HELP - tenant has done a moon light flit

oki_2 · 29 April 2008 at 8:43AM

Hi all

I have browsed the forum for a long time but never posted - till now that is.

My house was let for two years and now he has vanished. I rang him and he said he had left key with a neighbour - that all that needed doing in the house was the vaccuum.

Not the case when I got there. The dog has fouled everywhere, the house stinks and there is alot of rubbish, debt collector letters, damaged internal and external doors, curtains torn..........and plenty more.

This tenant has recently become CORGI registered and I have managed to get his new address from CORGI website. I am not sure how best to proceed. Any suggestions will be most welcome. And thanks for reading.

Oki

BlondeHeadOn · 29 April 2008 at 10:20AM

The dog??? He did a moonlight flit and left a dog in the house? On its own? How long for?? Has he just abandoned it? I'd be tempted to report him to the RSPCA for a start.

:eek:

tbs624 · 29 April 2008 at 10:34AM

Presumably the Term of the Tenancy Agreement has expired?

Take photographs/video recording in the first instance, and make a list in each room of anything that is damaged or missing. It may be useful if you can get an independent witness to the state of the property.

Do you have a proper inventory?

Was the rent paid up to date and do you have a deposit from the tenant?

What sort of insurance cover do you have, and are there any requirements in there for you to obtain a crime report number from the police if there has been anything that would amount to criminal damage by the tenant?

And just for confirmation that you are not alone: http://landlord-misery.blog.co.uk/

oki_2 · 29 April 2008 at 11:02AM

Hi and thanks for your replies. Sorry for confusion - he took his dog with him. The mess was left behind. He was a month in arrears and the deposit will not even cover removal of his rubbish. I have a landlord policy with Norwich Union through a broker. I will look at the policy and see if I am covered for anything - for instance the kitchen units have been pulled apart. I am only covered for Buildings not contents - is carpet covered under contents or buildings.

An inventory was done. And his tenancy was running monthly since the expiry of the initial agreement.

MissMoneypenny · 29 April 2008 at 11:09AM

oki wrote: »

I am only covered for Buildings not contents - is carpet covered under contents or buildings.

Contents policy. I think the LLs insurance policies cover buildings and some contents?

oki_2 · 29 April 2008 at 11:13AM

Thanks MissMoneyPenny - I will look at policy as soon as I get home.

nobblyned · 29 April 2008 at 11:21AM

get quotes for the damage and cleaning, 3 for each. Then when done take him to small claims. Shouldn't be too difficult to serve as you have tracked him down.

Do you have a signed inventory?

MissMoneypenny · 29 April 2008 at 11:31AM

tbs624 wrote: »

And just for confirmation that you are not alone: http://landlord-misery.blog.co.uk/

When my son was a student, his first student house was in a lot worse state than that link. Plus the sewage pipe that ran though a "lounge" the LL had build on, leaked. Food was all over the floor and stuck on tables and chairs and food had been left in a turned off fridge, in summer. It turned out the last students had cleaned it, but the LL had allowed visiting relatives to use it for the 2 months summer break and thought that the new students should clean up after their relatives:eek:

When we made the landlady come back to clean up her mess, the smell from her was worse than the smell from the house!

oki_2 · 29 April 2008 at 11:33AM

Thanks nobblyned - no the inventory is not signed - would that be a problem?

beer_tins · 29 April 2008 at 11:34AM

It sounds like you haven't had contact since the tenant told you it only needed a vacuum? That being the case, I would get your solicitor to write to him in the first instance, asking to pay the money he owes you, including the cost of cleaning and repairs. If he doesn't respond, threaten to go to small claims within x days and finally serve him if he still doesn't reply. A letter from your solicitor may be enough without needing to go to the small claims court straight away.

oki_2 · 29 April 2008 at 11:39AM

Beinerts thanks - No contact with him since he told me it needed vacuuming! I have left a couplr of messages but am under no illusion - he will not be returning my calls. I have just written to United utilities and the council - both bills unpaid for a considerable length of time. I will speak to my solicitor and get a letter sent out this week including invoice for cost of clearing his mess!!

HELP - tenant has done a moon light flit

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