THREATS by TENANT

milky_

Hi

i would like to know if threatening to burn a house is not a criminal offense?

My tenant is in rent arrears and has now changed locks and is basically blackmailing me, she has screamed down the phone that she wants money to leave the house and if i don't give her it she is going to BURN it.

I have reported this to the police but they did nothing saying it was a civil matter, is this not wrong? it has nothing to do with her rent arrears, the fact she has threatened to burn my house, does that not constitute as intent criminal damage? can the police not arrest her for this?????? i recorded the phonecall where she makes the threat.
Do i need to speak to a more senior officer? or will it make no difference?

PLEASE ADVISE, thank you!

milky_

Hi appreciate the response considering the time it is...can't sleep

oh i don't know maybe i posted this in the wrong place? i have not served the crazy tenant a notice YET, i will be doing this first thing monday morning, a section 8 notice, but my question really was about the her threatening to burn the house, if she can be arrested for this?? When the officers asked me who she was and why i then explained the situation they just said oh civil matter tenant landlord but that was not the issue, i was reporting a threat and i just figured it would be taken serious REGARDLESS whether she is my tenant, am i making any sense?? its 3:19am..probably not

milky_

ok, thats what i wanted to know um..one last question the section 8 notice ground 14, would her verbal abuse and threats fall under this? or not??

milky_

oh it wouldnt just be on ground 14, rent arrears 8,10,11 and 12...

again i think im making no sense....havent slept much since this nightmare started.

LeeSouthEast

It could be construed as blackmail. Can I suggest when you ring the police again (bear in mind your chances of actually speaking to a police officer when you first ring is next to zero), that you don't mention the rent arrears. It's immaterial to the threat, really. Just say "I am a landlord, and my tenant is threatening to burn my house down."

You can then discuss it further with someone with a bit more law knowledge. The problem begins when the police hear "rent arrears" which automatically triggers the "civil matter" mental flowchart, even if you said in the same breath "and she stabbed me in the head 14 times with her doberman".

Personally rather than blackmail I'd try and squeeze a look at S.4A of the Public Order Act. The chances of her actually intending to carry out the burn-down threat is (hopefully?) minimal, but her intent was clearly to cause you some alarm. I just hope you were not at home when she rang you ;-) otherwise that idea is out the window.

rockitup

I would definitely try to raise this matter with a more senior police office, maybe CID would be interested, or should be. You must get the fact recorded by the police that she has threatened an Arson attack on your home. Arson itself is a very serious offence and carries a long sentence.

Hope you get this crazy individual out of your house as soon as possible and do not leave it empty, in case she comes back and tries to set fire to it.

NeverAgain_2

As others have said, contact the police but focus entirely on the threats to your property and you.

It's often better to visit your local police station, but be prepared to insist on seeing a real policeman, because they may attempt to fob you off with a civvy desk worker.

Burning a house down deliberately is arson, almost certainly with intent to endanger life, or at least being reckless as to the lives of others, because the fire could spread to neighbouring properties.

I doubt you will get an arrest, but an officer should visit the tenant to remind her of her responsibilities as a law-abiding citizen.

Leave allegations of blackmail on the back burner for now, the tenant could too easily construe the demand for money as simply an offer to negotiate a settlement in a civil dispute.

DVardysShadow

Consider whether there are any other examples of irrational behaviour. Perhaps she should be sectioned?

Catherine_Johnson_2

How long is the tenancy for? Is it an AST? How long left to run on the tenancy? Have you issued an s21?

How do you know the locks have been changed? Have you attempted entry (I hope not!)?

domcastro

Laugh at her and tell her to burn the house down then

Strapped

I'd be checking my insurance cover, just in case.