Hi,

I was wondering if someone could offer me some advice about a rental situation, I also think I have been very naive and a little stupid.

I am renting a property privately in Verona and paid 2 months rent as a deposit and one month upfront at the beginning of November. I paid all of the money in cash, and foolishly I did not ask for a receipt as the landlord seemed genuinely very nice. However, this month he brought round a receipt and claimed that the rent I paid at the beginning of the month (Dec) only covered November as I had not paid for November!! I have text conversations on my phone where we clearly arrange to meet to pay the deposit money, and then a few days later the rent money. Now the landlord seems to have backed off a little, but I am concerned that once the tenancy ends, he is going to try and pocket half of it claiming I did not pay rent for one month. There is also a small round hole in one of the floor tiles which has always been there since I moved in, again, foolishly I did not take a photo of this.

I was wondering if anyone could give me any advice on what to do, or where I could go incase of a dispute in the future? I genuinely believed that the landlord was trustworthy as he was very helpful when I moved in.

Thank you!!

Would you have handed over 3mnths rent in cash without a reciept to an UK landlord? Didn't you sign a contract? And when did he hand you the keys?

Slight damage wouldn't normally be a problem, but who knows?

maybe you should mention calling 117 and ask them to sort this undeclared payments out bet he will have a rethink, not many want the GdF looking into their affairs

in addition no more cash payments give him a cheque every month so you will have some record of having paid him

I signed the contract which says that by signing the contract it acts as a receipt for the deposit money. I was given the keys when I paid the deposit money.

I have also set up a bank account to pay the rent in the future.

OK, so the contract should say how many months deposit you left. I asked about the keys because the landlord would usually want the rent from that date.

Were are you in Vr? Just curious.

The contract does indeed say how much of a deposit I left! I moved into the apartment last month and paid the first months rent a couple of days after I moved in (I paid the deposit money the day I signed the contract)! I have text messages on my phone where we make arrangements to pay the deposit on the day the contract was signed, and then more texts confirming that I would pay the first months rent a couple of days later!

I am in the city centre!