Dear LPG,

I can only write from my experience and tell readers that I am sure there are many circumstances where people are intimidated in a similar way to the way that I was

I wrote to LPG some time ago on the subject of being a landlord in this day and age (►►►), and while I find the work involve continues to give me a sense of responsibility and something worthwhile to keep me busy, it also presents challenges.

I inherited my parents’ house and decided to let it out rather than sell it which works quite well.  It has four bedrooms and I let them out separately while my tenants have shared access to the kitchen, bathroom, dining room etc..  I have a tenant’s agreement which they all sign and in it I reserve the right to renew each contract every six months which is common practice. This gives me an opportunity to alter the rules if necessary.  One of my tenants had taken to leaving a box or two in the hall while a couple of the others had told me that the boxes were in their way.

When it was time for the six month review I added a clause which stated that nothing was to be stored in the common areas of the house.  But instead of signing the agreement, I was sent a text from a solicitor claiming to be acting on his clients, my tenant, behalf and who quoted some new legislation and used a lot of very long words to inform me that I had no right to do this. I sent a text back asking why and there were then quite a few texts flowing one way and the other. 

I have to say that I did feel somewhat intimidated and questioned something that I have been doing for years, until a friend advised me that, if he was a solicitor, I needed to see past the worrying things he was texting, and also that texts were not the way to go.  We came up with a plan but I had no other way to contact him so I texted him the following: -

‘I have sent a letter to you via your client - (as I don't' have any of your official contact details.)  I look forward to your reply...’

And I prepared a letter which asked that he set all the facts he had given down in an official letter which included a link to the internet page where I could find the new legislation he kept referring to. I also mentioned that I would be taking his letter to a solicitor so that I would be better prepared to deal with my tenant’s problem in regard to my updated agreement.

I quickly got a text back which asked for advance information about the contents of my letter.  I replied that I would leave it with the ‘go-between’ the next day and a text came back informing me that this solicitor was no longer acting for his client.

I know that specifics aside, there must be many who find themselves feeling a little vulnerable because someone, who claims to have professional knowledge is communicating a lot of information, much of which is ‘going way over their heads’, and I feel truly lucky to have received the advice I was given.  I have written my story in the hope that other readers who find themselves being manipulated in a similar way, perhaps have a way to test the validity of what they are being told. 

YJ, Catford