Carpet thieves

desthemoaner

My brother owns a flat in a seaside town in Yorkshire; until recently he let it out to a young couple. He often had problems getting the rent but they always paid up after a bit of chivvying.

However, after a particularly barren period they suddenly upped and did a flit, owing 1500 quid in rent and stealing the carpets for good measure. The named tenant is related to a friend of my brother's, but the friend doesn't appear to be particularly interested in acting as a go-between to sort the issue out. My brother, although obviously pretty peed off with the situation seems resigned to putting it down to experience.

Personally, I think he should pursue the scumbags for the rent and the stolen property so I intend to try to persuade him to do so; not least, because having got away with it this time, they're likely to do it again to someone else.

Apart from the obvious point that he should report the theft of the carpets to the police, what course of action would peeps recommend that he pursued?

Ta.

jamie11

Claim any deposit he might have, if none, then simply sue for the full amount of rent and the value of the carpet after working out how much it had already depreciated. Don't try to claim new price for old carpet.

At least he will have the satisfaction of being able to give the toerags a CCJ even if he doesn't get the money.

pmlindyloo

First of all claim the whole of the deposit back through the relevant scheme.

Next get all the paperwork/evidence ready and pursue them through the small claims court.

Link here:

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/england/law_e/law_legal_system_e/law_taking_legal_action_e/small_claims.htm

There is a specific procedure to follow first in that you must try to settle this first before going to court.

So, write to the tenant with the amount of monies due and ask them to repay it.

You need to be aware that if the tenants have not got the money then, even if the court awards you the amount they may only be ordered to pay back a small amount per month based on their financial circumstances.

So in the first letter you may want to suggest some kind of repayment plan.

desthemoaner

Thank you both/all.

I'll email him a link to this topic, then he can read your excellent advice for himself.

I suppose the rest is up to him.

ACG

Dont forget, he cant move the house. There is nothing stopping them walking past with a brick.

I had something similar when i had property, they drilled a 6inch hole in the basement wall to allow ventilation for the cannabis they were growing on top of that they owed a months rent (thankfully the deposit covered this).

I had to decide whether to chase them which was easy enough done or just let it go as windows could have been put through. As much as i hate people getting away with things, it was easier to spend a day or 2 sorting everything out and getting on with my life than it was to report her to the police, issue proceedings and worry about whether a window will get put through.

pinkteapot

He should deal direct with the scumbag ex-tenant. Don't try and involve the friend - it's not fair on them. The probably feel bad because they know the scumbag and didn't think they'd behave like that. At the same time, they're friends with scumbag and won't want to get into a big fight with them. Just leave middle-man out of it and pursue directly through appropriate legal channels as necessary.

What sort of person steals carpet when legging it without paying their rent?

cootuk

There are people who regularly do this...pay a few months rent then stop paying, sell non-existant stuff on Ebay to get a quick load of cash, get credit on catalogues or doorstep loans..then do a flit owing everyone. If no-one chases them then they are quids in. People think they can't have money, but if they aren't paying any bills then they soon save up a fair bit or have a very good party lifestlye.

whalster

There's a famous seaside town called Scarborough that's full of fresh air and fun where a landlord let his flat to some scumbags now his rent and his carpets are gone,
Now listen here young landlord , did you run proper credit check if not like the rest of us on here shrug your shoulders and say
What the heck!
So buy some paint and new carpets get it all looking right spik and span don't get put of being a landlord and let it yourself if you can.

Iiiii thank you

olly300

whalster wrote: »

Now listen here young landlord , did you run proper credit check if not like the rest of us on here shrug your shoulders and say
What the heck!

Credit checks only show that before you let the property to them they had no defaults on their credit record.

Getting references only show that before you let the property to them they behaved themselves towards the person that wrote the reference.

I've been conned by someone who had a perfect credit record and references in a different situation.

theartfullodger

ANY theft by ANYONE (tenant, landlord, agent, MP..) report to police & get crime reference number. Then advise insurers..

But yes, pursue ex-tenants for the £££ for as long as it takes, for however much it costs you in time & £££. Why should (any..) crook get away with it?? You need time, diligence, patience, cunning and a bot of £££ for this. There are tracing agencies - but leave in say 6 months so ex-tenants put down roots (eg findermonkey...).

If you let them off they'll tell all their mates what a soft touch the landlord is & guess what sort of person then wants to rent the landlord's properties...

You do have good documented inventory with photos signed off by tenant on moving in as evidence of theft??

Does bruvver have no internet access??

desthemoaner

No idea re inventory, nor credit checks, nor any of the other helpful stuff mentioned above. We are where we are: in a situation where the horse has bolted and the stable lies empty and carpet-free.

I think my brother's personal connection to the tenants through his friend probably persuaded him that he should be able to trust these people enough not to bother with an inventory, and no doubt he now bitterly regrets that misplaced trust.

However, I will forward this link to my sibling and allow him to decide whether its worth pursuing said reprobates and perhaps teaching them a lesson that might prevent them doing the same thing to someone else.

Thanks again.