Tenants asking to not pay rent this month

ognum

ifeelsad wrote: »

Rent is due on the 15th of each month. Quite often it will be a bit late, or I’ll get an email saying they can only pay x amount, and I’ll get the rest the next week. I don’t mind this too much as long as we get it.

But they have sent me an email today to ask if they can not pay rent this month because he has a new job and they can’t afford it until he gets paid, and also because they’ve spent money doing improvements to the house.

Unfortunately we have had a lot of expense in the last few months with this property (admittedly not the tenants fault) but we are struggling a bit at the moment because of this. We can’t afford to not get the rent this month and there is no way that a bit of paint and wallpaper for 3 bedrooms is costing anywhere near what the monthly rent is!

I should also add that when they moved in they demanded new carpets throughout, and it was decorated to an ok standard (DH repainted completely before tenants moved in but just in boring magnolia/white) so although it now looks nicer, it didn’t really need doing and it was their choice.

Any advice? I can’t demand money that they say they don’t have, but they are getting housing benefit (he sent me a copy of award letter, along with a cheque from the council covering back pay for rent) so they are getting money towards rent and as such they should be prioritising this payment.

Should I say we absolutely need the rent and give them a few more weeks to pay? We can cope without the rent for a short while but part of me thinks they are kind of taking the p*ss with things now.

Thanks

Reply by letter, keep a copy saying you expect the rent to be paid in full on the day it is due and this is what you expect each month.

This is a buisness and you have been too friendly, explain that if the rent is not paid you will not be extending their tenancy at the end of the term.

I know this is hard but it really is not your problem. If they can't afford the rent now there is no way you will ever get it back.

Just man up and do it.

ifeelsad

I really like some of the suggestions, thanks.

I'm drafting an email that is probably still too nice but firmly says we expect the rent asap.

Now I've thought about it more and read all your comments, I am really struggling to get over their cheek!

ETA: the letter thing makes sense. I might reply by email, then follow it up with a letter confirming

Pixie5740

You can always post your draft here before sending. We'll let you know if you're being too nice.

Marktheshark

How many late payments ?
Mention that Section 8 notice for accelerated possession can be issued for either two months arrears or a record of a history of late payments, they might think they are home and dry until the tenancy expires.

A warning shot straight across the bows might just bring them to their senses .

ifeelsad

This is the third late payment since November

silvercar

I would be writing to the council and telling the council you will be considering evicting these tenants due to rent arrears. Ask that the council pays you the HB direct; they are allowed to do that in certain circumstances and persistent non payment is one of them. These tenants have shown that they can't manage to prioritise using their housing benefit for rent payments and the council should agree to pay you direct.

That way you don't have to face evicting people and you have a reliable source for the rent and you trust that the tenants will look after the property.

That's what I did in similar circumstances and it has worked out very well.

DigForVictory

That should be in the letter too.
Look forward to seeing your first draft - and hearing about new tenants, frankly.

stalkah

Could potentially the problem be the tenants going to work will now lose all/some of the housing benefit? That could pose an even bigger problem going forward for you.

ifeelsad

This might be the problem. He did say that going forward, the fact he now has a better, more regular, job will mean that payments will be on time etc.

I'm going to call the council to ask about the tenants status in terms of benefits.

warehouse

If you give some people any leeway they will take full advantage, as you're starting to see now. If they get a month in hand there's no way you'll ever see that money again. You need to be firm and say no, and that you expect the full amount on time every month else the council will be informed.

However if you don't mind giving people money out of your own pocket, (whilst they also take a bucket-load free from the social at the same time), then fine, go ahead.