Would you believe this tenant?

Geenie

"except for these rent arrears and often paying rent a week late"

Smacks of pulling a fast one to me, but I would ask for proof of this cloning and freezing of account, and in writing from the bank within the next 5 days just to be sure. The fact of the matter is, that you cannot get them out for a few months anyway, but if they genuinely want to stay they will hopefully cough up.

You have to weigh up if they are worth keeping on by how they treat your place and are tenants in general with you.......against late, but eventual payment?!

Tenants paying on time but treating the property like a 'hite hole are no fun either, and often end up costing more money to put right when they finally leave!

If in serious arrears, then I think you have a right to issue a S21 if no proof provided.

Let us know what happens.

97trophy

shellsuit wrote: »

I'd ask them to show you a letter from their bank as proof.

If the account has been frozen due to fraud, then they should have received a letter from their bank telling them what has happened and what will happen next.

Great answer!

I 100% agree.

DawnW

I have some tenants like this - never once has the rent been paid into the bank on time as per agreement. I sent them a stern letter warning of S21 if payments not made regularly from then on, and the arrears were cleared (so that might be worth a try in the short term). I still have to ask for the rent every time, and they have asked if it can be paid in cash on 20th of each month instead of into the bank on 16th. I agreed to this (reluctantly because it is a pain) :mad: . I am therefore expecting the rent on 20 Dec, and wait with interest to see if I get it. I somehow doubt it, as they are exactly the type who would overspend because it is Christmas (or any other time come to that) and think it ok for the rent to be late. They are very creative with their excuses, but I haven't had that one yet!

S21 in the New year probably, though I am sure they will be a pain to get out. The joys of renting! All you seem to hear on these forums are stories about scumbag landlords. What a pity these landlords cannot be matched up with problem tenants - they deserve each other.
Personally I am not going to rent my house out again; once I have got rid of this lot, I will leave the house empty and gradually do it up and then consider my options - but I guess not everyone has this choice.

BASFORDLAD

i doubt very much if the account would be frozen if cloned ,it would just be the card, so hes taking the !!!!.

pinkshoes

Write to him offering sympathy, and you will accept his payment late when he shows you a copy of the paperwork from the bank and the police crime reference number.

Also point out his other arrears, and say that they need clearing before mid january.

If he can't provide any decent evidence or police crime number, then it's S21 time!

shaven-monkey

If they're good tenants then it's your discretion about cutting them some slack but several months of late payment doesn't sound like a good tenant to me. Nor does someone who pays the agreed sum reluctantly in cash, only on request, because they can't manage their cashflow well enough to have a standing order work.

Would they give you months to fix a dead boiler? What if the plumber you'd booked to do the job had suddenly collapsed so couldn't do the work on the days you had all agreed to and you just can't get someone else in before they've recovered?
Would they be on at you every day about it?

N79

What does it matter whether you believe the T? You are not judging them.

Just issue S8 G8 when T has at least two months rent unpaid (next week by the sound of it) plus G10 and G11 as backup.

jamtart6

you should have a gut feeling about this. the fact you ask on here suggests to me that you think you're having the wool pulled over your eyes. i agree with the others ask to see proof of the cloning (via a letter) and start a payment plan with the tenant. The worst that will happen is they will get defensive!!

lifesuckssometimes

Sounds to me that they have spent it on christmas. times are hard And yes for us all. but i would for your peace of mind get the proof and give them till new year to make payment or token payment to prevent legal action or notice to vacate.

thebeeches

N79 wrote: »

What does it matter whether you believe the T? You are not judging them.

Just issue S8 G8 when T has at least two months rent unpaid (next week by the sound of it) plus G10 and G11 as backup.

If I was a full time landlord, this would have to be my course of action.

I feel mean serving a S21 when I should be serving a Xmas present!

I did phone the council to see if they had a request not to pay money into a frozen account, but data protection prevented them from telling me anything.

I think I am going to write a letter before action, setting out the arrears and then serve a section 8 and section 21 in the new year. The end result could mean they get a month longer in the house than if I'd served notice this week, but I'm hoping this will be the prompt to get finances in order.

The house is kept immaculately and the kids are at the school nearest the house; rentals are not that common round here, so I'm hoping that the rent will appear.

Thanks for your advice.