tenant not living in flat .

Wee_Willy_Harris

DVardysShadow wrote: »

Ah, but no electricity since November?

Girlfriend?? Cannabis Factory??
Cannabis Factory?? Girlfriend??

:confused icon

Even looking at probability alone, there are more girlfriends than there are cannabis factorys. But they both like the heating too high.

mynameisdave

Snooze wrote: »

I don't see what all the fuss is about? Sounds like an ideal LL situation if you ask me - tenant not causing any hassle and paying the rent on time. What more could you want? The rest is none of your business. If you can't live without sticking your beak into other peoples private business then you shouldn't be a LL.

As has already been pointed out the LL may be responsible for paying any fraudulently claimed housing benefit that is being paid to him and his insurance could also be invalid in the property is unoccupied.

Heaven forbid him sticking his nose in to make sure his substantial investment is safeguarded.

mynameisdave

Would the tenant being is prison be a possibility or would this flag up for a local authority to stop housing benefit?

Someone may be collecting the post but it doesnt mean its the tenant.

Mrsunseeker

He could have done a moon light flit, Been put in prison. Or died.
I would have a word at the local police station. Tell them your problem. Let them break in if they think it is needed and if they do find a body at least you were not the last person inside the property.

Owain_Moneysaver

Wee_Willy_Harris wrote: »

Even looking at probability alone, there are more girlfriends than there are cannabis factorys. But they both like the heating too high.

Maybe the one is paying for the other.

mgirl_2

The lack of electricity purchase since November does make it look exceedingly likely that the tenant is not actually resident, so HB is being claimed fraudulently. If it were me I would write to the LA telling them I had recently become aware that he was almost certainly not resident, to minimise any overpayments that you might be liable for.

Sphynx

You lot are very trusting. All he would have to do is say he had moved in with his girlfriend but it wasn't permanent and that he didn't want to give up his flat. He was 'letting someone else stay' because they didn't have anywhere else (sob sob).

PasturesNew

Sphynx wrote: »

You lot are very trusting. All he would have to do is say he had moved in with his girlfriend but it wasn't permanent and that he didn't want to give up his flat. He was 'letting someone else stay' because they didn't have anywhere else (sob sob).

Which would make his housing benefit claim potentially fraudlent. HB is paid for people to have a roof over their heads. If that's being provided elsewhere for a continuous period of 6-7 months, then it would indicate the tenant might be living as man and wife elsewhere, so HB would be withdrawn... etc.

terryw

It is certainly worth mentioning that from the council's viewpoint nil expenditure on power will be prima facie evidence that a person is not living there. In these circumstances, the council will make the first claim against the landlord backdated to the last date of power usage for the return of housing benefit paid to the landlord.

LHA paid direct to the tenant would not reflect upon the landlord or lead to a claim for repayment except possibly where collusion was involved.

OP, this means that you must keep clean hands. You must make the council aware of your suspicions (after talking to the tenant, of course!). There is obviously a rather large rabbit loose here and you have got to try and minimise droppings!

clutton_2

i am wondering now on earth the LL knows anything about the electricity useage of the tenant... Data protection would not allow the utility company to inform him of such usage.....