[TheDanishGirl]

I'm in some serious need of some help. I moved into a shared house 3 weeks ago and already paid my deposit and first months rent. When my boyfriend and I moved in, the Landlord (Who also lives at the property) said that he couldn't print out the contract right away as he needed to go get ink for his printer. We didn't think much of it, and just paid the deposit and rent. It's now been 3 weeks and the Landlord STILL hasn't given us our Lease to sign. We ask everyday and he always comes up with some excuse.

Here's the thing, when we moved in so did another roommate, who just like us, didn't sign a Lease. After 2 weeks of the new guy being here the Landlord called the Police to have the roommate removed for being "creepy and loud" and when the Police came they asked if he had a Lease and the Landlord said no and that he hadn't paid any money yet which was also why he was kicking him out. I knew for a fact that the roommate had paid £400 when he moved in. The roommate ended up being kicked out and didn't get any money back. This was a week ago, and now I'm getting really nervous for my boyfriend and I.

The landlord is starting to turn really disgusting towards us and I feel so uncomfortable in this house that I just want to move. I can't move without getting my deposit back, as it's all I have to move with.

Before we moved in we had him give us a paper stating we had paid £200 to secure the room. He signed it, but it doesn't have our name or his name just his signature. Can I at least use that against him to get the £200 back if he ends up trying to call the Police on me?

I'm really scared that I will be left out on the street because of this!

I am a really good tenant. I keep quiet, I keep to myself, and I clean up after myself. But this Landlord is just out to scam everyone! I even found out that he is selling broken fridges to people for money and scamming them out of money!

I don't know what to do. Is there even anything I can do to get my money back? Please help me :( I live in the UK, if that helps to figure out what I can do. I know every country has different rules.

Thanks,
Kelly

[N0help4u]

I don't know England (or whatever country your in) law. But in the US if you don't have a lease you are month to month. In a way you may be better off being month to month if he is like that. Do not pay him in cash and keep your receipts to prove you paid.
Your receipt should be good enough proof you paid him.

He may not bother you since you say you are a good tenant and the other guy was a creep.
In the US we have laws that protect tenants from landlords throwing tenants out without notices first. I don't know if you have similar laws. You need to get the landlord/tenant laws for where you live.