Tenant ignoring all contact from Letting Agent

Miss_Samantha

melstar11 wrote: »

Tenants only pay council tax for a property they are living in.

That's also incorrect. No wonder people can be confused.

kinger101

DoctorMessi wrote: »

Right just rang the council and they said if the tenant is on a periodic tenancy, they are responsible until they leave, so even if the periodic tenancy is for another month, and they leave after 2 weeks, they are only liable for the 2 weeks not the full month.

Seems a bit unfair, that's why I wanted a fixed 6 month contract, at least that way there is a bit of security, anyway will look into giving her the 2 months notice, and look for someone else.

And you'll be responsible for council tax during all the void periods you'll inevitably get when tenants don't want to extend their contract every six months. And the fees the letting agent will keep charging you for finding new tenants.

Cakeguts

You say you have been letting property for a while. Not long enough to have got this though? We have two periodic tenancies that have both been periodic for more than 10 years. Is that long enough for you?

Marvel1

Chances are she wants to go onto the periodic tenancy, £0 fees involved.

EDIT: Read more posts, why set-up for 6 months in the first place and 12?
Can you cover the fees if you want to sign for fixed term?

benjus

Is there a clause in the tenancy agreement to say that the tenant is responsible for paying council tax for the duration of the tenancy?

If so, you're covered. If you are charged council tax for a period during which the tenancy is still running but the property is empty, just pay it then deduct it from the tenant's deposit.

fed_up_and_stressed

Cakeguts wrote: »

You say you have been letting property for a while. Not long enough to have got this though? We have two periodic tenancies that have both been periodic for more than 10 years. Is that long enough for you?

Not aimed at you Cakeguts, but just doing something for a while does not always equate to being able to do it well :rotfl:

Cakeguts

fed_up_and_stressed wrote: »

Not aimed at you Cakeguts, but just doing something for a while does not always equate to being able to do it well :rotfl:

I don't mind I just wanted to try to point out that if you treat your tenants as customers then they get to do what they want to and periodic tenancies don't have to be for a short time. It depends what your tenants ( customers) want.

FBaby

There is nothing wrong with a landlord preferring a fixed term, just like this is what many tenants also prefer because ultimately, it means that for that fixed period of time, you know better where you stand and it is therefore less stressful for both parties.

However, using the worry of having to pay CT as a rationale behind the reason for only wanting to consider a fix term is quite odd. Most council will either allow a time period by which the property can be vacant without any contribution or a reduce amount, all of which as it's already been pointed is much less financially risky than other more likely circumstances. It falls under those 'business costs' that come with being a landlord.

ognum

Just so you are aware some Letting Agents (including the one I use) charge nothing to the tenant or the LL for a repeat fixed term contract.

As a LL I have tenants on both fixed and rolling contracts and all my tenants have gone past their first contract. Some tenants actually like fixed term contracts, it gives them some security. They know they will not be issued an S21 and they know their rent won't be raised during the fixed term.

There is not one right way!

Guest101

ognum wrote: »

Just so you are aware some Letting Agents (including the one I use) charge nothing to the tenant or the LL for a repeat fixed term contract.

As a LL I have tenants on both fixed and rolling contracts and all my tenants have gone past their first contract. Some tenants actually like fixed term contracts, it gives them some security. They know they will not be issued an S21 and they know their rent won't be raised during the fixed term.

There is not one right way!

Absolutely. However

Some, a lot, of agents do charge for renewals

It doesn't sound like you'd be evicting your tenants if they didn't want to renew