Help needed, leaking roof and tenants

FR_262

If your T is claiming housing benefit and they are 8 or more weeks in arrears you can have the rent paid directly to you. You need to go to the council with a rent statement showing the arrears. HB will be paid to you one month in arrears.

However, you can issue them with a section 8. This is fault based request for possession. Google this and see what grounds apply in this case.

Go to the council and tell them that you are concerned that your T is in serious arrears and that you are considering evicting them. Most councils are reluctant to rehouse Ts who have made themselves intentionally homeless (because they might just be trying to jump the social housing queue).

You have 30 days from when the T gave you the deposit to protect it and give the T the Prescribed Information. Do this today. Go round to the T's house and hand deliver the PI with an independent witness. It is very important that you get this done before the 30 days are up.

You must repair the roof and facia.

Write to the T to say you are getting them fixed and the man will be round on (DATE) and to confirm to you that this is ok. At the same time ask them if there are any other repair issues.

When the deposit is protected, and the repairs done, you can issue a section 21. Get your dates right. You can get help from the Landlord Zone website.

martindow

maggiecon wrote: »

I am in Northern Ireland so I think some of the law maybe different.

It looks quite different to English law

http://www.nihe.gov.uk/index/advice/renting_privately/advice_tenants/tenants_rights.htm

but since 2013, the deposit should have been protected

http://www.dsdni.gov.uk/index/hsdiv-housing/private_rented_sector/tenancy-deposit.htm