Tenant from Hell= penniless and destroyed house

slopemaster

If you don't have local recommendations for trades, it's worth joining Which just to get access to their members recommendations. I found a couple of really good tradesmen this way.

plumfin

I appreciate this may be a stupid suggestion, but what about advertising free rent (vet them properly) for a few months if the tenant redecorates to your standards? You would have to do the electric, boiler etc, but you might find someone who can't afford rent but can do a good job on the interior.

I accept this is a risk, but in its state, you can't sell it so you may well end up with squatters or the like anyway - better perhaps to get something for your money?

Ignore me if this is a really stupid suggestion however!

Emmylou_2

I'm in the market shortly for a BTL and for me to buy a house where I'm paying your estate agent fees...sorry, buying by "informal tender"...it'd have to be the Perfect House in Perfect Condition in the Perfect Location. Why did you choose this agent?

mrsmumbles

Pixie5740 wrote: »

Looks like the OP has some good advice already about getting the property let out again or selling. Even if this tenant has no assets I'd still pursue them for arrears and damage taking it all the way to a CCJ if necessary.

From other landlords', accidental or otherwise, posts, I'm surprised that so many truly awful tenants get past the referencing undetected. Unless they've always been decent tenants and then one day wake up and think, "This is it. This is the day I smash all the furniture and smear faeces down the walls."

It is scary how quickly a tenant can turn on you...in my case it was after two years...mine has trashed the bathroom by 'accidentally' forgetting to use the shower curtain but I just don't have the energy to pursue her through the deposit. It is now fully covered and protected but due to ill health, the thought of going after them through the deposit scheme is not worth it. the other posters are so right about being rigorous with vetting and all the paperwork...even correct but delayed paperwork can cause trouble later down the line....my own tenant is definitely a vindictive individual, but when I vetted them, all refs were fine, good job, and very personable as well. Just really, really demanding. With hindsight, I would let to a professional couple, they tend to be happier and more content and the rent arrears risk is hopefully smaller, I would try to visit them or call them at work to check they are who they say they are, do a short term AST and serve section 21 at the start of the tenancy, which is ok if you explain it properly to the tenants and assure them that you can do a new contract later on once the original AST ends, provided you all want to. My own troubles stem from refusing to cough up hundreds of pounds worth in unnecessary improvements. I will also definitely use upad as I have been repeatedly let down by estate agents, although landlord support groups have been invaluable. Finally i would go right out and ask them how they feel about access.
It really rankles me that people are quick to judge landlords...yes, we have legal obligations, so do the tenants. Most of us barely make a profit, and are covering our own mortgages, put in huge amounts of time, try to do the best we can for the tenant, and it's still not enough for some people.
I reckon that society has certainly altered since I rented in the eighties...our old place had a leaking gas oven which had to be cut off, damp rooms...yet I happily redecorated the whole place for free, and we never complained. No deposits were protected, but we got it all back. Nowadays I could have used my old landlord and got thousands back from him. Most of the changes to landlord and tenant law are good, but there is definitely room for abuse. maybe it is because tenants want to see the places they rent as their own home, as it takes longer to afford to buy...thing is, it both is and isn't their home....I can't afford to put in a fancy driveway or refit a good kitchen in fancy colours just because increasingly pushy renters demand that I do. Mind you, this particular tenant is the only really bad one I have had to deal with in over ten years, and they will get their deposit back in full, not necessarily into their hand though...

mrsmumbles

leveller2911 wrote: »

I couldn't disagree more with regards to Check a trade and rated people. All of the people who advertise on CAT and rated people pay a fee to join. Its nothing more than a club. CAT in particular do not like posting complaints about the members of the site.

Have a search on the forum here and google about check a trade and rated people and you will see there are major issues with both sites.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2791140

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2671559/Can-trust-website-claims-banish-cowboy-workmen.html

You will possibly see the likes of these companies on Watchdog very soon.....

EDIT: Oh they already have been on watchdog..........

This is really interesting...so CAT have a bad rep? I found them handy in that it gets you some contacts, but there are so many cowboy traders out there...didn't realise they were as variable as rated people. So much for Phil Spencer's endorsement! it is so hard to get good people...I just referred to them because, through trial and error, I have used them and found good people...as ever, best traders are yourselves, and learning new skills so you don't need a tiler...plasterer...etc. That is a great point on watchdog...maybe next time I need work done I will check the rogue traders web pages!
Very helpful post:T

slopemaster

mrsmumbles wrote: »

Good tenants are flexible and don't mind you popping in as long as someone is around. They have nothing to hide. ...

I always make a point of reassuring my tenants that I will never think of just "popping in". In fact when I lived on the same street I crossed the road so as not to walk past the house in case they felt I was snooping!
Tenants want to feel they have privacy in their own home.

But this is nowt to do with the OPs situation anyway, sorry...

[Deleted User]

Second hand kitchen's from ebay are a thought as well, but well, looking at the right move ad.., it is a bit of a dated tatty property as well. As suggested previously, this will limit the tenant type.

The link for the article on help for people with empty homes from Marple seems to have some useful suggestions as well.., could you not contact the empty homes officer link given on the first page?????

I'd also agree that although you live away from the property.., there are weekends. A lot of the redecorating work can be done on a DIY basis - I've put in bathrooms, tiled, put in two kitchens (one twice in two different properties) and had to learn everything about DIY while doing these jobs. Nowadays You Tube offers lots of videos, you don't even have to buy DIY encyclopedias like I did and do a lot of thinking to figure out how to do the bits the books don't tell you about!

I put in a bathroom (reused cabinet, old basin, old loo, new sanitary ware, new bath from a sale, cleaned and repaired old taps, tiles bought in a sale, lino bought cheap) - all for well under £300. This included two complete walls of tiling.

When you have to do it, and are determined, you find a way. If you are defeatest.., it won't help.

Oh and I am one of the 'awkward' tenants who likes my privacy.., I definitely don't want a LL popping in whenever he/she pleases. I rent the property from them but while I do, I want to feel like its my home. Not that I am in prison being inspected etc. I maintain the property to a far higher standard than I have to, rent is paid on time.., so I wouldn't call myself a difficult tenant.., just like my privacy. Definitely don't have anything to hide.., just don't like being 'invaded' by a LL.

Morglin

mrsmumbles wrote: »

yes, but THEN what the tenants do is claim that it's not their signature! Unbelievable, but true!
There are a lot of accidental landlords out there who do their very best for tenants, who get very good quality accommodation yet complain, complain, complain....
And no, tenants do not have the right to !!!!! on at me because my two year old bathroom suite is in the wrong arrangement, or because I do t have the money to build her a second car bay....this poster has suffered from an extreme version of this sort of arrogant tenant, and I just wanted to check she was ok with the prescribed information, which, as you point out, she needs to have been if she if going after that tenant in court.

Which is why accidental landlords are a menace to themselves and their tenants. :whistle:

Landlords that appear to have such a dislike of tenants shouldn't be landlords either, as there are as many stupid, 'evil' and scamming landlords as there are stupid, 'evil' and scamming tenants. :wall:

Give me professional landlords every time, as at least they understand their responsibilities.

Lin :silenced: