Can you check if someone has an asbo

kazd

We have recently bought a brand new btl property, within a few days of our tenants moving in, we got a call from the sales office to say that someone had spotted our tenants and said that they had been kicked out or repossesed from their previous property and that they were a nightmare. Spoke to the management co and they said he did not understand that they were an older couple, seemed very nice. First and second months rent paid promptly. A couple of days ago I got a call from the Sales Director who said that they had been running amok around the show house, climbing out of the skylight of our property. I asked if this was the kids and she replied she thought it was the father up to shenaningans as well. Said that the family were allegedly known to the police and the father had an asbo.

Management company went round for the initial six week inspection, said the house is fine, rent no problem, spoke to some of the neighbours who said they didn't have a problem. Still slightly worried, is there anyway we can check this information out, would the police tell us if the family were known to them.

Your input appreciated.

lynzpower

I dont think, from a data protection act POV that youd be told TBH, I cannto see which org ( ie police, social services) would ever be able to tell you that without the consent of the client. Asbos can be given for a number of things, some of which wont affect ( neccesarily) how good tenants they are, eg persistently being found in a red light area can get you an asbo, and so forth.

This sales director, if she was physically in the same room as them climgbing out of the skylight, why the uncertainty as to whos who? Surely she must have had a word to him at the time??

Have you asked the tenants? Did you not get a reference from thier last LL? I guess either of these are more useful avenues than the guesswork and hearsay you lok like you are lumbered with ATM

Let us know how you go

clutton_2

if they are paying the rent and the house is in an Ok condition, and the neighbours have not complained, i cannot see that you have a problem. Just make sure the letting agent does more regular inspections than usual if you are worried. Dont let them sign a 12 months agreement - only 6.

dips_3

You should contact the police. The conditions of an ASBo are usually posted in the area ( I have seen one with photographs of two children on and a list of conditions attached). They are not confidential because the police rely on the public to advise them if the conditions of the ASBo are being broken.


If an ASBO is seved for bad behaviour (such as that described by the sales office) then the conditions of an ASBO will usually state that the person can not participate in this behaviour within a certain area - this could be as wide as all of England.

If the sales office is correct then the tenants could be breaking the condition of their ASBO and the police would certainly want to know about this.

It strikes me as strange that you are getting conflicting evidence from the Sales Office and the management company. So I would tread carefully before calling the police about your own tenants.

I would approach the Sales Office - recap what they have told you - explain that this could be in breach of an ASBO and that you will be contacting the police. Ask the sales office to confirm what they have seen and to keep a diary of what they are seeing. Ask them if they will be willing to repeat what they have told you to the police.

If they back down then I think there are other issues here.

kazd

The guy that owns the management company is a friend, our initial thoughts were we just want them out, now not to sure, they only have a six month contract so I think we will just see what happens over the course of the next month or so. The alleged skylight incident was supposed to have happened at 2am.

Think we might give the police a call to ascertain whether this information would be available without giving any names initially.