council tenency

[nwtrikette]

I was wondering if anyone could help me.

From 1995 i lived in a council house in bury. In January of 2002 i moved to canada. I was unaware that
i had to sign a tenency termination form before i left. As i was leaving on a sunday i asked my mother to hand in the keys for me the next day. Un-beknown to me, my mother had offered to 'help out' her friends son
and allowed him to move into the property. He had agreed that he would keep up the rent and council tax (it was all up to date before i left).

When I returned to england 6 months later I discovered what had happened and i contacted the council. I explained what had happened and they then
informed me that a woman and her 4 grown up children had since moved in, saying that they were related to me and i had allowed them to move in. I had never heard of these people. It turns out that the son of my mothers
friend had given her the keys before disappearing. The woman eventually admitted that she didn't know me and took up squatters rights. She was later removed from the property.

My problem now is that I have recieved a letter, sent to the wrong address but luckily i know the people, stating that i owe over 1000pounds for damages done to the property! The house was in perfect order when i
left! I phoned the number on the letter and was bluntly
told that a judgment had been made against me in 2003. I asked the lady to explain and she just said 'i cannot advise you as your not my client'.

I am totally confused as to what I should do. I have been paying some of the debt off for the past few years, i accept the rent and council tax as my debt as I should of signed the termination form, but i cant afford to pay for the repair bills too.

I really would very much appreciate any help you could offer me,

[Whickerman]

It seems that you might have a case to sue, but unfortunately the person who put you in this situation was your mother. You should consult your local citizen's advice to see if there's any method of paying off by installments, before the bailiffs get involved.

[juddlinski]

Hahaha! Your mother's really dropped you in it! Unlucky!

[shazzzz]

well the fellow upstairs seems mad so two things one look on the bright side he aint your neighbour and two you are responsable for tennancy and propertie untill you have returned keys and put in writing you no longer want the propertie when you started your tenancy you would of signed an agreement try and get some money of this young man in small claims court and the lady with the children some times keys to council houses and i suppose this is what happend ring baliffs or court and explain what happend magistrates are only human and very understanding good luck

[juddlinski]

shazzzz, where's your punctuation gone?