Tenants taking advantage of my kindness!

Thunderbird_2

franklee wrote: »

What exactly do you mean by going rate and how are you working that out? ...............................
.............If you are letting again to strangers do get consent to let from your lender (see the sticky thread).

I worked this out easily, by myself and tenants and almost everybody in the area. I used to rent a one bedroom house is for £450 4years ago, which was let for £475 immediately when I left in 2006, my tenants were renting a two bedroom house is £550, a 3 bedroom house is £600-700 in my area.

Regarding the implied assumptions made by some posters' questions, here is your answer:

I have already had a consent from my lender BEFORE letting the house, and that was 2 years ago.

The deposit was with DPS in within the first 3 days of the start of the tenancy agreement and the details passed on to the tenants straight away whom I had to explain to them what it is for as well.

Gas certificate is uptodate and so is the landlord insurance.

I had done a very comprehensive inventory written by walking around the house, with the tenants on the first day, and sigened by both of us, with a mutual friend as a witness.

I might be a first time landlord, but be assured I have done the basic homwork before getting into this. It is just them trying to break the contract in almost every opportuinity.

Regarding their 'plans' with the council, it is certainly not my business as a landlord, I think I have mentioned it in the first post as a reason why they are leaving the property. If they were short of money, I could have reduced the rent for another £25 just for the sake of quieter life!

I wish I could sell the house without owing anything!

What do private landlords do to check the tenants before letting the house to them? I know agancies do credit checks. Can a private landlord do the same?

Many thanks

G_M

What do private landlords do to check the tenants before letting the house to them? I know agancies do credit checks. Can a private landlord do the same?

Yes.
Landlordzone
Homelet
Keysafe insurance and credit vetting
Lets
RLA

and google for more!

clutton_2

they are taking the mickey - i guess you know that now - they sound like professional tenants who know the "system" inside out... you must not talk to them again

what date did you sign the agreement ...

let us know very quickly, because you will probably be able to issue them with a SEction 21 notice this month - ie their 2 month notice to quit.... this is the first stage in getting them out should they decide to stay ....

do ALL further communication by letter - be brief, polite and professional

are you a member of NLA ? they have a great legal helpline.. worth its weight in gold (membership fees are tax deductible)

Thunderbird_2

Thank you for your replies. I don't think they will stay. However, the agreement was signed on the 1st of March, so I think it is a bit late to serve the notice, but might worth doing just in case!

I am not an NLA member yet, I will look into that, tax is not my concern at the moment as the rent is short of £150 of the mortgage interest. But thank you for letting me know.

Thank you for the links, G_M

clutton_2

but you can carry forward your losses - which will be greater if you include all your expenses such as membership of NLA

when i first joined NLA the discount i got on BLT insurance more than paid for my membership fee.. if you are to continue to be a LL it is your MOST effective resource....

you have nothing to lose by issuing a Section 21 notice now - you can date it today and say notice is to take place after 31st March ... so that if they do stay, at least you can then go to court on 1st April to seek a Possession Order - getting a court order is the ONLY way to get any tenant out if they refuse to go... these tenants have been so unpredictable that you dont know what they will do....