A woman has hit back at a landlord after they handed her a £400 rent bill for a flat she never moved into.

Christine Allan, a full-time carer from Newton Aycliffe, went to view a flat in the village owned by County Durham-based housing association Livin earlier this month.

After having nightmares about the property overnight Christine decided not to go ahead with the new home and called Livin the next day to cancel her tenancy.

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But the landlord has now slapped the carer, 62, with a £400 rent bill despite Christine never having moved into the property.

Ms Allan said: “I found this flat and went to view it on the Thursday (January 12) but I decided the next that I didn’t want it.

“I literally had nightmares about the place overnight and knew I couldn’t move in.

“I rang them to say it wasn’t for me and they didn’t mention anything about having to pay but on the Monday (January 16) they got back to me and said I owed them £400 in rent.

The Northern Echo: The flat Christine was due to move into.The flat Christine was due to move into. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

“I signed documents on the Thursday and they gave me the key but surely there must be some cooling off period where you can change your mind.

“Now I’ve got this £400 bill and no way to pay it – I didn’t even move in.

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“I’m a full-time carer so only get my carer allowance and benefits and it’s just not enough. I simply can't afford it.

“I just can’t believe they’ve done this to me.”

The Northern Echo: Christine Allen at the flat she has been handed a £400 rent bill for despite never moving in.Christine Allen at the flat she has been handed a £400 rent bill for despite never moving in. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Christine works full-time as a carer for Bill Blenkinsopp, a former jockey and councillor who defied death aged 25 after a horror crash, and despite making a remarkable recovery is now bedbound.

She only started searching for a flat when Bill went into hospital, and she worried she would need to find somewhere else to live. Bill is now back at home being cared for by Ms Allan.

Livin has defended their decision to hand Christine the £400 bill, saying she entered a tenancy agreement on the Thursday.

A spokesperson for Livin told The Northern Echo: “We have looked at this matter and determined that Ms Allan signed a tenancy agreement and in doing so entered into a contract that stipulates four weeks’ notice must be given to end a tenancy.

“This is a standard process which has to be applied consistently to all tenancy terminations.”

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