Help with tennant moving out

clutton_2

as per your original post """Today was the last day. She really should have given notice till the end of the month but we were not too bothered.""

If she is getting sassy - so can you ........

if the end of the month is the end of her tenancy (ie rent day) - and she is trying to end the tenancy prematurely, you are legally fully entitled to deduct rent from the bond to cover unpaid rent up to and including the day before rent day. She is trying to bully you - dont let her.

Do not instruct a locksmith until AFTER the end date on the tenancy - she is still the tenant and she could come back and claim illegal repossession by you.

I suggest you send her a text, saying that you have written to her at the property. If you write to her at the property, and she does not get it because she has already left, that is her problem not yours. Suggest a time at which you will be at the property to conclude the tenancy - ie at the END of the tenancy and when all rent is paid - at that time, read the meters, check the inventory and tell her you will forward the remaining bond IF ANY to her forwarding address. (btw - if you do not have an inventory, then dont waste you time trying to claim for damage/cleaning ) - but you can still claim for unpaid rent and new locks if she does not return the keys. )

dont let her bully you.

I would certainly deduct the cost of new keys AFTER the end of the tenancy date as per your AST.

thesaint

Although not your problem if the tenant is ultimately paying, but, can't you change the locks yourself?

It is such an easy job to do. 20 mins for a 'Yale' type lock and the same for a 'Chubb' type lock.

Wings

clutton wrote: »

as per your original post """Today was the last day. She really should have given notice till the end of the month but we were not too bothered.""

If she is getting sassy - so can you ........

if the end of the month is the end of her tenancy (ie rent day) - and she is trying to end the tenancy prematurely, you are legally fully entitled to deduct rent from the bond to cover unpaid rent up to and including the day before rent day. She is trying to bully you - dont let her.

Do not instruct a locksmith until AFTER the end date on the tenancy - she is still the tenant and she could come back and claim illegal repossession by you.

I suggest you send her a text, saying that you have written to her at the property. If you write to her at the property, and she does not get it because she has already left, that is her problem not yours. Suggest a time at which you will be at the property to conclude the tenancy - ie at the END of the tenancy and when all rent is paid - at that time, read the meters, check the inventory and tell her you will forward the remaining bond IF ANY to her forwarding address. (btw - if you do not have an inventory, then dont waste you time trying to claim for damage/cleaning ) - but you can still claim for unpaid rent and new locks if she does not return the keys. )

dont let her bully you.

I would certainly deduct the cost of new keys AFTER the end of the tenancy date as per your AST.

Very good advice, apart from charging your tenant for the cost of changing the lock/s, since this should be the norm for all landlords when there is a change of tenant/s.

I really smell a scam coming on from your tenant, the insistance of a full refund of her bond, together with a refusal to give her new address, makes me consider she has, or will be seeking the council to send the rental arrears money directly to her. Like the last poster advised, do not be bullied and maintain the stance you are taking.

PROFESSIONAL_LANDLORD

Listen very carefully, I am going to tell you a story;

Thought Max Bygraves had returned for a minute there ! LOL

I agree change the locks after end of lease date.


Footnote on locks !!! When ever fitting locks, fit EURO LOCKS (not expensive)they operate like a mortice lock but use a yale type cylinder, when I get property back I change the cylinder ! the cylinder can be replaced under 2 mins by unscrewing 1 screw, ( a child could do it ) that old cylinder could be used on other property.

