Question for landlords

howler_2

sarah1980 wrote: »

We have a BTL property and the current tenant signed a 12-month AST contract in April. 3 weeks ago he rang to say he wants to move out.

We manage the property but when it comes to finding tenants, we use an agency for that part. A similar thing happened with the last tenant, although she was only 2 months away from the end of the contract. However, when I sought advice from the letting agent he said I should let her go on a month's notice, he said absolutely, she had always been a good tenant and I should try to be as accommodating as possible to her needs.

TBH I wasn't overly happy with his advice, but went along with it and there ended up being a fallout over deposits anyway (long story).

So with this new tenant, I know the letting agency bloke will probably tell me to let him give a month's notice, he has been a good tenant blah blah blah...

So I went along with it (again), despite him still having 7 months left to run on his contract. Thing is, the tenant only rang me to say he wanted to move on the day before the rent for September was due. So he was thinking he'd make his final payment the following day and then move out a month later.

I explained we would need cancellation in writing (letter) and he agreed to do this. This was 3 weeks ago and we haven't had a letter yet, but the tenant has moved out. He still has a key, and I'm happy for him to have this until the end of his tenancy. The thing is, I would argue that his tenancy should not end until a month after we receive the letter giving notice, but the LA seems to think I'm being pedantic.

Maybe I am being pedantic, but I just feel like why do I go to the trouble and expense of getting a professional contract drawn up only for this tenant to be able to *wee* all over it at the drop of a hat? He seems to have got his way on every count, and the one thing I asked him to do was put it in writing and he hasn't bothered for 3 weeks. So why should I bend over backwards to help him?

If anyone has experience of a similar situation or just any advice in general I would be very grateful to hear from you.

I hope for your sake that its not an executive flat in a northern city :eek:

sarah1980

howler wrote: »

I hope for your sake that its not an executive flat in a northern city :eek:

No, thankfully it is a cheap ex-council flat in a Northern City (my first home in fact - one of the reasons I kept it on when we moved).

sarah1980

sooz wrote: »

How do you 'manage' the property from 400 miles away?

Get a better agent, & use them for full management

I travel to the area in question approx. once every 3 or 4 months for work. Usually only a 1 or 2 day visit, but it gives me a chance to check everything is OK, flat is in order etc. We also have friends/ex-neighbours living in the same building who would be able to inform us if anything seemed out of the ordinary. And there is a 24-hour "site manager" who lives there, has been there for years (since before we lived there) and he also would be able to help if there were any urgent problems (we pay a massive amount in service charges which partly covers his employment).

Never been any problems doing it this way until the last 2 ocassions when the tenant wanted to move before the contract was up.

mlz1413

Your LA has a vested interested in you getting new people in so isn't going to go to any effort to keep someone who wishes to go early. You could do more yourself which will involve time and you sound like a busy lady already.

You know that tenants are obliged to pay rent until the end of a contract so if you do stay with this agent I would either tell them that you want to do 6 month contracts or ensure he is aware that you are not going to let anyone out of a contract again.

Otherwise move agent and go onto fully managed or guaranteed rental.