Rent delays 3 months in a row

arlee

Hi everyone,

My tenants has been renting my house since last year, they were the perfect tenants every landlord dreams of for the first year, rent always on time and no maintenance needed at all. we kept a very good relation with them and became like good friends.

Then we renewed the contract in Aug problem started the following month, the man got ill/operation and the lady is expecting an baby, Sep rent was late by one week, and Oct rent delayed by nearly one month, Nov they paid both Oct and NOv, then for this month rent is now late by 10 days, tenants promised twice but didn't make it, i tried to get hold of them today by phone, text / email, no reply at all...

on one hand, i feel for them as its a tough time for them, on the other hand, I am getting stressed out chasing and worrying about the rent. Should I give notice and let them go, what would be the worst senario?

Peater

1 month - Benefit of the doubt
2 months - Hopefully the embarracement will snap them into shape.
3 months - Something is wrong.

As much as it will be difficult seeing as you seemed to have had a good relationship with them, you should perhaps raise this with them and remind them that they have breached thier contract 3 months in a row and that you are well within your rights to serve notice.

BitterAndTwisted

When they re-signed the fixed-term how long was it for?

Please stop phoning, texting and emailing! WRITE to them asking why the rent has been continually paid late. Tell them that if they are suffering financial difficulties they should apply to the Local Authority for LHA (Local Housing Allowance) for a contribution towards their rent. If the situation cannot be addressed that you might be minded to bring the tenancy to an end at the earliest opportunity and that they should contact you without delay to discuss what they propose to do.

If they really can't afford the rent any longer the kindest thing to do might be to agree a mutual surrender once they have secured alternative accommodation

robpw2

it was not late rent three months in a row november they paid on time lol.. sorry to be pedantic but im afraid it may be time to ask them to move on

DominicJ_2

Well, theres two options really.

You accept that they are in trouble, (shouldnt they be getting housing benefit?) and you put up with it, risking late/absent/reduced rent for a long time.
Or you accept that their trouble isnt your trouble, and serve notice, risking a long void period and bad tenant.

Only you can really fill in the details to pick the right option.

Mallotum_X

DominicJ wrote: »

Well, theres two options really.

You accept that they are in trouble, (shouldnt they be getting housing benefit?) and you put up with it, risking late/absent/reduced rent for a long time.
Or you accept that their trouble isnt your trouble, and serve notice, risking a long void period and bad tenant.

Only you can really fill in the details to pick the right option.

^ This!

Its up to you whether you want to risk them paying late or risk a void period.

How quickly are empty properties taking to rent out in your area?

Slow money has got to be better than no money, but if you can get a better tenant then maybe that would be easier?

swbrua

Depends on two things: Firstly, do you rely on their rent to pay your mortgage on the property or are you not in need of their rent to cover your own costs? Secondly, would you be willing to work with them if they had a situation that they believe they can resolve? If you don't have a mortgage to pay and they're people you know who are in a bad spot it can do no harm talking to them and explaining that while the rent needs to be paid, you'd rather they explain why they can't pay on time and work with them to get everything sorted so you don't have to kick them out. I'm sure they're as upset about being unable to pay as you are about them not paying.

If they're signed for a year and in a bad spot and it doesn't hurt your finances you could consider halving their rent with a decided upon "repayment plan" for when they're back on their feet. They pay half for the next 3 months and then 50% extra in 3 months after, assuming that's when they're back on their feet etc.