The locks and cylinders can be purchased from

Screwfix .com
Toolstation.com

alm721

Thanks again for all the advice, (thanks buttons have disapeared). I also am beginning to wonder whether she has or is intending to ask the council to pay her the arrears. She told me that she needed the bond money today to give her new landlord and that without it he would not give her a tennancy agreement and that without that the council would not settle our account so we would not paid the rent we are owed!
Half the problem is that the tennant has not really been on the ball and finds things difficult to follow, (don't mean to be disrespectful) so its hard to explain things to her and also hard to know just how much she understands and whether she genuinley thinks the council will not pay us without her new tennacy agreement or whether she knows they will not pay us as she has asked for the money herself? Who knows!
She has however sent a text saying we can collect the keys and give her the outstanding part of the deposit tomorrow so I guess she's maybe realised shes not correct in what she says, although she has'nt responded to a text asking her when and where we can meet her so maybe shes changed her mind again!
Thanks for the advice with the locks. We were going to change them anyway its just that we can't get into the house (spare set of keys lost dont ask) so had not intended charging her to replace locks just for cost of breaking in if necessary.
With regards to end of tennancy, the tennacy had been on several short term lets but the latest one had not been signed so I believe that this means the tennacy had gone on to a periodic tennancy which means she had to give us 1 months notice from same date as start of agreement. This was 1st of the month so I think she should have given notice on 1st to leave on the 31st? She actually gave us notice by text (although she has since given us it in writing but not dated) on 8th March to leave on 5th April. I think shes worked on 4 weeks because thats how the council pay. I would think this should actually be until the 8th (ie a month rather then 4 weeks) but am not sure.
I am happy to allow her to do this as it makes little difference to us but am now wondering whether we should hold off doing anything until the end of the month?
Could she really come back and say she was still a tennant even though she has put it in writing that she was leaving on the 5th?

Thanks again and sorry to be so usless!
Regads alm

PROFESSIONAL_LANDLORD

Could she really come back and say she was still a tennant even though she has put it in writing that she was leaving on the 5th ?

If she meets you at the property, have a letter ready stating the amount of deposit returned to her (the amount can be left blank £..... ) and a statement confirming the lease has ended on ......... then she can't come back ! and on that that letter

Gas..........

Elec.........



Tenants Sig;


As for the final payment getting directed to her, many tenants are unaware that this can be done! and sometimes Housing Benefit will try and talk them out of it .

PROFESSIONAL_LANDLORD

Tenants Sig;,,,,,,,,,,,, Date,,,,,,,,,,,,

alm721

Thanks once again for the advice, we met her yesterday and she reurned the keys and we paid her the balance of the deposit. She signed to she she had left and that she had recieved the money etc. Also included on the letter that we still had'nt been able to enter the house so still to check carpets cleaned etc. She sent us a text yesterday saying shes going to a solicitor cause she still thinks we are wrong to hold her bond also that there is a stain on one carpet and that she told us about it ages ago (this is true however all carpets were brand new when she moved in) and that she had various other niggles, all of which we dealt with when she told us about them. My husbands brother is changing the locks tomorrow and I will try and speak to council on Tuesday although Im not sure how much use that will be. Another question I do have though, she has had token meters fitted for gas and electric, would anyone advise removing them as I dont think I would want them although I suppose it depends on the tennant. Also are we likely to be charged for this? We do know who her suppliers were now so I can check with them, just wondered what was the norm. Also she has point blank refused to give us a forwarding address, she says for personal reasons. Im guessing she may have debts but was wondering can we get into trouble for not getting a forwarding address from her? she says shes told the po her new address for mail forwarding but would not be suprised if she has'nt. So if letters/bills come through do we just write 'no longer at this address' and repost or do should we do anything else?
Thanks

PROFESSIONAL_LANDLORD

That's good you have your property back !


she has had token meters fitted

We always change them back to credit, but some tenants like them, there is normally no charge to swop them, but I reckon the tenant has run up bills hence why their there, and they may give you a hard time without her forwarding address. ( if I have that problem I give a reference address )


Mail ? simply mark it GONE AWAY.


Doubt you will hear from her again.

Doozergirl

I've had key meters changed before. I had to wait four weeks both times, but I think that may just have been because they were in arrears (both repo's) and they wanted proof that we woulf keep the meter in credit. It costs nothing to change and I'm sure most people prefer regular meters. Just call your utility providers.

Personally, I'd be a bit peeved if I found a key meter when I moved into a rental property, but it isn't the sort of thing I'd remember to check before I moved in.