Rent owed for last two months

Pixie5740

You guess the deposit is protected? You should find out in case that bites you in the backside later on.

Unless you can serve a money claim using the tenant's work address then you'll need to somehow find out where they are moving to so that you can take them to small claims court to get the rent money. I think you've got 6 or 7 years to file a claim and services like Monkey Finders can help to track them down.

Dird

dancingfairy wrote: »

It's strange as someone working in a professional job such as an estate agent you would not expect to default on the rent.

In an episode of "Can't pay? we'll take it away" an EA told a person who lived far away that he found a tenant for their BTL & had a fake contract etc. When the high court came to reclaim the property after months without rent being paid they found the EA living in the property Apparently he had a history in the area of doing it

FBaby

Are they a couple and if so, could it be a case of them separating? Children?

Maybe they've worked out that they will lose the deposit and taking them to court for the difference will be more expensive then what it's worth?

macman

portiagriffey wrote: »

The deposit won't entirely cover two months rent. I guess it is protected it is with a deposit agency via the letting agency. And of course I had hoped to use some of the deposit against any damage. Thanks for your reply.

You only guess it is protected? Good grief. Might be an idea to find out for sure, since otherwise you will most certainly receive a claim for non-protection for twice the deposit from your professional tenant, who will be well aware of this opportunity.
Ensuring the deposit is protected is your responsibility as LL, whether you use an agent or not, as the contract is between you and the tenant, not agent and tenant.

Guest101

portiagriffey wrote: »

Please advice - thanks
Clever tenants ! one of them working for a letting agency, have given two months notice to leave and haven't paid their rent. With five weeks left before they go, they are now in arrears. What can I do to get my two months rent. One has said he can't pay and is leaving this week. What is my next step?

Who gave two months notice to leave?


You? Did you do it correctly?


Them? Why two months?


As in every case where someone owes you money, you go to small claims court.

theartfullodger

Guest101 wrote: »

......as in every case where someone owes you money, you go to small claims court.

usually...- after 1st writing them a calm, polite LBA e.g.
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/resources-and-tools/list_of_sample_letters/
& then if not paid....
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/law-and-rights/legal-system/taking-legal-action/small-claims/

However with rent owing by tenant the options of s8 (which gives money claim also, albeit fraught with being easily defended by tenant...) and/or s21 as a "hint" they should start paying are also there to be used..

In my experience people will try a little to avoid sleeping on a park bench: Usually....