Angela Brown

Daniels LLP Solicitors I WAS evicted from a property where I’d lived for 19 years, and wasn’t even given enough time to collect my belongings. As a result the landlord disposed of many of my possessions, including paperwork and medical equipment. Are they allowed to do this? What are the correct procedures? IT depends on the grounds on which your landlord was seeking possession of the property, but the notice period could have been as little as two weeks in some circumstances. Normally the notice period for an assured shorthold tenancy is two months from the date of the next rent payment date. Once the notice period has expired, your landlord would require a warrant and an eviction notice if you refused to leave. It’s a crime to force people out of a property without following the correct procedures, and you should see a solicitor or a law centre if you suspect this may have been the case. MY husband died last year. The deeds of the house are in his name only. Could you tell me how I go about having them changed into my name? IT will depend to some extent whether there is a mortgage on the property and whether the title to your house is registered at the Land Registry. If the house is unregistered the transfer may be more complicated. But first you will need authority to deal with your late husband’s estate, including the house, assuming your husband didn’t leave a will and there are no executors to carry out the task. This will involve an application to the Probate Registry for letters of administration; and since you may need a solicitor’s help with this you may find it easier to ask him to draw up the deed of transfer for the house as well. MY neighbour got some workmen in to replace his fence and in doing so they moved it over and took some of my garden. Who is responsible for this: the neighbour or the workmen? SINCE your neighbour contracted the workmen to replace the fence, he is responsible for the final outcome. You should ask your neighbour to get the workmen to move it back to the original position. If he refuses to do this you could take him to court, although unless you took photographs before the original fence was taken down it may be difficult to prove where it was in the first place. Going to court can be expensive and will not improve your relationship with your neighbour in any case. As a cautionary tale, there was a court case where the parties were arguing over a pair of gates, which should have cost in the region of £5,000 to resolve. Instead, both parties spent in excess of £100,000 on legal costs on taking the matter to trial.

WINDOW OF HOPE

NINE years ago we had double glazing fitted with a ten-year guarantee. Recently I’ve had trouble with water coming in windows and doors. I contacted the firm, which told me the original firm went into liquidation and they have taken over, although they are still trading under the original name. Is my guarantee worthless? IT’S possible that your guarantee was provided by the double glazing manufacturers. If the manufacturers are still in business this may be your