Problem tenants - left property without paying rent!

nattyb1982

my tenant tried to give me his months notice by text message 4 weeks ago even though he is legally contracted until June. I said if i could find another tenant before then he could be released from his contract but he would need to keep paying until then and pay the finders fee with an agent. He agreed to all this then over Christmas he texted me again to say he'd left and gave the keys to the agency, he was still due to pay by the 5th Jan, he didnt and i contacted him again to which he said he had no money and wouldnt be paying! i have offered him a reduced payment of £200 to close the matter (so i can cover my mortgage payment) otherwise i would need to take legal action and he has told me he is not going to pay either! what can i do?

ILW

If he truly has no money, you will be wasting your time chasing him.
Do you have

BitterAndTwisted

Keep the text messages and print them out in case you need them in future.

Change the locks and find a new tenant asap.

When did the tenancy start and what did you do with the deposit?

tbs624

As T has clearly surrendered his tenancy , your priority should be to get in there, check the property over and get it re-let, pronto.

You will need an address for the former T if you wish to pursue the matter but be aware that even if you get judgement against him, if he has no money you may have difficulty enforcing it, ending up with a repayment of stupid £ per week.

Only you can decide whether you think it's worth the time effort and fees involved when the only thing with which you may come out of it is the "satisfaction" that the T has ended up with a CCJ which will affect aspects of his life for 6 years.

If he can't afford the rent, he's actually done you a favour by surrendering - he could have sat tight and put you to the trouble of eviction, whilst allowing your property to deteriorate.

Did you have a tenancy deposit from him ? Scheme registered it? Did you /the LA seek out references for this T? If no, then it's a lesson or two learned.

spinningsheep

I can only echo what others have said, if he truely is skint, it is not worth the hassle for £200. All you would have is the satisfaction that you have ruined his credit score for 6 years. Can you not deduct the money from the deposit? Assuming you have taken one? If this guy is as low as he says, kicking him whilst he's down when as others have said, he could have sat tight and played you for a few months whilst you evicted him via the courts, would seem cruel for the sake of £200