Hello, my tenant from open rent is 2 months in arrears. He has stopped communicating with me, i feel like killing him im so stressed , but we landlords have to suck up this abuse. Ive posted an arrears letter, we have to wait 3 months to serve Section 8, the debt will be 6k !! Any advice, he could b lying dead in the flat!
What a random message. Your tenant is in arrears, yet your message has gone from ‘you killing him’, to ‘he might already be dead in the flat’. I appreciate these issues can cause emotions, especially if it is causing you financial stress, but both seem quite extreme.
Have you knocked the door? If no reply, have you knocked neighbours to see if they have seen movement (at least to put your mind at rest that he isn’t already dead in the flat). Was there a Guarantor you can contact? As part of referencing, did you collect work info, and could you try contacting or visiting there?
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Sorry to hear your problems.
I would try calling not just messaging as well as calling the tenant’s workplace. If their work haven’t seen tenant for a while and dont know what’s happened to them then give 24h notice for an inspection visit and go round to property. Ask neighbours
As you say they could be ill in hospital or even dead. Or moved away. Or lost job. Sending them an arrears letter before you have either spoken or visited could easily be seen as harassment.
Ask OR support for advice.
Check if your landlord insurance includes legal advice
S8 grounds 10 would be quicker but is discretionary.
Good luck
Serve a 24 hour advance notice of inspection and go around there with your keys in case he doesnt answer the door.
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Could you provide us with more detail as to what communication you had and what might have led to him stopping and what abuse you’ve endured?
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So do you have keys in your hand while you knock on the door and drop an envelope in the letterbox containing said 24hr advance notice?. Do you go around after working hours whatever you deem is tenants working pattern - days . nights , 2-10
If you get no answer at all after tapping gently on the door/ ringing bell - do you open the letterbox and call out to the tenant ?
After that do you deem it an emergency since you swear you can hear water gushing from a open tap and enter property just to check and turn off tap/ look for damage?
I would if it were me.
If tenant does answer then hand him envelope, let him read it and see what answer he gives to measure the tone of the interaction.
Only one capital K in Kuuuwwwweeeee
I elongate the ’ KKuuuu’ syllabull for effect !
Anyway, is it not a fine line btw concerned LL and harrassment ?
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@Michele7 can serve the notice about inspection by email assuming says thats ok in tenancy agreement. Tenant is 'from Openrent ', @Michele7 is ‘Rent now’ LL so has likely created tenancy with OpenRent’s Rent now service. Openrent contract allow notices served by email.
Best
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The notice has to be at least 24 hours before entry and should ideally give a time. Yes, you knock and call out loudly and if no answer you let yourself in.
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