Renting an occupied room

[dirtyharriet]

Hi
It's me again, we now have another problem. We managed to find a new rehearsal room after our last one got flattened without warning. We got the keys yesterday and went to move all our equipment in, however the room was full of the previous tenants gear floor to ceiling packed with leads, guitars drums etc. The landlord said that he had been trying to get hold of this guy for weeks with no success and he never paid rent. Obviously we don't want al this stuff here as there is no room for us, so we got the guy's number and rang him.
Now the fun starts, the guy insists the room is still his, he was there first etc etc. We rang the landlord back who insists it is our room now and wants him out, we then rang this guy back who hung up on us. The landlord said he hasn't been able to get hold of him in weeks but last night this guy contacted him twice to say he still wanted the room and was going to pay the rent. He also suggested to the landlord that we "share" the room with him but that enbtails him leaving all his stuff there which is no good for us and judging by his track record, he wouldn't pay his half. The landlord is meeting with him in a couple of days to talk it over with him and we just have to sit and wait. I'm furious with both of them. With the landlord for not sorting it all out before giving us the keys and this guy for being an arse and doing an about turn as soon as he found out about us.

The landlord gave us the keys and as far as we were concerned it was our room. Can he now turn us out? We wanted to pay up front but he says he bills people around the 20th of every month. If we moved this guy's stuff could we also be arrested?

Thanks for your help

[Englishbird]

I'm afraid i don't know the score legally. I'd be really p'ssed off too but from what you've said neither the landlord nor the previous tenant can be trusted and if the tenant doesn't get his own way, the chances of him moving his stuff any time soon is slim.

If I were you, i'd get looking for something else asap and cut your losses.  I know it's a hassle, but if the landlords mucking you around now, what's to say he's not going to carry on mucking you around.  Good Luck

[butter1]

I totally agree with Englishbird.  Although it is a pain in finding somewhere else, I think you will get a lot more hassle in the long run if you stay there.  I too would be annoyed though, it all seems very poor - the way the landlord has gone about this.  Good luck!

[dirtyharriet]

Thank you both for your replies. Unfortunately in this hick town that was the only place left, so if we can't have the room it looks as though we'll have to cancel a very important gig we had booked for 2 weeks time and as we've nowhere to practice, it could be the end of the band.
I think we're cursed.

[butter1]

I don't know what sort of size space you need but what about someone's garage?  Probably a useless suggestion... I hope this other tenant leaves.. Maybe you should sort of share the space then if you can't find nothing else.  Just ask for a written agreement from your landlord that you are doing that then you won't be responsible for the other tenants fees.

[Englishbird]

do you mind telling us what area you're in?

[dirtyharriet]

Hi
Thanks for the replies.

We are, unfortunately in the backwater of Exeter in Devon.

[dirtyharriet]

Update

After ignoring our calls all day, we eventually got through to the landlord, who, as we feared is going to give the room back to the guy who messed him around and owes him money. We were only given the keys yesterday and today we had to give them back. Not to mention having to lug around tons of heavy equipment for NOTHING!!
It beggars belief how totally unprofessional people are and how they don't care who they mess around.
I'm afraid I am starting to believe my Scouser husband when he says we are all hick straw munchers down here.
We have now lost 2 rehearsal rooms in exactly one week through absolutely no fault of our own.

Thanks for all your help and suggestions, it really is very much appreciated.