Problem Tenant causing debt!

MonkeyNut_2

This has been annoying me for quite some time now. I have a tenant in a house that I rent out who never pays the rent on time so I have to find the mortgage payment from elsewhere (she is on housing benefit, so is at the mercy of the council). I know that I should get rid and find someone else, but therein lies the problem.

The young lady renting the house has a 1 year old, and she is also the daughter of one of my best friends!!!

First off, I know now that renting out to F&F was a bad idea, as it can make for awkward situations and potential fallouts. I don't want to fall out with her dad, especially at the moment, as we are all due to go on holiday together on 8th of June. Problem is, if I have to pay the BTL mortgage this month, I can't afford to go on holiday and end up losing out on the £460 I've already paid.

Can someone give me some advice, as its obviously hard for me to talk about it with my friend, and I'm at the end of my tether with it!

MonkeyNut

Horace

If she is on housing benefit - can she arrange to have the benefit paid directly to you or you could ask the council to do that as you are her landlord. I know that my local council will either pay the benefit direct to me (I prefer that as I have a DD set up on my account to pay my landlord) or if I wanted, I could ask that they pay him directly.

I know its not easy but you need to say something because she is causing you problems by not paying her rent on time, depending on how consistently late she is then you need to take steps to end her lease. My council will pay my housing benefit in two halves - one half 2 weeks prior to my rent being paid and the second one two weeks' after it has gone out of my account.

scaredy_cat

If she is on HB then she can arrange for it to be paid directly to you.

The fact she is a friend shouldn't come into it and you should mention this to her dad, especially if she is going to cost you losing money by not being able to go on holiday.

If your frieid REALLY is a friend, they will understand and realise their daughter is taking advantage of your friendship.

Merlinexcalibur

As others have said, the HB can be be paid directly from the council to you, the landlord. This may negate this problem in future. Unfortunately, I know how delicate the situation is for you. However, as someone else said the situation could end up taking advantage of you, your friendship more than anything. I only mention it because of being in a similar position once, I ended up getting fleeced by a so-called 'friend'. Why I am in the boat I am in right now. Doesn't help your situation but mentioning it because it's how things can go if you don't take control eg get the HB paid to you. If they are a true friend then they will appreciate and won't haggle over it. After all, the money is paid for rent so, conversely, shouldn't be a problem.

(she is on housing benefit, so is at the mercy of the council)

Mmm. That really shouldn't be a problem here as HB is paid normally monthly so unless she is experiencing difficulties with payments it should be coming to her on a regular basis. If you see what I mean. I think you need to get to the bottom of this TBH, and find out why it's not more than anything. I don't want to throw chatel onto a fire here but reading between the lines where is the money going if it's not paid to you on time? Hope you can see where I am coming from.