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No longer paying rent - advice needed

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SteveP79
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No longer paying rent - advice needed

Post by SteveP79 » Wed, 29 Apr 2009 2:49 pm

Hello everyone,

I think I'm either very lucky or very unlucky - I've had a letter from the bank telling me that the account I transfer my rent to (ie my landlord's bank account), has been closed, so my rent is not being transferred. As such, I've effectively stopped paying rent.

It's been about 3 weeks now, and I've not heard anything from the landlord (who I've actually never dealt with), or either my agent or their agent, and I have no idea why the account has been closed - seems a bit of an odd thing to do.

Now I know I probably ought to contact my agent to tell them, but I'd like to know, has anyone else had this experience, or does anyone know if i can get into any trouble with this situation?

Many thanks for your advice!

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sundaymorningstaple
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Post by sundaymorningstaple » Wed, 29 Apr 2009 3:22 pm

Don't know, but I wouldn't spend the money somewhere else.....not just yet anyway! :-|
SOME PEOPLE TRY TO TURN BACK THEIR ODOMETERS. NOT ME. I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW WHY I LOOK THIS WAY. I'VE TRAVELED A LONG WAY, AND SOME OF THE ROADS WEREN'T PAVED. ~ Will Rogers

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Re: No longer paying rent - advice needed

Post by ksl » Wed, 29 Apr 2009 4:15 pm

SteveP79 wrote:Hello everyone,

I think I'm either very lucky or very unlucky - I've had a letter from the bank telling me that the account I transfer my rent to (ie my landlord's bank account), has been closed, so my rent is not being transferred. As such, I've effectively stopped paying rent.

It's been about 3 weeks now, and I've not heard anything from the landlord (who I've actually never dealt with), or either my agent or their agent, and I have no idea why the account has been closed - seems a bit of an odd thing to do.

Now I know I probably ought to contact my agent to tell them, but I'd like to know, has anyone else had this experience, or does anyone know if i can get into any trouble with this situation?

Many thanks for your advice!
Just sit tight and save the money, see what happens, I wouldn't go looking for them either! When your contract is up just move out :)

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road.not.taken
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Post by road.not.taken » Wed, 29 Apr 2009 4:45 pm

How come that never happens to us? :roll: Not a company lease, eh? Hold onto the money and I'd at least start getting the names of some lawyers who deal with this kind of thing. Some long lost relative may climb out of the woodwork and make your life hell.

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Re: No longer paying rent - advice needed

Post by jpatokal » Wed, 29 Apr 2009 5:26 pm

SteveP79 wrote:Now I know I probably ought to contact my agent to tell them, but I'd like to know, has anyone else had this experience, or does anyone know if i can get into any trouble with this situation?
Be very careful. By the small print of your contract (read it!), late payment of your rent will be grounds for immediate termination of your lease, and the repo man can come into your apartment and confiscate anything of value to make it up. If -- as seems likely -- your landlord has done a runner to avoid paying his mortgage, it's only a short matter of time until the penny drops at the bank and they take over the apartment and kick you out.
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resm
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Re: No longer paying rent - advice needed

Post by resm » Wed, 29 Apr 2009 7:32 pm

jpatokal wrote:
SteveP79 wrote:Now I know I probably ought to contact my agent to tell them, but I'd like to know, has anyone else had this experience, or does anyone know if i can get into any trouble with this situation?
Be very careful. By the small print of your contract (read it!), late payment of your rent will be grounds for immediate termination of your lease, and the repo man can come into your apartment and confiscate anything of value to make it up. If -- as seems likely -- your landlord has done a runner to avoid paying his mortgage, it's only a short matter of time until the penny drops at the bank and they take over the apartment and kick you out.
A Rental Contract is a legal document between 2 Parties.

I would assume that the owner does not fulfill his part of the deal, such as paying taxes, maintenance fee etc.

In this case the owner is in breach of contract.

I would inform my Agent, put the money on the side until I get some advice from the other side and just wait.

If you wanted to get out, I would inform my agent about the breach of contract and inform them that you will move out within let's say 2 month ?
PROUT....the only way out !

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Post by louy » Thu, 30 Apr 2009 9:53 am

This happened to me, but back in UK.
The land lord did collect his rent for 8 months !!!

Then one day he sent us a letter saying we owed about 16k

I was smart, I had the money saved in my bank account.
My flat mate was not so smart.

SteveP79
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Post by SteveP79 » Thu, 30 Apr 2009 5:16 pm

Thanks everybody, that's very helpful. Based on your advices (if that's a word) I will:

1) Keep the money in a safe place.
2) Hide my valuables behind the toilet.
3) Re-read the contract.
4) Wait until I have at least used up my deposit in unpaid rent, and then let my agent know I'm not paying.

Thanks again!

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Re: No longer paying rent - advice needed

Post by jpatokal » Fri, 01 May 2009 5:12 pm

resm wrote:A Rental Contract is a legal document between 2 Parties.
I would assume that the owner does not fulfill his part of the deal, such as paying taxes, maintenance fee etc.
In this case the owner is in breach of contract.
True but irrelevant. Read your contract: if you have the same boilerplate as every other lease in Singapore, it will state that if you don't pay your rent within 7 days of the deadline, "whether formally demanded or not", you can get kicked out, full stop. You are this already yourself in breach of contract if you did not pay the rent, even if the owner has become uncontactable.

Also, if the owner stops making his mortgage payments, the owner will also be in breach of contract with his bank, and the bank will not hesitate to get rid of the tenant while they claim back their property.
I would inform my Agent, put the money on the side until I get some advice from the other side and just wait.

If you wanted to get out, I would inform my agent about the breach of contract and inform them that you will move out within let's say 2 month ?
But this is sensible advice.
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Post by quidsin » Fri, 01 May 2009 10:01 pm

I disagree.

The lease would normally detail the landlords bank a/c and if this doesn't exist anymore, then there isn't much for you to do unless the contract states an alrternative means of payment.

Pretend you've lost the agents number, hold onto the money and if he comes looking then pay him. Believe me, he'll be pleased you're still around to pay him rather than bothering to ask for interest on monies owed...then again, being a singaporean he'd probaby squeeze you for $5 interest....

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Post by QRM » Fri, 01 May 2009 10:07 pm

quidsin wrote:then again, being a singaporean he'd probaby squeeze you for $5 interest....
and the 6 buck taxi fare coming to look for you.

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Post by phil30k » Mon, 04 May 2009 3:12 pm

Could be that the landlord passed away. And people are trying to piece together his estate.

Keep the rent safe, one day someone's going to come knocking on your door. On the bright side, you get to keep the interest.

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