, hence he should proceed to print the agreement for both parties to sign off. But he neither replied nor talked to us since then. He totally ignored us.

Yes, the draft agreement he sent stated that the landlord would register our deposit under a protection scheme.

Thanks

koonbey:


Did you have a tenancy agreement in writing and signed?

Did that agreement state that the landlord would use a deposit protection scheme?

Hello Madam Ticha
cc: Oga @Lexusgs430, Oga @TheGuyFromHr et all.

We vacated our 2 BR flat on Nov 3, 2022 (12 days to the end of our 6 months tenancy - Nov 15th), although we gave more than 1 month notice to our useless landlord.

A bit of background - he didn't talk to us since we paid and moved in. He didn't fix any issues we had in the flat despite several follow-ups. He didn't also register our deposit neither did he sign and give us any contract/agreement.

Now, since we've left, he is yet to refund our deposit. We've called times severally but didn't pick up, he later blocked my line from calling him. His maintenance guy had notified him that the flat was left in good order.

Kindly advise with which organisation/body I can escalate to, to recover our £775 deposit back. And will I pay for this service? We are based in Liverpool.

Many thanks!

Ticha:


You have a tenancy under law so fear not. As long as you're paying rent as agreed, you have an active tenancy. Lexus is right. In this case, you won't even lose your deposit regardless of damage because he has broken the law by not lodging it and therefore can't claim anything off it. Even if he lodges it later, he has still failed to abide by the tenancy act. The good thing about not having a signed agreement is that there are no detrimental clauses he can enforce - at all.


Write him formally - by email and text (preferred for evidence) or by post - registered delivery so you have evidence - detailing what needs to be fixed, ask to have the tenancy agreement signed by both of you and your deposit protection letter for your own records. For example, you will need the tenancy agreement for certain things - prove your address, visa stuff as and when the time comes...

Is the issue to be fixed quite bad? i.e. does it impact on you living there? If it is very bad and he's not responsive, contact environmental health. The council will force him to take action but of course your relationship with him may become fraught.

But if you're leaving after 6 months, just relax and take him to the dispute resolution once the tenancy ends and claim back your deposit plus the extra. And if he has not provided any right to rent documents, claim the whole of your 6 months rent back too. First and foremost - check that he definitely hasn't protected it. You can easily check any of the 3 services - https://www.gov.uk/tenancy-deposit-protection/if-your-landlord-doesnt-protect-your-deposit

Make sure you give the right notice. Which is one month. Read here for more information - https://www.gov.uk/private-renting-tenancy-agreements/your-landlord-wants-to-end-your-tenancy

Thank you very much for the robust feedback, God bless you.

I will proceed as you've advised.

Ticha:


You have a tenancy under law so fear not. As long as you're paying rent as agreed, you have an active tenancy. Lexus is right. In this case, you won't even lose your deposit regardless of damage because he has broken the law by not lodging it and therefore can't claim anything off it. Even if he lodges it later, he has still failed to abide by the tenancy act. The good thing about not having a signed agreement is that there are no detrimental clauses he can enforce - at all.


Write him formally - by email and text (preferred for evidence) or by post - registered delivery so you have evidence - detailing what needs to be fixed, ask to have the tenancy agreement signed by both of you and your deposit protection letter for your own records. For example, you will need the tenancy agreement for certain things - prove your address, visa stuff as and when the time comes...

Is the issue to be fixed quite bad? i.e. does it impact on you living there? If it is very bad and he's not responsive, contact environmental health. The council will force him to take action but of course your relationship with him may become fraught.

But if you're leaving after 6 months, just relax and take him to the dispute resolution once the tenancy ends and claim back your deposit plus the extra. And if he has not provided any right to rent documents, claim the whole of your 6 months rent back too. First and foremost - check that he definitely hasn't protected it. You can easily check any of the 3 services - https://www.gov.uk/tenancy-deposit-protection/if-your-landlord-doesnt-protect-your-deposit

Make sure you give the right notice. Which is one month. Read here for more information - https://www.gov.uk/private-renting-tenancy-agreements/your-landlord-wants-to-end-your-tenancy

Thanks Oga HR

TheGuyFromHR:


Nothing to panic about.
You've paid rent and a deposit, so you are a lawful tenant and you will get the deposit back if you are entitled to it (not having caused any damage) when you leave.

