I had to ask my last tenants to leave. They had been with me nearly 7 years and wanted to buy the property. I got on with them well and trusted them to look after the repairs and maintenance by having a £200 a month reduction in rent when I became ill with cancer. Long story short the house was in a terrible state. The pet dog used the once immaculate lawn as a dog toilet. Last summer I spent £12000 refurbishing and my agent said she’d found the perfect tenant. They had been renting from her for years.
I took her at her word and the young couple with a small daughter moved in. They had down sized from a three bed to my 2 bed. The house was bursting at the seams with furniture and my neighbours said the wife was running a beauty business there. When I did my first inspection you could not see out of a single window through condensation and there was wet washing hanging everywhere. My agent was paid for an introduction only. The tenants had provided no references other than my agent’s word.
In the last 12 months I have discovered they were bankrupt when their restaurant went bust. They have been late paying rent 8 times and a list of other problems with his rude attutude and demands. The house is now in a mess and I served a section 21. on the due date to leave the agent said his new rental was delayed. Once again she took his side. At every turn when something has gone wrong she has taken their side. She said I’m obsessed with not having had a reference and I should not be a landlord. I’ve been a landlord since 1976 and had numerous houses and got on well with my tenants.
In all these years I’ve had rules on tax (indexation and taper relief) change, causing headache with capital gains tax( I’ve had this , my only remaining house 27 years from new) and numerous rules and regulations imposed by well meaning governments to protect against bad landlords.
This last property is my pension. Im fed up with being a landlord. I do feel sorry for tenants but when are we landlords going to get a break.
If I’ve served a section 21 for the first time! Can I claim my costs for lost rent if tenant doesn’t move out etc. ?
I’d love to sell up. This country’s housing situation is in crisis. You can tell I’ve been doing this too long. I’ve taken my eye off the ball and been too trusting. I think its time to sell up.
Get on with it then.
I feel your pain…
I’ve tried to sell but one estate agent won’t put the property on their books and damage the estate agent reputation the property is that bad…
The tenant can’t move till she is evicted by bailiffs…But then the local housing took me to court because my paperwork to do the section 21 wasn’t upto date because I’d taken my eye off the ball!! Housing took me because they don’t have a house for her and knew that taking me would give more time.
I then had to pay court costs and her solicitor…
I’ve been offered 25% less than what its worth by these people who buy property quickly…
Nightmare at the moment…
Hope someone else on here gives great advise.
Wait until theyve left and you know the full extent of any arrears and damage and then use MCOL to make the claim.
I’ve just this moment heard he will leave on 11th. His rental agreement runs 21st of each month. I served him the correct notice. Surely he needs to do same so he must pay until 21st? My new tenants are now going on holiday and instead of moving in on 23rd are moving in on 31st. I’m going to lose nearly a month’s rent! He’s not paid anything…
I wouldnt aggravate the situation further if I were you, but would get around there on 11th with a deed of surrender and a witness.
This topic was automatically closed 90 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.