council tenant

follyfoot

the council have asked if i can rent my flat to an 18 year old care leaver. They said they would pay the rent direct to me and the tenant would be responsible for all other bills - he is a full-time student. They said they would expect him to be on a 6 month fixed term tenancy and after that the tenancy agreement would become periodic. I am tempted to give it a go but when i ask others they keep saying council tenants should be avoided at all cost. i cant say his young age does not concern me. can anyone see any disadvantages to letting to social tenants?

princessamy86

My mum does this through an agency who finds suitable housing for care leavers. They are really, really clean and tidy, and usually incredibly grateful for the chance to get themselves sorted. I don't know how it would work with your council, but the agency mum deals with do inspections regularly and offer them all kinds of support with regards to budgeting and learning to look after themselves. How about meeting the prospective tenant and seeing what you think?

Nosht

As long as you have an indemnity clause covering any damage done & a fair deposit then go ahead. Money is safe.

Regards,

N.

theartfullodger

Advantages: Your contract is with the Council (I presume) not the student, so you will be paid & if there are problems(eg damage) it will (eventually) get sorted...

Disadvantages: Probably (but depends) below normal market rent, possibly not a normal tenancy agreement but a special contract drawn up by the council...

I've done it (mum & kid, relationship breakdown, rented a small house). No problems, paid on time everytime. Only issue I had was when I said I'm going round to do an inspection (as the tenancy said I could) they said "Uh errr you can't do that, we never do them for council tenants..." which explains why council properties get wrecked and nobody knows,,,

My advice? If the rent looks right, interview the student, ask for his parents/guarantors addresses but do it - it is guarantted money..

Cheers!

Lodger

follyfoot

princessamy86 wrote: »

My mum does this through an agency who finds suitable housing for care leavers. They are really, really clean and tidy, and usually incredibly grateful for the chance to get themselves sorted. I don't know how it would work with your council, but the agency mum deals with do inspections regularly and offer them all kinds of support with regards to budgeting and learning to look after themselves. How about meeting the prospective tenant and seeing what you think?

i wouldnt like to think about evicting tenant but if the contract is periodic can i then evict him with a section 21 if he is not suitable - eg plays loud music? i have heard council often tell tenants to stay put. how does this differ to a private tenant?

princessamy86

I'm really not sure as hers are on a private rental basis, so just a standard AST. Probs best to ask the council about stuff like that, then you know where you stand before you agree to anything? I do think it's wrong to write him off because he's young-I've rented privately since I was 17 and have always been a good tenant. However, I know everyone is different! I really think meeting him would be best, and asking what sort of comeback you have if anything goes wrong.

Nosht

follyfoot wrote: »

i wouldnt like to think about evicting tenant but if the contract is periodic can i then evict him with a section 21 if he is not suitable - eg plays loud music? i have heard council often tell tenants to stay put. how does this differ to a private tenant?

The eviction process would probably take longer than the 6 month rental, :eek: notwithstanding the extra expense.

Regards,

N.

ILW

Mine may be rare case, but when I owned a flat the owner of the flat below rented to a care leaver. It was absolute hell. Slept till 3pm. Music blasting all night. The girl herself seemed OK, but then she seemd to have some very dodgy friends who seemed to have a great deal of influence. Soon the place became a drop in centre and part time crack den. after 4 months the poor girl died of an OD. (17 years old) All depends on the tenant.

skylight

My step-daughters brother (they have the same Mum) is currently renting a flat under similar circumstances. His foster parents gave him a chance to take him in years ago and now someone had the same deliberations as the OP but also gave him a chance. Its so far working for him. He is back at college, has good friends and is getting his life back on track. I cannot pretend it has been easy for him, and he has faltered a few times, but his flat has never been trashed/all night parties etc.

I think that you should at least ask to meet the prospective tenant.

silvercar

Students would be better placed with other students IMHO. I don't think the best place for an 18 year old just out of care is a flat on his own.

Geenie

OP, I would ask the council to send you written details of exactly what their obligations would be if you took on this young lad, so you have a bit more time to mull over it, decide if it is workable and that you will be fully covered for any possible problems by letting this way. See if they would be guiding the young man when it came to bills and keeping on top of his money, so that you wouldn't incur any problems if he didn't pay bills.

The mother in me feels for a young lad living on his own at such a young age, and as others have said, one would naturally think of a student sharing with others. But it may be that after being in care and surrounded by others at all times, this lad needs his own space now to be happy and get on in the world. There are some incredibly mature 18 year olds out there, who can do very well in this sort of situation.

I have a friend who has been letting their house through the local council for some years. They seem very happy with the situation, as they get paid direct, and if a leaving tenant messes the place up, the council go in and put it right again before new tenants go in. They have had new cookers, painting and all sorts done over the years. But I would make sure you had a water tight contract in place before saying yes. Good luck and let us know how you get on.