Thanks Oga Lexus!

Lexusgs430:


Don't panic....... If your LL fails to deposit your deposit...... LL would be made to refund *3 of your deposit........ Don't panic .......


https://d-w-s.co.uk/implications-landlords-failure-protect-tenants-deposit/#:~:text=As%20a%20penalty%20for%20failing,vary%20dependent%20upon%20the%20circumstances.

Madam Ticha, I greet o.

Pls. I'm in a somewhat similar situation.

Since we rented our 2br apartment in May 2022, my landlord is yet to lodge the deposit we paid. Also, immediately we paid deposit and 1 month rent, he sent us a draft 6-month tenancy agreement for our review and concurrence before both parties sign off. We got back to him that we are cool with the terms hence we should proceed to sign off. Up till now he hasn't said anything about it. In fact, that was his last communication to us.

I've sent SMS, WhatsApp messages, emails, called but he would neither pick nor respond. The guy is alive o, hale and hearty.

We needed him to fix something in the flat too, we reached out but he ignored as usual.

What can we do please? Cos we intend to leave the flat after our 6 month tenancy and we want our deposit back.

Thank you.

Ticha:


Are you subletting? ie - living in one room and she lives there too? If so then you have very little wriggle room and you will have to leave. Boarders don't have much legal standing under tenancy laws.

However if you are renting the whole house, then she needs to issue a S21. And also check that it is issued properly. Did she lodge your deposit? Provide you with right to rent documents? Have an EICR and GSC? Are those in date? If no, she has to do all those, issue them and give you an S21.
If you deposit is not protected and those documents not provided, you can actually sue her for the whole rent you have paid...

Ok Boss, will do. Thanks

justwise:


Ok, be patient and wait until he comes back since the 6months is still running

Thanks man. I've been mailing him before this holiday season though.

I really don't know why the flat is unnecessary cold too. A river is close to the area sha, that could be a factor.

ukay2:


Good you confirmed what l was thinking....vacation....

I just think he went on holiday, because this is holiday season here and the landlord doesn't want disturbances. He will respond to all your mails when he comes back.

Why is the house so cold that warrants heating up at this time most people have even off their heaters. With time, you will adjust to the summer weather and reduce the energy bills

Thank for your advice.

My messages delivered to him on whatsapp but it doesn't show read. I think he reads them but just ignores. I wonder what he feels like. I learnt he's a young chap (less than 30). It's a big building with many flats and I think he's the one managing it for his old man.

We were assigned a facility manager to our flat and the guy is very responsive and reliable. I just messaged him now to enquire about the well-being of my landlord. He said the guy is away on vacation, that I should let him know if I need anything so that he can relay the request to him. But in the draft agreement, it was mentioned that I can relate with the landlord directly when necessary.

If my new landlord must reach out to my current landlord for referencing purpose, I may just wait till the end of the 6 months tenancy before leaving but how to get my deposit back is the koko in case he wants to prove funny.


cc justwise davide470

Viruses:


Does the WhatsApp messages show read or does not indicate? Call him with a number he does not have whether he will pick. If he does not pick, go to his house/office and discuss with him one on one. The outcome of discussion will determine next steps.

Regardless of the above, send him an email about your concerns with the deposit that you may have to report to the authorities. Please note that you must be ready to report if he does not comply else no need.

If he signs the document and give you to sign will you refuse? You might need his reference for your next accommodation. If you sign it, you will have to pay the 6 months rent even if you move out before six months.

Yea, his contact address is on the draft tenancy agreement he shared with us.

justwise:
@DadR

Do you know his office or residencia address?