dodgy tenants

silvercar

There are good private tenants and bad private tenants just like there are good HB tenants and bad ones.

Many people go through stages in their lives when they need to be supported, doesn't make them bad people.

If all landlords turned their noses up at HB supported tenants, they would be little support for people at their time of need.

By its very nature, renting is likely to attract people who are currently facing financial difficulty, to ignore the hosts of decent people just because they may be claiming benefit is narrowed minded and also narrows the market for your property.

I take the same view with all tenants: decision is based on references and credit check.

prudryden

silvercar wrote:

There are good private tenants and bad private tenants just like there are good HB tenants and bad ones.

Many people go through stages in their lives when they need to be supported, doesn't make them bad people.

If all landlords turned their noses up at HB supported tenants, they would be little support for people at their time of need.

By its very nature, renting is likely to attract people who are currently facing financial difficulty, to ignore the hosts of decent people just because they may be claiming benefit is narrowed minded and also narrows the market for your property.

I take the same view with all tenants: decision is based on references and credit check.

I don't think it is necessarily the tenants, but the inclusion of the council that creates many problems.

bearfreeman

SteveCat wrote:

You need to obviously evict them as quickly as possible, make sure you do this using the right methods and make sure you're clear in your reasons. Also warn them that finding future property will be hard once evicted as you will refuse references, obviously do not give a bad one.

Could i possibly ask a question? What methods did you use to get these Tenants in the 1st place? Did you perform the relevant checks?

The local council put these people on to me. Really it's only the top up rent that seems to be the problem, they want it all for free. What are the most important checks to do, and should the tenant pay for credit checks etc?

tomstickland

Re references:

obviously do not give a bad one.

Why not?

bearfreeman

Gorgeous_George wrote:

First one. I believe they need to be two months behind (or 8 weeks if on a weekly payment) before a court is likely to evict them. You can serve a Section 21 requiring them to leave (maybe so a relative can use the property ).

GG

Both tenants have been in for 2 months [both had 6 month tenancy], most of the rent is paid for by HB, with top up not being paid. Just learnt that 1 tenant is in prison, so I'll change the locks etc and re-let. At what stage can I get a court order?

thesaint

Research 'Section 21'(S21) it is complicated.

barnaby-bear

thesaint wrote:

Research 'Section 21'(S21) it is complicated.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=285735&highlight=prison+tenant

lots of other threads if you search

BobProperty

Gorgeous_George wrote:

First one. I believe they need to be two months behind (or 8 weeks if on a weekly payment) before a court is likely to evict them. You can serve a Section 21 requiring them to leave (maybe so a relative can use the property ).

I think you'd better read up on S8 and S21 notices too, GG.

Gorgeous_George wrote:

Second one. The council will not pay Housing Benefit if the claimant is not living at the property. I would take it that they have quit the property and suggest you make an effort to contact them to confirm this. If contact cannot be made, maybe you could smell gas as you walk past the property. This would allow you to legally force entry. When the source of the smell has been identified (and rectified by switching the cooker fully off) you could assess whether the tenant has indeed quit. Change the locks and re-let.....

I think you may need to do more than that. Oh and do the "I smelled gas" trick without a witness you could get yourself into trouble for trespassing. Change the locks without getting possession is a no-no too.

BobProperty

bearfreeman wrote:

.....Just learnt that 1 tenant is in prison, so I'll change the locks etc and re-let. At what stage can I get a court order?

Learned on a course that being in prison is temporary so the tenant still has a tenancy and they are entitled to return to the property and continue their occupancy. Can't remember what is the quickest way to get possession, it may depend what they have been convicted of (assuming they have been convicted and aren't on bail, which is more likely actually).

SteveCat

bearfreeman wrote:

The local council put these people on to me. Really it's only the top up rent that seems to be the problem, they want it all for free. What are the most important checks to do, and should the tenant pay for credit checks etc?

Yes, we find its most important to do all the relevant checks. We do: If working, employers reference. Previous Landlords reference and of course the big one the Financial check. As Agents we teamed up with a company who do these checks and then offer Insurance which covers loss of rent and Legal fee's for a unbeatable price. If the Tenant fail one of these checks the insurance will not be offered and therefore we do not go with them.