Read this!
Most awful treatment I've ever experienced in my life.
I rented a room in a VPS property, which was abandoned and freshly rid of squatters when I viewed it. The building was basically a homeless ruin, every room full of mould, filthy mattresses, needles, faeces on the walls, floors, and obviously for that reason, very cheap. I was young and desperate at the time, with not much law knowledge, so I took it. Cleaned up my chosen room and made it my own.
After some time of being stolen from, having VPS walking into my room unannounced, as and when they please, threats of eviction within a week when I made any complaint, (because I wasn't legally a tenant, I was a "guardian so tenant rules didn't apply) I was foolish enough to believe their threats and kept my mouth shut about any complaints I had.
Drug dealing, cctv manipulation, stolen mail, theft of possessions, constant harassment, being accused of subletting - which led to being harassed and spied on! you name it.
I'm currently being evicted because for 4months, my building had no working boiler, ie, no hot running water from my tap or shower. I was promised some rent reduction which never happened. And I subsequently didn't pay for the 4 WINTER months of no hot water after advice from the police and my local council that I didn't have to pay by law. My toilet was also no functional during this time!
I once had the toilet fixed by the VPS plumber, who acted as a spy and reported on my girlfriend's clothes that had been left in my room. This was followed by constant harrasment, accusation and threats of eviction by vps! The head guardian would then even stand outside my door once a day filming me, to try and "catch me out". Which was totally ridiculous, however I lived in total anxiety and fear. My toilet broke a week later, and of course I didn't want him back to fix it!
I've now been issued notice because of this 4months rent dispute over the hot water and no working toilet which I won't pay. They issued the notice 1 day after I last paid them! Which they say is indefinite, regardless of whether I continue paying my rent. Whenever I try to offer a reasonable and fair payment plan, (which has always been my rent, plus some arrears) they tell me it's not good enough and force me into paying a bigger amount, which is not only illegal but totally manipulative and unreasonable.
They have since ignored every question I have asked about the eviction process, regardless of the distress it's caused me. They tell me the notice cannot be retracted, regardless of what I pay. They turn a blind eye to drug dealing, stealing, and do blatant backhand deals to other employees withing their little circle. It's as close to a criminal organisation as it gets.
I'm going to be gathering all evidence I have, including threats & ignorance of serious complaints. Luckily I have an abundance of current and past guardians who have my back with their own evidence in the form of photos, videos and WhatsApp messages!
This review is the first of many steps I plan to take action against this company. Care or welfare of their gaurdians is not on their list of priorities whatsoever! I'm lucky enough that my partner is a legal assistant to an eviction lawyer, where I've been given some helpful advice! STAY AWAY FROM VPS!
4 October 2023
Unprompted review