Garage renter has died

Retro82

So the residents of our flats recently set up a managment company to own the freehold of our properties. Part of this included some garages that are rented out.

Trying to bring some order to what seemd to have been a fairly haphazard situation with the previous freeholder, I sent out new contracts with notice to the current renters (there didn't seem to be any existing written agreement I could find!).

However I received one 'return to sender' marked deceased. A fellow resident had some idea that he was unwell and our treasurer said payments had stopped a few months ago. I have no contact details other than an address. I wondered if anyone knows firstly our rights, but more importantly, some advice on how to deal with this sensitively and properly.

HappyMJ

Retro82 wrote: »

So the residents of our flats recently set up a managment company to own the freehold of our properties. Part of this included some garages that are rented out.

Trying to bring some order to what seemd to have been a fairly haphazard situation with the previous freeholder, I sent out new contracts with notice to the current renters (there didn't seem to be any existing written agreement I could find!).

However I received one 'return to sender' marked deceased. A fellow resident had some idea that he was unwell and our treasurer said payments had stopped a few months ago. I have no contact details other than an address. I wondered if anyone knows firstly our rights, but more importantly, some advice on how to deal with this sensitively and properly.

You would have a claim on the estate for outstanding rent...but I doubt that's going to be very much so you could all decide as a group to write the outstanding rent off and find a new tenant for your garage.

Retro82

Thank you. We've no interest in chasing back payments. I would happily allow any relative to continue renting (with the new contract) or give them X amount of days to vacate. But I don't even know how to get in touch!

fed_up_and_stressed

Retro82 wrote: »

Thank you. We've no interest in chasing back payments. I would happily allow any relative to continue renting (with the new contract) or give them X amount of days to vacate. But I don't even know how to get in touch!

Any chance you can go to the address where you sent the correspondence which was returned, It may be a starting point ?. E.g a relatives address.

HappyMJ

Retro82 wrote: »

Thank you. We've no interest in chasing back payments. I would happily allow any relative to continue renting (with the new contract) or give them X amount of days to vacate. But I don't even know how to get in touch!

Write a letter to "the estate of....". If you get the letter back "return to sender" again then forget about it and find a new tenant.

AnotherJoe

HappyMJ wrote: »

Write a letter to "the estate of....". If you get the letter back "return to sender" again then forget about it and find a new tenant.

It seems vanishingly unlikely that one of the beneficiaries of the estate of the renter would also wish to rent. You might as well say "I noticed that Mr X (deceased) used to have a subscription to Bird Spotters Monthly, would you by any chance like to take one out?"

Easier just to advertise again.

booksurr

no written agreement to your knowledge

nonetheless you (well done) wish to do this sensitively so as suggested write to the address as "estate of ..." since you want to bring the tenancy to an end. Obviously if you categorically state that rent arrears are not an issue you may (should) get a response from an executor

presumably the address is relatively local given the garage and the fact a fellow resident had passing knowledge of the person. Obviously someone is dealing with his post, perhaps a knock on the neighbours door to ask if they know who is still around? (The latter obviously could be met with hostility)

Retro82

Thanks all

I'll try one friendly visit (they are very local). And if no luck there write to 'the estate'.

davidmcn

AnotherJoe wrote: »

It seems vanishingly unlikely that one of the beneficiaries of the estate of the renter would also wish to rent.

We don't know whether the garage is empty. Not beyond the realms of possibility that whoever has inherited whatever is in the garage may wish to continue storing it there. Or they inherit a house and want to continue having the parking facility at the garage.

TBagpuss

asHappy MJ says, write to "The Executors / Administrators of [Name]" and send it to the last known address.

Give a timescale for the garage to be cleared and state that if the estate wishes to renew the lease they can do so.

If you do need to clear the garage it may be wise to check first that there isn't anything which appears to be of any significant value - if there is, then after giving the executors time to cear the garage you could normally sell the contents, use any money to pay off the rent arrears and cost of changing the locks and then any surplus should be sent to the executors.

Retro82

davidmcn wrote: »

We don't know whether the garage is empty. Not beyond the realms of possibility that whoever has inherited whatever is in the garage may wish to continue storing it there. Or they inherit a house and want to continue having the parking facility at the garage.

Exactly - they may have just been using it as overflow from their house. In which case there may still be a spouse that would like to keep it