Tenant left without paying the rent & trashed the flat

LittleLeo_2

There have been a few letters from utility companies chasing missing payments. Also they have been claiming benefits when they are not entitled to - I have informed the relevant companies about this.
Regarding work, they did tell me they had secured a 7 month contract and did leave behind a bank statement and are earning about £1000 a week so can pay their debts - they are just choosing not to.

neas

how do you know they are claiming benefits they are not entitled to? Did you open their mail? isnt that illegal?

While i understand your frustration, even if someone else breaks the law or a contract it doesnt entitle you to break the law if you see what i mean.

olly300

neas wrote: »

how do you know they are claiming benefits they are not entitled to? Did you open their mail? isnt that illegal?

While i understand your frustration, even if someone else breaks the law or a contract it doesnt entitle you to break the law if you see what i mean.

Opening someone else's mail is not illegal unless you attempt to defraud that person.

In fact in some cases where you are getting bailiffs letters or a letter from a utility company saying they have to change the meter, it's a good idea to open someone else's mail as you can use it to stop them breaking the door down

LittleLeo_2

When I was chasing them for payment of rent they told me they were claiming housing benefits - upon checking with the council they were claiming single occupant benefit. They also left lots of letters and junk that I sorted through to find out other information - I have their NI numbers and car reg number.

ben500

I love some of the recommendations on here, open their mail, harrass their parents, inform employers, !!!!!! kind of landlords are you lot? £120 to redecorate? Says it all really.

Fire_Fox

ben500 wrote: »

I love some of the recommendations on here, open their mail, harrass their parents, inform employers, !!!!!! kind of landlords are you lot? £120 to redecorate? Says it all really.

The OP has already opened mail, the OP was asking if he could send the court summons to the parents address. We did ask if they have an employers address as this can be used to contact the tenants themselves NOT inform the employer of the debt which would be illegal under data protection.

LittleLeo_2

I didn't open any mail - it was either already opened or left lying around the premises under rugs or behind sofa's...
Ben500 - The total loss will be over £1000, not just £120... thanks for the backup Fire Fox

Fire_Fox

LittleLeo wrote: »

I didn't open any mail - it was either already opened or left lying around the premises under rugs or behind sofa's...
Ben500 - The total loss will be over £1000, not just £120... thanks for the backup Fire Fox

Where are you getting a grand from?? In your OP you said £500 for damage and £350 for two weeks unpaid rent, whnich is £850 minus the deposit you got back from the scheme which is presumably £700 ... ?

LittleLeo_2

The tenants didn't pay me for 6 weeks so the deposit has been used to cover this rent... total is £500 damages / £350 missing rent / £150 cleaning and painting (they drew on the walls and carpet with pen and drilled several holes in the walls) = £1000

ben500

LittleLeo wrote: »

I didn't open any mail - it was either already opened or left lying around the premises under rugs or behind sofa's...
Ben500 - The total loss will be over £1000, not just £120... thanks for the backup Fire Fox

My comment was aimed at the fact that you have "had the place repainted" at a cost of £120, who did you employ? £120 wouldn't get one room repainted by a legitimate painter, I also see it as an indication of the type of l/l you may be if that's all you are prepared to pay to "repaint the place" why have you identified the repainting seperately from the "£500 damages" was the paint not damaged? If not why are your tenants responsible for this? Just exactly how much of the damage is down to the tenants wilfull action and how much down to wear and tear?