My girlfriend is pregnant and I need to break our 12 month rent contract, can I and still get my deposit back?
I am currently renting in ireland privately. My gf is 4 months pregnant and the place we are living is no longer suitable. We have signed a 12 month contract however we need to move as soon as possible. The landlord is actually useless and I suspect she is breech of her contract to us anyway. We have told her about faulty electricity months ago and she sadi she would send an electrician (never did). She also promised us a blind for the bedroom that is missing (never did). Also there was a car set on fire outside our window and the heat cracked the window. She promised us she would get it fixed 2 weeks ago and still nothing. Since we have been there (6 months), we have had our moped stolen, the place vandalised, a fire outside andf someone tried to break in. The place is clearly not suitable for someone who is with child. Is there anything I can do without inflicting massive finiancial strain on myself?
Answers:
I doubt it very much, the landlord has already shown how much interest they have in the property by neglecting to repair the faults you reported, so they surely wont refund your deposit when you break your contract. You can try for nothing but believe me, they wont refund it, not a chance.
I think the loss of the deposit is a small price to pay when you consider the joy and elation you will receive form actually moving out of the place.
If you want to feel better about losing the deposit then just move out, notify the landlord that you moved out and leave a window open downbstairs at the back, Im sure the burglars and vandals will soon find there way in and trash the property. It'll cost the landlord more to put right and you'll have some satisfaction.
I wouldnt give it back to you either..
Well Martin, I would take a trip and speak to someone from Citizens Advice. I am sure going by what you have said regarding the place the landlady is in breach of her contract. As far as fixing the electricity and things like that which she is clearly bound to do by the contract. If you are on low income you could get a lawyer to represent you, (wont cost you). Perhaps the fact that a lawyer might write her a strong letter will frighten her into refunding your deposit. What you need to do is to write a letter to her telling her your intention of moving out on the grounds of..etc. I hope you have got proof that you have contacted her on several occasions regarding the state of the property). Tell her it is your intention to take the matter to court, that may frighten her. Also she is supposed to by law keep your deposit in a separate bank account from her personal bank account. The only other thing to do is to not pay the rent and let her go through the eviction process which takes sometime for her to take you to court, even then I doubt very much if she will get her money back. As I said you need to take proper legal advice and I am sure there will be someone there who can help you. Good luck
Hiya
In terms of getting your deposit back you should have no problem if you give notice. The Landlord is required by Housing Law in UK (and I assume Ireland) to give two months notice if they want you out and this is generally reciprocated. It should say in your Tenancy agreement what the notice period is. If it doesn't, give two months notice in writing and ask the Landlord when you can expect your deposit/ bond back. If she refuses to give your deposit back threaten to sue her and do it. It is dead easy if you go to moneyclaimonline.
As for the repairs she should have effected but didn't there are a couple of things you can do ( neither has a bearing on the deposit/ notice issue). Put the problems in writing to her and give a timescale for the problems (mainly the electrics) to be sorted. In the letter say that if repairs aren't carried out you will refer the matter to the Local Authority. In fact do it anyway - you have nothing to lose.
You could also try the local Council for housing - they will say you are in a secure tenure, however if you can argue that it is in a state of disrepair (particularly if the Council have inspected) you may have a chance.
As for the area, I agree that it does not sound suitable, however to be fair to the Landlord that is not her problem.
Good luck.
What happens outside your apartment would not be considered the fault of your landlord. Pregnancy is also not the responsibility of the landlord and those are not issues that will allow you to break your lease.
There are a number of examples, however, of poor and dangerous maintenance of your apartment. See an attorney and you may be able to break the lease for those reasons.
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