A serious vent! Not for the faint hearted!

silvercar

Come on! Your not doing this for charity or out of the goodness of your heart . In fact, its the BTL brigade that are keeping a large number of potential FTP buyers (like myself so please excuse the bitterness!) out of home ownership.

Everyone has their own interests at heart. So those wannabe buyers are finding it harder, but the expansion of the rental sector has meant more choice for those who don't want or will never be in a position to buy.

Scum tenants like this lot do a disservice to decent folk who rely on benefit. Plenty threads on here about how difficult it is to rent if you are on benefit, well it is people like this that make it difficult. If benefit tenants had a reputation ffor keeping properties well then landlords would be more willing to accept them.

Ivana_Tinkle

What a horrible situation to find yourself in. As others upthread have mentioned, people don't keep urine and faeces around the house in jars and bags because they're "scum". They do it because they're seriously mentally ill.

It's not just a matter of semantics. Firstly, I'd be having strong words with whoever checked these people out or provided references for them, as presumably this behaviour didn't start overnight the day they moved into your place. Secondly, it might help you to know that this hasn't have been done out of malice to hurt you.

BitterAndTwisted

"Any thoughts from anyone?"

Yes, let your business head rule your heart and never, ever expect anyone to be grateful for any percieved favours you might be doing them.

Also, with any new tenancy always inform the tenants upfront and in words of one syllable that you intend to carry out periodic inspections at something like three-monthly intervals until you are confident that the property is still in a good state. You don't have to mention that this "good state" is dependent on the tenants being responsible and wholesome.

And never offer a new tenancy on anything longer than a six month AST in the first instance until you have the measure of them.

Even non-DSS/benefit-dependent tenants can turn out to be unsatisfactory/seriously mentally unwell.

Oh, and I would be feeling no guilt whatsoever about retaining the deposit. Both you and the charity were taking a risk in offering that particular tenant a home.

CKhalvashi

I've just got back to see it for myself, and I can't believe that we used to live in that home

15 minutes and a skip in, we've cleared the living room. Ex-tenants have told us that the toilet didn't work, but I have used it and there's nothing wrong with it.

There be paint, laminate flooring and skirting boards in my car; bathroom/kitchen (electric) I'm going to do tomorrow, as with the skirting boards. Radiators will also be done tomorrow, so I'm on a tight turnaround.

I've managed to get my hands on a car with 3 days MoT left, going to the scrapheap on Saturday, so nothing's going in my car if we run out of skip. I shall be thoroughly cleaning myself before I go anywhere near my own house/car!!!!

OH has written to all tenants (we've moved every few years and 100% mortgages meant we didn't sell the properties, so we have about 9 now :eek:) to say we're doing an inspection at x time in the next month, please call us to confirm or we'll rearrange if not convenient. I know it could be seen as too late, but this has been a wake-up call.

CK and Mrs K will not be around tonight; palmed kids off on a friend as I don't want them seeing this.

Thanks for the support from most of you guys!

CK

BitterAndTwisted

It used to be your own home, so that explains why you are so very dismayed at the damage.

"Lavatory didn't work"! If my lav didn't work and my landlord chose to do nothing about it I'd rather pee in a bucket and empty it down a drain outside than keep collections of my precious waste decorating the place. You know that's a complete fabrication, although the tenant might believe it to be true.


SKIRTING BOARDS? :eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

It must be in a really bad way to have to gut the place so completely.

I thoroughly recommend bathing in Dettol or Zoflora after your exertions. Burn every stitch of clothing.

Ivana_Tinkle

God, that's horrific. You poor thing.

propertyman

Our client, many moons ago had many rent act properties and one became vacant as the occupant had left horizontally.

Sadly a rapid decline in mental health had led to their not reporting a broken loo and breaking a hole in the floor boards instead

Almost a year later......:eek:

And then there was the one that lived in packing boxes packing polystyrene and went about half naked but wore wellies to keep their feet dry.

But being old school paid their rent on time....

CKhalvashi

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

It used to be your own home, so that explains why you are so very dismayed at the damage.

We lived here for about 18 months. I've always kept a house immaculate; my living room has some toys scattered in places, as do the girls bedrooms, but the rest of the house, apart from overnight (I do the dishwasher after breakfast, go around with the Dyson/Mop once a week) is always spotless.

There's no mould anywhere in my house, and the last time there was, happened to be after we'd been away for 3 weeks and I'd left some cheese in the fridge.

SKIRTING BOARDS? :eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

Right along the wall with the....stuff....they've gone completely mouldy

I'm at home, the house is in a much better state than it was (we've painted, got the floors/skirting in that don't go against the neigbrouring walls and literally ripped the bathroom/kitchen units out (that cost over £25k to put in), as they're not fit for use by humans for cooking/bathing.

I've made a start on the kitchen units after the neighbours went to work (about 5am), but need someone suitably qualified to fit electric cooker. Receipts are at about £7k, as a contact has managed to get some ex-display Miele units and OH managed (through the same contact) to get an ex-display kitchen last night.

Good news is that the new T's have paid 6 months (£7500) upfront, which is in a separate pot. Mortgage is just under £3700 for the same time, so the only way I can look on it is that the mortgage and 50% of this is paid. The other advantage is that T's are going to pay monthly, so I've always got 6 months money. They're looking for a long-term let, as she doesn't want to buy on her own, and I've promised, by the same agreement, to keep the rent at £1250/month for as long as my mortgage is fixed (14.5 years left on the fixed deal at the moment, meaning that there's the potential to have money back in 2-3 years and make £600/mth profit for the next 12 years).

I'm going to be going to a shop that's in administration this morning to get some furnishings; the general idea is to pay about 5% more than the shop in question paid for them. We've already let furnished, so I feel I have little choice

It must be in a really bad way to have to gut the place so completely.

There's mould everywhere, everything was rotting, we've had to completely re-plaster one wall, then paint an hour later, then re-coat the minute that's been dry.

I thoroughly recommend bathing in Dettol or Zoflora after your exertions. Burn every stitch of clothing.

Needless to say, when I've got in, the clothes have been binned. DD1's just asked me who's car is on the drive ('H' reg Ford Sierra, which isn't exactly fitting with the area), to which I've kept very quiet!

CK feels a lot better, but still isn't happy

chewmylegoff

It's horrible, but doesn't insurance cover stuff like this?

CKhalvashi

chewmylegoff wrote: »

It's horrible, but doesn't insurance cover stuff like this?

Technically, yes, but I got paid to take the insurance last year (76p), and I'd rather not pay for it.

CK