Reply With QuoteGood luck OP, it comes with the territory I'm afraid.
Just wondering,
When you first signed up these tenants, surely you had a contract and did this not state that they could not sub-let or allow other people to sleep/stay there or keep animals?
If so, they have then clearly broken their contract and you have grounds for terminating and demanding their exit legally or straight through court?
Otherwise, what is the point of a contract as it serves and protects both parties?
It will be interesting to see how a court would determine precedence between the original contract and the 3 month hold on eviction.
i feel for you and hope you get this sorted in the near future.
Andy
Good luck OP, it comes with the territory I'm afraid.
NoOriginally Posted by murkeywaters
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As a tenant since I got fed up giving houses to ex wives. I’m sorry for the OPs problems, the tenant rights legislation came out of so many dodgy landlords taking the piss so sometime had to be done. A few years ago during winter I had a boiler break down so no hot water or heating, it only took them 3 months to even try to fix it and another 5 to replace it, they said well you’ve got a kettle to warm water.
There’s good and bad on both sides of the fence but whatever you do stay within the law!! If they know how to play the system you’ll come a cropper if you don’t.
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Had the same in my stepsons student house boiler packed in in the middle of winter they had no heating for 3 months the numerous engineers that came to fix it all said it was knackered and needed replacing and my stepson and his housemates were worried about kicking up too much of a fuss as they needed a reference for their next student house
Several years ago I had some tenants, man & wife, move out because they had bought their own property. They had been ok. Friendly and paid their rent every month. I remember that the man drove Bentley with a personalised number plate. A few days after they moved out I had a phone call from the next door neighbour advising me that water was flowing down the drive. I went around & found that the back door had been kicked in. Although it was an empty house, the boiler had been stolen. The thieves had turned off the gas but hadn't turned off the water. They had cut through the gas and water pipes. Water was gushing out of the cut water pipe & hitting the ceiling. I reported it to the police but didn't expect much to happen on that front. However a few weeks later I had a phone call from a police officer who advised me that he thought he had found my boiler and had I got the serial number. I read it out to him and it matched. He was standing looking at it plumbed into my ex tenant's kitchen. The police had gone around to the ex tenant's house because they suspected him of having a stolen caravan on his drive, which he had. One of the officers, who had taken details of the stolen boiler, remembered the name of my tenant from that. He got 6 months in jail which I was delighted about.
Sorry for your troubles, +1 to this post, I’ve seen this method work on a number of occasions. Often it’s the most cost effective way.
Wow that is crazy and must have been horrible for you to deal with. How long did they stay? He must have had previous form to get jail time!
Horrible situation OP.
We've had some start to go this way but not got to this extent.
I'm not proud to say this but when they have started to mess around I have called them and let it be known in no uncertain terms that I wouldn't be messing around with solicitors etc to evict them and they would likely find themselves out in a rather sharp movement.
This seems to have always cleared things up but I totally understand this approach isn't for everyone.
You are correct. They were good tenants otherwise. But he was what the police termed an "up & coming criminal'. At the mention of his name their ears pricked up, otherwise I doubt the case of my missing boiler would have been solved. Police said 'give him a few years & we won't be able to touch him because he'll be getting his lackeys to do the business.'
Last edited by trident-7; 9th June 2020 at 21:22.
That’s is a pretty scary story for anyone considering becoming a landlord. My parents have a buy to let and have had hassle free tenants for maybe 6 years. They have kept the rent the same because they would rather keep a good tenant.
Something to be said for that. Wasn't too bad because the insurance paid for everything but I thought it inconsiderate, even for a criminal, not to turn the water off first.
We had 3 current tenants until just before the lockdown. One moved out middle of March but I allowed the remaining two to remain paying 2/3 of the rent. They had offered to leave otherwise. Glad I did because I'd have had an empty house for the last 3 months. Plus these guys are good tenants and I now have improved goodwill with them. 3rd tenant joining them on 15th June so all worked out well.
Glad it worked out okay for you in the end!
It was some time ago and my only really negative experience. On balance property has been a good investment.
Just a quick update for anyone interested!!
They finally left in September after 10 months of hell and only 1 rental payment..
Court proceedings/eviction notices/numerous police/Council visits nothing fazed them,basically just laughing at the authorities.. obviously the property is trashed they started keeping dogs who
Pi$$ed and sh1t everywhere.
Completely filled the back yard with rubbish/motorbikes and all the furniture they didn't want to take with them, inside every door is off the hinges,kitchen and bathroom obliterated, plug sockets and lights smashed off the wall..... the list goes on...
