Hello All,

I am new to this forum. at the moment I am having a headache dispute with the agent and would appreciate some legal tips please.

The story started when we (my wife and I) moved to the UK from Malta and after finding a flat through the internet and contacting the agent in charge, we were asked to provide a UK credit history and as we couldn't do so when we just arrived to the country the agent asked us to pay a ear month deposit and 3 months upfront and sign a year tenancy agreement , in which it is estated that we pay rent quarterly and also that if we are late in pay our rent we will be charged 25 pounds as an instant charge of being later , plus 35.25 pounds for every reminder letter or e-mail, plus 6% interest for every day till we pay the late rent.

Obviously, as many of us, we made the mistake of not reading any of that and signed the agreement.

And as I tried to make the paid amount a bit less with us being new to the country .. I agreed with the agent that I will pay a month deposit and TWo months of the first quarter and pay the remaining THIRD months in a month time (after living in the flat for only one month).

By the time I was supposed to pay the third month I was in Newcastle for some business and was sent a first reminder BY E-MAIL. I responded to that saying that I am in newcastle and that I will be coming to their office to pay the rent and the late fee (35.25 pounds) first thing on Monday (4 days after the first reminder).

On that Monday, I was at their office on time and paid the full amount BUT .. then I was told that I am to pay for another TWO reminders , plus charges, plus paying 1 pound charge for every CASH 100 pounds I pay because I am paying in cash, then I was told that they don't give change, so they took another couple of pounds.

Eventually, I paid the rent (595 pounds) + 155 pounds charges and fees for being late for 7 days!!!!!
Of course, signing the agreement forces me to pay what is mentioned in it because it is signed BUT, after waiting for 10 days without receiving those two extra imaginary reminders (please note that I stated at their office that I did NOT receive those two other reminders - and honestly, I really didn't).

So, after 10 days I contacted them asking for any kind of proof of posting those reminders or else I will be deducting the extra 70.50 pounds they made me pay from the next quarter's rent (due on 18th of September).

Without giving you the same headache they gave me, they refused to profide any proof of posting, saying that the law doesn't force them to show any certificate of posting and that even if i pay the full quater's amount but those 70.50 pounds they will start sending me reminders for these (so called) late rent!!!

Obviously, it is hard to imagine that they will sue me for eviction over 70 pounds and I told them that but the whole thing turned into a stubbornness game and all what they kept repeating like a broken record is that I should talk to a laywer and that they will charge me late rent fees and interests if I deduct the 70.50 pounds from the next rent.

So, can they really do that? does the law protect me from such practices? is there any legal way to stop them from abusing me like this?

I thought of contacting the landlord directly and I think I will, but I thought of posting this just in case somebody has a better idea.

any tips will be appreciated.

Thanks ...


Belaly