My tennant... what do you think???

Q7_st

I have one rental property (it was my 1st home and soppy as it sounds I didn't want to part with it!). The rent just covers the mortgage I have on it. Our new house is literally round the corner and having lived in it for 7 years I am still in contact with and regualrly see the old neighbours.

Last year (september) the tennant that was in just vanished over night so in came the new girl. She always pays on time but after the 1st month I struggled to contact her.

Just after Christmas I was away working and one of the neighbours of the rental property came round. She told my OH that the security light had been on for 3 days. When my gf told her that she'd let the tennant know he was really shocked... apparently she has never seen anyone in the house since the old tennant lived there. I keep popping round and there' definitely no-one living in it- all the packing boxes are still in the middle of the room! I have asked her about it (prob 2 mths ago) and she said that she would be moving in within the next few weeks but she's still not in.

It's coming up to the end of her 6mth contract and I want her out. I feel uneasy that the house isn't lived in and that the house has gone a winter without the heating being used. On the other hand my OH says whilst she's paying and not really causing any problem we should let her stay. I can see both sides.

What do you think?

smartpicture

Did you check for cannabis plants growing in the loft or bedrooms? Apparently that's a common practice nowadays, renting somewhere to grown them but not actually living there...

Cannon_Fodder

could be innocent;

she was perhaps getting out of a relationship, so all her stuff went there, then found a new bloke who she is shacked up with, so rarely needs your place, and having signed for 6 months doesn't mind have it as a bolt-hole in case the new relationship hits the rocks, as well.

or;

she could be dead in a ditch somewhere...


you still need to know the place fulfills your insurance terms i.e. regular occupation.

how could you give her 24 hours notice to enter for some landlordy purpose, if she's never contactable?

drop an innocent line thru the letter box "coming up to 6 months, do you wish to stay or not" style, if no response in 7 days, serve notice.

Q7_st

smartpicture wrote: »

Did you check for cannabis plants growing in the loft or bedrooms? Apparently that's a common practice nowadays, renting somewhere to grown them but not actually living there...

Oh good god- I never thought of that!!!

princeofpounds

Odd. I cannot think why someone would do this.

The rent is being paid, a tenancy is in place. Regardless of whether anyone is there you have to end the tenancy properly. Do not do anything silly like changing locks or removing utilities even if no-one seems to be there - illegal eviction is a criminal offence.

If they are paying their rent, that is a section 21 notice, appropriately worded and with proper timescales. See landlordzone for details (or google).

But if they are paying I would be more inclined to find out what is going on. There may be an explanation and you are ridding yourself of a reliable tenant.

You should be giving 24hrs notice of your 'inspections' by the way. But if that is a letter through the door and no-one objects because no-one is there too object, that is ok.

Swishter

I agree with cannon fodder, it is likely that it could invalidate your insurance.

I'd also be concerned about damp and disrepair, no heating on all winter, it cannot be very pleasant. I think you should hand deliver notice of inspection and then enter the property after the required time. Most contracts state you are allowed to enter the prop to inspect after sufficient notice.

Q7_st

TBH my OH ha done a bit of PI!!! Before she moved in my gf went and hand delivered the contract to her parents house. It's on a road my gf uses to get to her friends and says her car is always there. Why would you pay rent and still live with your parents?

Never thought of the insurance! It's just making me more sure that I want her to leave.

All a bit strange really

Wickedkitten

That neighbour sure is pretty nosy isn't she? We've still got packing boxes sitting in our living room from December of 2007 but that's because we weren't planning on staying here this long and just didn't get round to unpacking them.

Do you have a mobile number that you can phone her up on?

Q7_st

Yes I have her mobile and her works number (invalid) and her email- which seems to be her preffered method of contact! I don't get it... I am genuinely a really good landlord it's not as if I'm nasty or intrusive!!

Q7_st

Wickedkitten wrote: »

That neighbour sure is pretty nosy isn't she?

Yeah my gf was well pee'd off with her she always seems to turn up on the doorstep whilst she's trying to get DD off to bed and stays ages!!!

socrates

Is the property in a good catchment area for a school - I have heard of people renting a property just so they can get their child into a particular school.

Besides that most of what is said above is good advice.

Dont know about the dead in a ditch bit though!