In the end I engaged a firm of debt collectors who i believe were the catalyst for them leaving, i don't believe I'll ever see any money but at least they are gone..
So the bill is currently approaching 11k and we will try again!!!
Just a cautionary tale for other landlords please vet your tenant carefully and take the biggest deposit you can!!!!
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The perfect summary…
I am also a modest landlord with a princely empire of 1 house that I rent out
I do due diligence, vet the tenants, meet them and talk to them
The odd very minor bump in the road, but, all I all I’ve been very lucky
I don’t rely on the rental income… I am guessing you don’t either
.Follow the rules and get the scumbags out the right way (yes they do exist)
So easily said, but, the worst outcome is for you to be worried, bitter or anxious…. It’s not worth it…. The lack of income/ sense of injustice isn’t worth it
Unfortunately eviction wasn't an option really because the government have basically made eviction a non starter due to the pandemic.. so I could have been stuck with them until next February..
As for popping around for a chat ?? These people turned out to be violent aggressive drug dealers who weren't really interested in chatting...
Fortunately we do not rely on renting for income, however the profitnormally covers the ups and downs and puts a few pennies away... however I'm lucky i have not been impacted by the pandemic so I can afford to pay any extra bills out of my own pocket...
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I think I quoted the wrong post! Yes…. Popping round for a cuppa and some hob nobs with druggies isn’t really a plan is it?Unfortunately eviction wasn't an option really because the government have basically made eviction a non starter due to the pandemic.. so I could have been stuck with them until next February..
As for popping around for a chat ?? These people turned out to be violent aggressive drug dealers who weren't really interested in chatting...
Fortunately we do not rely on renting for income, however the profit
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The suck it up bit is true though…
Glad it’s not affecting you too much…!
I’m sure you’ll be patient, run the process and get them out…
It’ sounds like a headache…
Edit - I completely missed your last post! Glad it’s over
£11k is a wounder…. But, it’s over now
Last edited by Wolfie; 1st October 2020 at 22:19.
I know I’ll be condemned by some members on here for saying this but had they done that to me, I would have had a contract put on them. Not to kill them obviously but to do the male party some serious injury. I don’t believe in hitting women regardless of what they do, but if someone deliberately does me over, they are getting payback.
Sadly the law are wise to that. I had a very bad experience some years back where the guy who had done me wrong was found not guilty in crown court as he'd hired a good barrister that beat the CPS case against him. The police came round after the case to specifically warn me not to take private action since they witnessed so many times the good guy getting a prison sentence for revenge.
Makes you sick doesn’t it. The scumbags know how to play the system.
Don't understand your sexist attitude.
Hey if you are happy to hit a woman, crack on.
I wouldn't hit anyone in the situation you describe.
Well if you are happy that someone has willingly and deliberately put you 11K+ in debt and you are ok about it, more power to you. I wouldn’t be.
Apparently you would be if it were a woman.
Apparently you would be wrong.
Just using your strange logic - I wouldn’t hit someone so I must be happy with situation.
Hard man though.
Trust me I'd love to give them a kicking but these guys really know the system and it would have been me in trouble.
I had offers from some unsavoury characters to help deal with them but I was advised not to go down that road by wiser people than me
I'm just hoping that the debt collectors cause them as much grief as possible, they seem very tenacious and determined to recover some money..
As said im not holding my breath but any grief I can cause them going forward is a small victory in my book.
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Exactly, it's not worth doing a stretch inside for and / or ending up in a war with violent drug dealers.Trust me I'd love to give them a kicking but these guys really know the system and it would have been me in trouble.
I had offers from some unsavoury characters to help deal with them but I was advised not to go down that road by wiser people than me
I'm just hoping that the debt collectors cause them as much grief as possible, they seem very tenacious and determined to recover some money..
As said im not holding my breath but any grief I can cause them going forward is a small victory in my book.
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Does landlord insurance not cover this kind of situation?
Possibly if you have it
Although reading the small print in the past it would be very difficult to meet the criteria where they would pay out
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Ah, nothing new there then!
Can you force them into bankruptcy if they don’t pay?
Yep - that's is some pretty devious stuff if they know obscure laws like someone [checks notes] physically assaulting you is a criminal offense!
We’re owed £5500 by just one tenant. Protected from eviction she decided to take advantage. Declined all efforts to meet or mediate, refused all attempts at verification of her circumstances, declined to say whether she was claiming Universal Credit for housing (she was, as inadvertently admitted by UC on the phone)...and now done a runner. At least the place was largely undamaged and is now availiable to be re-let.
Stories like this are really concerning - I want to buy to rent but reading stories like this is plane scary!
