Just to manage your expectations
The reason she is not answering you is because she has a finance problem. .
Yes, do the inspection .
Get ready to document everything and have it in chronological order in preparation for any court case should that arrive?
As stated take someone with you and get them to do the videoing, before you take them, make sure they know how to do a video with the photo in landscape. Video yourselves actually ringing the bell on what happens from there on in until you walk out of the property.
Write back to the tenant with a condition report and anything that needs doing, replacing or has been damaged, and who is responsible for what?. this will also start to give you evidence towards any claim on the deposit or future claim for any outstanding moneys.
If you have actions that you must do, state what they are or when you’re going to do them and that you will require access. The last thing you want is for her to say there is a problem in the property which hasn’t been addressed, even if she hasn’t told you.
You may want to sit and wait somewhere close by to see who is going in and out of the property and whether other people are living in the property. I had access issues with one of my properties and found there were five other people living there, and that was a one bed properly.!!!
If you find there are any preachers of the AST you must stated in your report. Remember you are now writing information that will or may be read by a court and how it is written will either Help or hinder you.
It is likely that upon serving your S21 or S8 that she will go straight away to one of the tenant organisations who will give her loads of information of how to delay things. This is where your expectations need to be realistic because things could go downhill very quickly. Sorry to say this but managing your expectations keeps the stress levels reasonable..
An aid to keeping her in the property and to addressing the problems is to work with the local council or universal credit if they are appropriate. Often they will pay landlords any Back rent or a fee to keep the person in a home. do not sign any of the contracts.
The issue you have with that is when that starts, you may not end up with 2 months rent outstanding which invalidates the section 8.
Conversely, to get things back on Track And with either of the two aforementioned, you get money in. Another possibility is that they will deduct from any payments to the tenants a sum from their UV payments which will help to start paying the bank rent. It will be a small amount.
If you end up going to court and win, you do not need a solicitor, you could do it yourself with Help from NLA info. If a tenant has no money they will get free legal help (it’s a really fair world isn’t it?)
If you are awarded the propert and any back rent, you need to ensure that you have asked for this, plus any interest, in fact you have to supply a list of a costs you are requesting.
The tenant will be asked to leave by a certain time, the court considers periods between two and six weeks.
If the tenant decides not to go, you then have to reply to the court again for the bailiffs.
If you go to the High Court and pay the costs, you can circumvent this.
If the tenant just walks out at any time, you have to keep their property for a predetermined time and notify them where they can collect. Try and get as much of this upfront as you can and take advice, as the above information comes from historic experience and of course things change.
So you’ve had your expectations, now realised.
When discussing with the tenant, it’s always worth saying that if they get an court award against them, this will not only affect their credit status, ability to get another property, but also their insurance, credit card and bank interest rates will be affected. So it’s in their interest to go, once you get a CCJ against you all sorts of crap patterns in your life..
Bon courage!
