My understanding of UK tenancy law is that it is similar to Australia.
There will be a tenancy tribunal or intermediary agency that favours heavily towards the tenant.
Your lease sounds like it is not a properly binding contract, especially if you cannot deal with the landlord directly. Chances are this is a 'slum landlord' who banks on ignorant foreigners becoming his tenants and living under his squalor. A threat to go to the relevant agency would see your bond and rent returned rather quickly.
Forget about solicitors. 590GBP will go very quickly and when you hit up your landlord for costs, he will all of a sudden be destitute or not the real owner. I'd say the latter is the case actually. He's probably leasing and subleasing at a profit.
There will be a tenancy tribunal or intermediary agency that favours heavily towards the tenant.
Your lease sounds like it is not a properly binding contract, especially if you cannot deal with the landlord directly. Chances are this is a 'slum landlord' who banks on ignorant foreigners becoming his tenants and living under his squalor. A threat to go to the relevant agency would see your bond and rent returned rather quickly.
Forget about solicitors. 590GBP will go very quickly and when you hit up your landlord for costs, he will all of a sudden be destitute or not the real owner. I'd say the latter is the case actually. He's probably leasing and subleasing at a profit.