Would you believe this tenant?

N79

Good luck with whatever you do. If this had been an isolated incident then even someone like me with a heart of stone would probably wait a month and give them the benefit of the doubt.

But it isn't an isolated incident. You may find that the serving of notice wakes them up to their obligations and more importantly shows them that you mean business.

Please don't take this the wrong way - you thoughts and concerns about feeling mean do you credit but in my experience Ts often try to take advantage of LLs. It starts with rent a few days late, then small amounts of arreas pile up and then ends up with no rent for the last 5 - 6 months when the LL has to take action. Prompt action to address even minor problems lets the T know that you are not going to be taken for a ride.

silvercar

I agree with N79, tenant is taking advantage of your good nature. Everytime you don't take action or ignore late payments, tenant takes more advantage of you. At the point you do take action, tenant will be bewildered and surprised and probably won't have any money to pay you!

27col

This T is quite obviously trying it on and, if let, will continue to do so. I can never figure out why tenants do not think that paying the rent should not be their number 1 priority.
It sounds as if they are up to the old trick, which you see so often nowadays. Namely; "I have a problem and I am going to solve it, by making it your problem". It is a trend that I hate, we all have problems of our own, without having to bear the load of other peoples.

Neillgb

Put in the tenants shoes I think i would, if sincere, have made a point of proving to the OP that I had banking problems. I would have been knocking on the OP's door with a letter from the bank to back up my story and apologising for the delay in rent payment.

I would question the attitude of a tenant that did not act as above, particularly if there was a history of arrears/late payment.

mlz1413

thebeeches wrote: »

Not my usual ID.

If a tenant who has been a month in arrears for the last few months, told you that the rent due next week will be late because their bank account has been cloned and is now frozen, would you believe them?

I believe cards get cloned and bank accounts get frozen, in which case the cards get cancelled and new ones issued, bank account not affected. When bank accounts get frozen I thought fraud was normally involved as in the named on the account has committed the fraud.

I may have over simplified the above but it sounds like your tenants are taking you for a mug. I would put a letter in the post recorded delivery saying prove or pay up on time.

I would also write to them after xmas saying that rent needs to be paid on time all the time or a S21 will be issued / the rental agreement will not be renewed.

I know you like these people and want to be helpful but if they have lied they have crossed the line.

SarahNeedle1872

Sounds to me as if they are taking the mick, esp as this isn't the first time they have been late. I understand what you are saying about serving them over Xmas, but as stated, thats not really your problem. If their acc has been frozen, they will have had some notification from the bank, in writing.
I am a tenant and I get tetchy when my rent payment is one or two days late (SO set for 1st otm, which obviously falls on the weekend sometimes) and would feel terrible having to phone my LL asking for an extension, even with proof of the problem!

cjpunkz

Maybe you should wait until after christmas if you plan to take some drastic actions. And you should tell them beforehand before doing so, that would push them to find a way to pay you.

GreenNinja

BASFORDLAD wrote: »

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

Just for info, my boyfriend had problems with his account a couple of months ago. Somebody had cloned his debit card details and was using it in Canada. Barclays froze the bank account for a couple of weeks while they sorted it.

neverdespairgirl

mlz1413 wrote: »

I believe cards get cloned and bank accounts get frozen, in which case the cards get cancelled and new ones issued, bank account not affected. When bank accounts get frozen I thought fraud was normally involved as in the named on the account has committed the fraud.

My OH's debit card was cloned a couple of years ago, and his whole bank account was frozen while they sorted it out. Couple of weeks, as I remember.

robin_banks

I'd be inclined to send sympathetic letter whilst advising of arrears with a gentle mention of s21, 4 weeks down the line take the strongarm action.

Gives them, and you'll have been more than fair.

That said I'm, inclined to think they're taking the mick.