Tenants in arrears.

WantToBeSE

I am not a LL, so maybe i shouldnt be posting here, but i am a tenant.
Maybe the best thing to do would be to call them, and arrange a meeting with them to discuss how they are going to repay?
Maybe ask them to pay and extra £50 p/m on top of their monthly rent?
If you dont come across as demanding and unsympathetic, they are more likely to be honest with you and tell you whats been going on.
I would definitely insist that any future HB is paid directly to you.

dancingfairy

To be fair I don't think FireFox was being nasty, merely stating their opinion and sadly I think they are probably correct O.k maybe they could have sugar coated their reply but the facts remain
To an outsider it does seem a very odd situation that you have allowed to happen but obviously no-one knows how long you've had these tenants and the background behind it.
df

terryw

scandarahar wrote: »

Or maybe I could just ignore your 'good' advice. Are you a landlord or do you just value your own opinion?

You have been given good advice by Fire Fox. Your choice if you don't accept it and ignore it.

I too have been in this position as a landlord (thankfully not now) and it was a hard lesson to learn that many people look upon empathy, kindness and love of humanity as weaknesses to be exploited to the full!

scandarahar

dancingfairy wrote: »

To be fair I don't think FireFox was being nasty, merely stating their opinion and sadly I think they are probably correct O.k maybe they could have sugar coated their reply but the facts remain
To an outsider it does seem a very odd situation that you have allowed to happen but obviously no-one knows how long you've had these tenants and the background behind it.
df

Exactly and thank you. It doesn't read very well in black and white and I've been sympathetic up until now because I could be - however my own circumstances have changed and I can't afford to be a sympathetic as I have been. Hence posting here for advice as to what to do now - not smug responses from the ex-Landlady...

scandarahar

terryw wrote: »

You have been given good advice by Fire Fox. Your choice if you don't accept it and ignore it.!

Good advice? lmao.

terryw

scandarahar wrote: »

Exactly and thank you. It doesn't read very well in black and white and I've been sympathetic up until now because I could be - however my own circumstances have changed and I can't afford to be a sympathetic as I have been. Hence posting here for advice as to what to do now - not smug responses from the ex-Landlady...

It is doubtful if these tenants be as sympathetic to your changed circumstances as you have been to their misfortunes.

Another thing that I learned was that it is essential to run the letting as a business. Think about it - if you owed anyone nine months payments
(bank, lender, mail-order firm etc etc) would they be as sympathetic to you?

scandarahar

terryw wrote: »

It is doubtful if these tenants be as sympathetic to your changed circumstances as you have been to their misfortunes.

Another thing that I learned was that it is essential to run the letting as a business. Think about it - if you owed anyone nine months payments
(bank, lender, mail-order firm etc etc) would they be as sympathetic to you?

Yes - I take your point. Thanks. Thing is though in the preceding 4 years they never missed a payment and I suppose rather than the house lying empty trying to find new tenants - I was a bit too patient.

real1314

You can apply for rent to be paid direct once they reach 8 weeks arrears.
You should be writing a letter tonight to the council, and posting it first thing tomorrow.

Here's what you need to include:

1. A statement showing dates and amounts of rent due ; and the amounts of rent paid ; and a reconciliation showing the amount of the arrears.

2. A clear statement to note that you are requesting the rent paid direct, so that you can defer any action to evict the tenant

3. Details of your bank (a/c number; sort code etc)

It'd be a good idea to send a copy to your tenant (or perhaps take a copy) and get them to sign a statement agreeing to this action. If you're taking it, do it tomorrow, get it signed and send it to the council tomorrow.

Then address the arrears.

nb it might be worth checking the HB rate they should be getting - search "LHA" on direct.gov
:cool:

GDB2222

real1314 wrote: »

You can apply for rent to be paid direct once they reach 8 weeks arrears.
You should be writing a letter tonight to the council, and posting it first thing tomorrow.

Here's what you need to include:

1. A statement showing dates and amounts of rent due ; and the amounts of rent paid ; and a reconciliation showing the amount of the arrears.

2. A clear statement to note that you are requesting the rent paid direct, so that you can defer any action to evict the tenant

3. Details of your bank (a/c number; sort code etc)

It'd be a good idea to send a copy to your tenant (or perhaps take a copy) and get them to sign a statement agreeing to this action. If you're taking it, do it tomorrow, get it signed and send it to the council tomorrow.

Then address the arrears.

nb it might be worth checking the HB rate they should be getting - search "LHA" on direct.gov
:cool:

To be frank, the important thing is to get a letter off to the council ASAP, rather than involving the tenant. The council will freeze payments whilst they investigate.