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ADVICE - Tenant not paid rent for 2 weeks ?
stylus360
Posts: 448 Forumite
Hi All
Had a tenant move in 8/4/13 and used the standard RLA form which agreed to pay £95 per week into my account.
I did not take any bond but an non refundable admin fee.
They paid cash into my on 15th, 22nd, 29th April and 6th May.
They have not paid on 13th and 20th.
The property is local to me and i usually see their car outside when i pass but have not for the last 16 days approx.
I also went past earlier and noticed the back gate open which is strange.
All blinds etc are also all closed.
I have just dialled the mobile number they provided and it goes straight to answer phone.
Where do i go from here ?
They 'seemed' a very nice couple with young kids and i would of expected them to contact me if they had any problems in paying.
Cheers
Had a tenant move in 8/4/13 and used the standard RLA form which agreed to pay £95 per week into my account.
I did not take any bond but an non refundable admin fee.
They paid cash into my on 15th, 22nd, 29th April and 6th May.
They have not paid on 13th and 20th.
The property is local to me and i usually see their car outside when i pass but have not for the last 16 days approx.
I also went past earlier and noticed the back gate open which is strange.
All blinds etc are also all closed.
I have just dialled the mobile number they provided and it goes straight to answer phone.
Where do i go from here ?
They 'seemed' a very nice couple with young kids and i would of expected them to contact me if they had any problems in paying.
Cheers
0
Comments
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I assume as the rent is weekly that you have issued them with a rent book....?
If not, why not?
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1985/70/crossheading/provision-of-rent-books
Why on earth did you not take a deposit? Are youIf the landlord ... fails to comply with ...
section 4 (provision of rent book),
...
he commits a summary offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale.
a) mad
b) stupid
c) generous?
If a) get out of the letting business.
If b) employ an agent
If c) don't worry about the rent arrears - they are nice people.0 -
d) non of the above.
I had a large non-refundable deposit that equated to the deposit, i am not concerned about the arrears of 2 weeks.
I am just looking for where to go from here and never knew i had to issue a rent book as i had a tenancy agreement.0 -
If you're not concerned about the arrears then what exactly are you asking? Do you want to know how you can contact the tenants when they don't answer the phone? Maybe they are on holidays and that's why the car isn't outside. You could send them a letter asking them to contact you asap.
Did you take any references? Is a single mobile number the only contact number you have for them or did they provide one each (most people have mobile phones these days, but it's not a given)? Did they give an employer's details? You could try contacting them at work.0 -
Yes, I just wanted to know what the protocol was with regards contacting them without them thinking i am harassing them.
I was provided with one mobile number and he is a claimant and she works for Betterware.
This is still a learning curve for me so any advice is helpful.
I did not take any references, if i did how would of that of been helpfull in this situation ?
Thanks for your helpfull reply.
I will post a letter tomorrow asking them to contact me asap regarding the the missed payments.0 -
Credit checking them would have been a good idea then following up yourself on refs.
But back to points of contact you need to get as many as possible and e-mail address sisters mothers brothers etc and make sure they work
Also have a check on facebook from time to time see what they are saying to their friends , sometimes we find out people are thinking of moving well before they give us notice0 -
References from previous landlord(s) would have given you some indication of this couple's renting history and whether they were a good risk (eg did they pay the rent on time, leave any damage, leave with arrears outstanding). The most recent LL reference isn't always totally accurate as they might just be looking rid of the T, but if you get the one before that they're more likely to be totally honest. It helps you as the LL to make a slightly more informed decision before you hand over the keys of your property to (often) complete strangers.
If one of the Ts is claiming local housing allowance (housing benefit) and you aren't getting paid, then you can request the payments be made directly to you, but I'm not sure exactly how many weeks' arrears are required before they will do this. You would need to contact whatever relevant body is paying the benefit (it depends what part of the UK you are in).
There are a lot of rules and regulations regarding letting property and you could find yourself in a lot of hot water if you don't know your responsibilities as a landlord. If this couple decides not to bother paying you rent it could take months to evict them. You mentioned the RLA tenancy agreement, are you a member? Use their resources to learn as much as you can before you go any further.0 -
stylus360 wrote:I had a large non-refundable deposit that equated to the deposit, i am not concerned about the arrears of 2 weeks.
I can't even make head or tail of this particular comment.
I fear you are about to run extremely foul of the legal requirement to register any deposit you take.0 -
Credit checking them would have been a good idea then following up yourself on refs.
But back to points of contact you need to get as many as possible and e-mail address sisters mothers brothers etc and make sure they work
Also have a check on facebook from time to time see what they are saying to their friends , sometimes we find out people are thinking of moving well before they give us notice
How would you go about asking for their sisters, mothers, brothers details ? I would not be happy to give those details out....
I am aware of of issuing a section 21 etc and that i am able to get paid direct by the local housing benefit agency BUT i would of had to fill in a housing benefit form for that so that is not an option.
Think i need to head over to RLA site, i am not a member but used their standard tenancy form of which i and the tenant have a copy.
I was dubious about having references as they could i give me any friends details, how could i prove they are bona fide previous Landlords.
Cheers Guys.0 -
Exactly how large was this deposit? Are all the blinds/curtains drawn? we have had big problems round here with people paying large sums up front and turning properties into cannabis farms. whose names are the utilities/council tax etc in?
Sure this is nothing but I wish I had twigged earlier than I did:eek::eek::eek: LBM 11/05/2010 - WE DID IT - DMP of £62000 paid off in 7 years:jDFD April20170 -
My concern, on your behalf, is that these may be 'professional' tenants. Who recognise an amateur landlord.
To answer your question, you write to the tenants at the peoperty address. A simple, non-threatening, reminder letter, alying out the due dates and arrears.
But you must get your own act together or you may find them 'blackmailing' you.
A 'non refundable deposit' is not a 'deposit'. It is a fee. Unless it is a deposit. .... or a 'Premium'.
Rent book. get sorted!
What else have you missed? EPC? GSC?......0
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