National Renters Alliance, taking stress out of renting
Have you had a bad letting
experience?
Has
your landlord or letting agent taken money from your deposit
and is not giving it back? Did your landlord or letting agent protect
your deposit?
Is repair work not being done? Have you
complained again and again about repairs and
your letting agent or
landlord is still not doing anything about it? Most people who have rented
have experienced these problems. The National Renters Alliance is here to
help you get money back
from your deposit, force
landlords and letting agents to
make repairs and other rental problems.
With over twenty years' experience helping renters in the social and private housing sector, the National Renters Alliance is the only organization standing up for renter's rights helping renters get a better deal. From getting back money taken from deposits to housing repairs and council tax problems, the National Renters Alliance takes stress out of renting so that you can concentrate on the important things in life without having to deal with bad landlords and letting agents. Join the National Renters Alliance or get in touch today to see how we can help you.
Deposit Recovery
Is your landlord or letting agent not returning your deposit? Was your deposit placed in a government-backed deposit guarantee scheme within 30 days of the start of your tenancy? Is your landlord or letting agent making false claims about professional cleaning to unfairly take money from your deposit? Unfortunately, this is becoming the norm rather than the exception. The National Renters Alliance team has over twenty years' experience helping renters recover their rightfully owed money. Please see our frequently asked questions about common reasons landlords use to take money from your deposit. If your landlord is unjustified, the National Renters Alliance could help you get your deposit back if you act quickly. Please contact us if your landlord or letting agent has unfairly taken money from your deposit.
Council Problems
Councils are often a source of problems for renters. Common problems include mishandling of council tax records when changing apartments. This has been known to happen even if you have supplied an accurate change of address details and moving dates with your council. Poor handling of this information can lead to Court and bailiff action. Despite government directions against such practices, councils have often been known to rapidly escalate disputes which could which could potentially leave you liable for hundreds of pounds of charges. Other common problems include refusal to grant tax discounts such as single-person discount despite being eligible for such relief. If your council is not serving you well, get in touch with the National Renters Alliance today and you might save hundreds of pounds a year.
News
Private renting virtually impossible for benefit claimants
DATE ADDED: 14/01/2017
Increasing numbers of Housing Benefit claimants are being excluded from the private rental sector as the number of properties listed as ‘No DSS’ grows according to a House of Commons Briefing Paper. ‘No DSS’ (standing for “Department of Social Security” which was replaced by the Department for Work and Pensions 16 years ago) means the landlord or agent won’t rent a property to someone on housing benefit or local housing allowance. Read more
Renters in shared housing to benefit from increased protections
DATE ADDED: 09/01/2017
Around a million renters living in HMOs (Houses in Multiple Occupation) will soon benefit from extra protection from rogue landlords being planned by the government. HMOs, familiar to many students and flat sharers, are defined as properties shared by more than one unrelated persons. Typically these may be groups of friends such as is common for student accommodation or by strangers. Typically the house sharers will have their own bedrooms but will share communal areas such as bathrooms or kitchens. Read more
Renters in shared housing to benefit from increased protections
DATE ADDED: 09/01/2017
Britain’s biggest landlord, Fergus Wilson has banned “battered wives” from his properties claiming he does not want to risk ex-husbands or boyfriends returning to destroy his houses. Perhaps Britain’s most notorious buy-to-let landlord, Wilson is no stranger to controversy. In 2014 he sent eviction notices to over 200 of his tenants, many from low income backgrounds, claiming that he was “sending battered wives back to their partners to be beaten up again”. He was also convicted in the same year for assaulting an estate agent over a broken boiler which he denied, claiming that he was “too fat to punch anybody or even tie his own shoelaces”. Read more
Deposit Recovery
I paid a £950 deposit for a flat when I was studying in Liverpool. When I moved out my other housemates and I cleaned the place from top to bottom for three whole days. The letting agent took all of the deposit for “professional cleaning” and produced close-ups of walls which they said were filthy. I was so embarrassed until I heard about the NRA who explained the common tricks agencies use for stealing deposits. They helped me challenge the agency and got the money back, I’d use them again any day.
Patrick Gilliand, London
Repairs
My landlord took months to fix my bathroom after a pipe burst forcing us to move out of the property which we didn't complain about, then tried to take £900 for "professional cleaning" at the end of our tenancy. I contacted the NRA and they gave me advice on what I needed to do to get my deposit back. They also provided advice on how to negotiate with my landlord about disruption due to the bathroom.
Rachael Kane, Milton Keynes
Councils
I moved house at the request of my landlord while the block of flats was being renovated. I informed the council of the address change and began paying council tax on my new flat. Five months later I received a private bailiff's letter demanding over £1000 for non-payment of council tax. I had paid off the outstanding council tax balance of £12.09 on my old apartment yet ommitted the 9p on the balance transfer. I was really worried because I'm from the US and didn't understand what to do. The NRA found out the council had not followed good practice and notified the council on my behalf who called off the bailiff.
Dan Beauchamp
,
London
Useful Links
Address
National Renters Alliance
Office 104
275 Deansgate
Manchester
Greater Manchester,
M3 4EL
t.: 020 79930069
e.: contact@nralliance.co.uk
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