Tenants leave with no notice - several items missing from house

DannyboyMidlands

I'd just let it go.

There is no deposit, no deposit protection service and even if you catch up with the tenants, they'll plead poverty.

Tidy up the house and sell it. In the scheme of things, who cares about a few bits of secondhand furniture?

maninthestreet

It seems they didn't need any references for their new property??

Feel_Sick

maninthestreet wrote: »

It seems they didn't need any references for their new property??

I *think* from speaking to a guy in my local pub (well local when i lived there anyway) that they may have moved into the mothers house as she has emigrated - so, no references needed as you say.

Im not overly upset about the furniture - just the bare faced cheek at taking it!
The house being run down has upset me a bit, as its been in the family for 70 years as it was my grandfathers.

irishcol

Feel_Sick wrote: »

I *think* from speaking to a guy in my local pub (well local when i lived there anyway) that they may have moved into the mothers house as she has emigrated - so, no references needed as you say.

Im not overly upset about the furniture - just the bare faced cheek at taking it!
The house being run down has upset me a bit, as its been in the family for 70 years as it was my grandfathers.

I know it's probably not what you want to hear, but I think you need to look on the bright side. It could definitely be worse.

With you living so far away, be grateful your tenants told you they were leaving and didn't just sublet it to someone else to use as a cannabis farm. You coudl have been left with some hefty electric bills, lots of damage to the building, damp etc - not to mention some tricky questions from the police when it was discovered.

In the grand scheme of things, a month's missed rent on a house that cost you nothing is almost irrelevant - in fact, given that you want to sell the place, getting the tenants to leave at the cost of only 1 month's rent is pretty good.

i say do as others have suggested and notify of your intention to claim the full deposit, then chalk it up to experience

terrierlady

this happens with all types of rental my sisters hol cottage had pillows swopped from feather to dirty old hollow fibre quilt swopped again to cheap one towels burnt how did that happen god knows, tea towels missing guess it goes with being landlord but yes it put her off renting the cottage out BUT for every 100 lets 95%are good decent people

Feel_Sick

irishcol wrote: »

In the grand scheme of things, a month's missed rent on a house that cost you nothing is almost irrelevant

I may have inherited the house, but the rent from it pays my own rent on my house in Somerset, so not quite 'Irrelevant'.

Ulfar

I am sorry to do this but I am going to make you feel even more sick.

A deposit was taken and your Letting agent went bust and ran off with it, that is your problem not the tenants. You had a duty to protect that money.

Due to the changes in the law from the localism act, you had until 6th May 2012 to deposit the money and issue the prescribed information.

Because you have failed too, if they go to court the judge has to award the refund of the deposit and between 1 and 3 times the deposit as compensation.

You would need to launch a counter claim for lost rent, damages and replacement costs. As someone else has said replacement and damages has to take into account depreciation of the items value and wear and tear. Whether you would be awarded anything due to the above, will be up to the judge, you may not get anything due to your breaches of DPS.

Yes your tenant hasn't followed the law but then neither have you.

Feel_Sick

Ulfar wrote: »

I am sorry to do this but I am going to make you feel even more sick.

A deposit was taken and your Letting agent went bust and ran off with it, that is your problem not the tenants. You had a duty to protect that money.

Due to the changes in the law from the localism act, you had until 6th May 2012 to deposit the money and issue the prescribed information.

Because you have failed too, if they go to court the judge has to award the refund of the deposit and between 1 and 3 times the deposit as compensation.

You would need to launch a counter claim for lost rent, damages and replacement costs. As someone else has said replacement and damages has to take into account depreciation of the items value and wear and tear. Whether you would be awarded anything due to the above, will be up to the judge, you may not get anything due to your breaches of DPS.

Yes your tenant hasn't followed the law but then neither have you.

A deposit has been protected - at my cost.
Ive had several conversations with 'My Deposits' regarding the missing money, and protecting a 2nd deposit.

So no, actually, i have followed the law, whilst picking my life back up from losing my father and picking up the tab on the LA doing a bunk with deposits to 2 houses plus 3 months rent on one.

Never again!

pinkshoes

I would perhaps call their bluff, text them back, and ask them for their new address so you can return their deposit.

I'd then contact your local police and have them charged with theft.

tbs624

Ulfar wrote: »

I am sorry to do this but I am going to make you feel even more sick.

A deposit was taken and your Letting agent went bust and ran off with it, that is your problem not the tenants. You had a duty to protect that money.

Before jumping in - almost gleefully - to encourage the OP to get vomitous, you may want to read back through the thread. The OP *has* apparently ensured that a deposit has been scheme registered, despite the LA running of with the actual money.

Edit: OP's futher post has confirmed this