OP assuming you’ve been doing this a while and through this experience any advice for new landlords?
S
I've been a landlord - the key thing is - a lot of people think it's like a fruit machine that keeps paying out. If you decide to get into it - plan for the worst case scenarios eg "what if a tenants decides not to pay and it takes months to get them out?"
Now you *hope* this never happens but you should *plan* for it.
Reading this thread is quite scary... If you guys can't handle a few rental set-backs without needing to consider some of these 'less-than-legal' means of dealing with said issues..... maybe you shouldn't be in this business.
We have a small rental portfolio less than 10 ,we've been doing it for about 16 years now,yes there are good times and yes there are bad times...
I'm still a believer, just? But the days of quick easy money are long gone.
Its the long game now and the government seem hellbent on destroying the private rental sector with legislation and reduction in tax relief etc.
Do your research, buy the right property in the right area and vet your tenant and you shouldn't go far wrong, its still better than putting your money in the bank but only just
All I will say is I've always tried to limit my liability and not over extend myself, for instance we only need 50% occupancy to cover the bills and if needs be I can cover the shortfall myself but everyone's situation is different. If its going to be a stretch financially then my advice is steer clear because a situation like we've just had will send you over the edge.
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Couldn't you have sold the debt to even more agressive drug dealing/gangster types?
If you can't handle the thread, maybe you shouldn't have read it.
First thing I ask for is a guarantor, if they can’t get someone to do this for them there is usually a reason.
Last edited by golf; 4th October 2020 at 07:19.
But with no plan to replace with public sector provision. Genius.
It’s why on the 3 occasions I put my house up for rent, I had about 50 responses in 24 hours and rents are inflating…
It’s so tough as a renter to even get a reasonable place now…
Haha calm down! I've only just advised against taking extrajudicial measures against tenants. Who knew that was too harsh
To be fair his comment was 6 months ago, I suspect not only is he calm but has probably forgotten this thread exists 🤣Haha calm down! I've only just advised against taking extrajudicial measures against tenants. Who knew that was too harsh
You just reminded me!, Statement still stands.
I'm quoting myself here to show that stuff doesn't always go to plan.
A couple of months after writing the above we had a tenant just stop paying due to Covid. He's still in there having not paid a penny for over 7 months and due to the current laws I can't do a thing to move him.
He's an older guy, a University professor who has told me has fallen on hard times but has no intent on moving out until the last moment when I can get the courts to actually do something.
I saw him a couple of weeks ago and he told me I should understand his position. Incredible sense of entitlement!
I've never hit anyone first in my life but I could feel myself close to getting a grip of him.
I've tried to reason with him to leave and go find somewhere less expensive so he didn't run up a huge bill but he says he couldn't get anywhere to take him now due to no income.
I served a section 21 on him in January so should be able to get him out at the end of July hopefully.
By that time I will be £15k+ in the hole because some entitled old guy thinks its fine to live in a penthouse apartment on the docks when he hasn't got a pot to piss in.
I try not to think about it or I will go insane
Sorry to hear this mate, COVID has added another layer of protection to those set to take the Michael fortunately not during COVID but our last difficult tenant similar sense of entitlement did a midnight flit after a chat so maybe worth still chasing him etcI'm quoting myself here to show that stuff doesn't always go to plan.
A couple of months after writing the above we had a tenant just stop paying due to Covid. He's still in there having not paid a penny for over 7 months and due to the current laws I can't do a thing to move him.
He's an older guy, a University professor who has told me has fallen on hard times but has no intent on moving out until the last moment when I can get the courts to actually do something.
I saw him a couple of weeks ago and he told me I should understand his position. Incredible sense of entitlement!
I've never hit anyone first in my life but I could feel myself close to getting a grip of him.
I've tried to reason with him to leave and go find somewhere less expensive so he didn't run up a huge bill but he says he couldn't get anywhere to take him now due to no income.
I served a section 21 on him in January so should be able to get him out at the end of July hopefully.
By that time I will be £15k+ in the hole because some entitled old guy thinks its fine to live in a penthouse apartment on the docks when he hasn't got a pot to piss in.
I try not to think about it or I will go insane
So sorry to hear this OP, horrible.
Given how PRS is going we sold 4 years back, CG was a pisser. But we invested in our own home which increased the value considerably and is not subject to CG. I will get shot down I am sure but we invested in amongst other things watches which have seen a sizeable increase over the past four years with very little hassle and of course wasting assets so no CGT.
I have a few ‘friends’ who got into the Willy waving ‘I’ve got more rentals than yay’ who are beginning to ditch in favour of other avenues.
I do hope all works out soon OP.
Pitch
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