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Bad-EX tenant being chased by debt collection companies

marc3
marc3 Posts: 316 Forumite
Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
edited 2 May 2012 at 11:37PM in House buying, renting & selling
11 months ago we had a 'bad' ex-tenant in our rental property who was financially unsound-he left in the middle of the night but we got out relatively unscathed.

In the last 6 months however-there is post coming to our rental property where he last lived (we have no idea where he is now ) from various debt collection agencies who are obviously chasing him at his last known address.

This is time consunming, annoying to both ourselves and our new tenants.

we have written to these agencies advising them that he does not live there,but they ignore this ,and just keep sending their letters.

No doubt-they will shortly be sending bailiffs .

We dont need or want any of this and need to stop the letters coming through-and any 'visits'.

As stated-we are ignored so far!!

How can we 'properly' notify these agencies so they cease sending these letters-and indeed-a further concern is that our rental property (our names by association) will receive adverse credit ratings-.

Advice on the best way to go about this would be appreciated.


many thanks

Comments

  • marliepanda
    marliepanda Posts: 7,186 Forumite
    Bad credit is held against a person, not an address.

    as for the rest I am not sure, sorry. Just advise your tenants to keep a copy of their tenancy agreement and ID to hand for when the bailiffs do arrive.
  • BitterAndTwisted
    BitterAndTwisted Posts: 22,492 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Debtors who are trying to avoid their creditors are well-know to write to the creditors claiming their whereabouts are unknown or have other people lie on their behalf. None of your communication with them will have any effect whatsoever. Then the debt will be sold on and the letters and phone calls start all over again.

    The only thing that you or the new tenants can do is to have a copy of their ID and tenancy agreement to hand to show callers when they show up on the door-step. Which they will, eventually.

    The only positive thing is that debts are attached to people and not property addresses, so as long as your tenants don't let anyone into the property nothing bad will happen.
  • tbs624
    tbs624 Posts: 10,816 Forumite
    OP - put any further post for this previous T back in the postal system, unopened and marked "return to sender , not at this address"

    If you are aware that callers from debt collection firms to whom you have already written/spoken are still turning up, send them a follow up letter telling them that legal action will be taken under will be taken if they do not desist. Notify the local Trading Standards Officer

    If bailiffs are those appointed by the county court, and seeking to enforce a court judgement, then you can deal with them via notification to the courts office of the date on which the former tenanct vacated your property.

    Check whether any of the debt collection agents and/or private bailiffs( certificated by the courts) are members of the Association of Civil Enforcement Agencies (www.acea.org.uk) and raise formal complaints there if you/the current T are still being targeted.

    T may want to check own credit files at Experian, Call Credit and Equifax to ensure that no links have been/will be made and ask for a Note of Disassociation to be attached if necessary. Errors do get made.

    It is up to your T whether they wish to share their ID with debt collectors who are chasing someone else - they are under no legal obligation to do so. Some debt collectors can be thoroughly unpleasant ( partly because they may be getting paid only on results) and the T should call the police if they feel they are being threatened.
  • marc3
    marc3 Posts: 316 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    Thanks for advice
This discussion has been closed.
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