Ex partners landlord has forged my signature on tenancy agreement...?

by **honi** » Mon May 21, 2012 9:20 pm

So..I recently received a letter from the council requesting a payment for council tax on the property my ex partner shared with his house mate. I immediately called the council to let them know that I myself had never lived at the property, though the occasional letter of mine did get sent to that address due to staying there during the week. You can imagine my surprise when they informed me that they in fact had a tenancy agreement signed by myself and my ex partners son, who also never lived at the property.

I have proof of residence at another property during this time, and was registered on the council tax at this other property until about 2 months ago when I moved into my own place. I called my ex to see if he knew anything about this and he then contacted the landlord of the old property, the landlord admitted that he had lost the original tennancy agreement signed by my ex and his housemate and that instead of footing the bill himself he had forged mine and his sons signature on a new tenancy agreement and sent that into the council office.

I know that what he has committed is fraud but I wonder what is the best way to deal with this issue? Do I wait until I am summoned to court with regards to the council tax bill and show my evidence or do I take him to court myself? Also would I be able to sue this guy for harassment or defamation of character?

by **pete** » Mon May 21, 2012 9:24 pm

Call a lawyer, but sueing for extra things is just greedy.

by **ricard83** » Mon May 21, 2012 9:26 pm

You haven't (yet) lost out financially, so I wouldn't think you could sue. Just call up the council and say that the landlord has admitted to forging your signature - hopefully he'll tell them the same thing, and you can avoid going to court at all.

by **colum** » Mon May 21, 2012 9:34 pm

Be best you take it up with the Council before it gets to the court part.

You go in and talk to them and tell them what you heard. Possibly they can compare your signature against this. And you have witnesses.

Other than this fraud - how did he harass you? Or defame your character?

Stop with the suing business and just straighten it out.

by **fyfe** » Mon May 21, 2012 9:40 pm

Only communicate with this guy by email, then you have a record of what he says. I don't know if you communicated with the kandlord by phone or email. If the phone, Ask him why he forged your signature. Get him to admit it so you can prove it. Then, sue. Find the lease your ex signed. Get a copy of that. I am not a lawyer, but I think you can sue him for those things. Talk to a lawyer.

by **donough** » Mon May 21, 2012 9:46 pm

Go back to the council. Tell them what you just told us and provide them with proof of your current and previous residences. Let them take it from there.

by **janyd** » Mon May 21, 2012 9:50 pm

Pay a visit to the Council and bring with you all the proofs that you have not live in that property. Explain your side. Tell them the your signature was forged. Let this conversation be recorded or documented such to show proof that you deal with this problem right with the Council. If they still summon you for the council tax, you need to consult a lawyer if you think is it injustice on your part.

by **oakley** » Mon May 21, 2012 9:57 pm

GROSS!!!!!! Ur a gay? I hope u have to pay every dime!!! That is karma coming back at u for all the soldamy u have commited on ur "Ex partners" over the years that has gone unpunished

by **osryd** » Mon May 21, 2012 10:00 pm

There is one sure way of solving this matter. Just go along to the council offices, ask to see the lease, take with you plenty of evidence of your signature, such as cancelled checks etc and explain that the signature on the lease is not yours. If they still refuse to accept your explanation, then call the police from the office and have them come and look at the fraudulent document.

by **andor25** » Mon May 21, 2012 10:02 pm

As long as you have proof like a tenancy agreement where you were staying during the period in which the council is asking for council tax then you should be fine. Just take that to the council together with a written declaration that you never lived at the property in question and that should suffice. It is also a bonus that you mention that you were paying council tax at another property during the same period, take you council tax bills as well for the property that you were responsible for paying council tax as well together with your tenancy agreement and written and signed declaration. Make copies of all the documents you take to the council, the council is known for misplacing documents and get a receipt for the documents you hand in and the name and position of the person you spoke to at the council. As for the fact that someone forged a signature; that is a criminal matter, you cannot sue for that however you can report it to the police, should you decide to report prior to taking your documents to the council obtain a crime reference number as well and take that together with your other documents to the council. You might want to have a look at this service offered by FYC to protect you against such landlords in future. http://www.fightingyourcorner.com/index.php/our-services/tenant-protection-service

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