Police have forced entry.

seven-day-weekend

deannatrois wrote: »

Credit checks and last LL reference actually don't give much of an idea who you are trusting your property to through. Credit checks only show if any bankruptcies and CCJ's, not if they pay their bills on time. Quite easily COULD be running a drug den (not saying the tenant is), and not paid rent for 6 months and LL gives reasonable reference just to get rid of their tenant. I don't really know why LL trust their properties to someone on such basic tests.

Have you looked at the tenants social media? If its publicly available, nothing prohibits you from looking.

The only person I can find who may or may not be the tenant gives virtually no information and seeing as we have never met the tenant I don't know what he looks like. The agent did get an employer's reference (that's how I know the tenant has a job).

BarryBlue

Lunchbox wrote: »

But he still has a contract, which is coming to an end. The OP can refuse to renew that contract for any reason, even if they just feel like it.

Regarding the point about employment, an employer can suspend an employee whilst a criminal investigation is underway. They can also take disciplinary action including dismissal, even if the employee isn't convicted, if there is a genuine reasonable belief they committed the offence and it either affects the work they do, or brings the organisation into disrepute.

I think you are right to err on the side of caution. I would serve the S21 regardless. You can always cancel it later, but failure to serve it will delay matters if you do decide to evict.

BTL properties are considerable assets for landlords and you must operate as a business in order to protect those assets. You can't act as a charity as nobody else is going to protect it. I'm afraid that any hint of a dodgy tenant would cause me to serve the notice as there are plenty of decent tenants waiting. You have to look after your own interests first and foremost.

seven-day-weekend

mumps wrote: »

You can look at this from several points of view:

1. You don't want your rent to be paid by illegal activity - understandable but nothing has been proved yet so legally, and morally I think, he is innocent until proved guilty.

2. You are running a business, he has been a good tenant a known quantity if you get rid of him because he might have done something wrong you could get a dodgy tenant and your business would suffer.

3. He is totally innocent, malicious allegations or mistaken identity or whatever. Seems unfair for him to lose him home if he has done nothing wrong and again you could get someone who is a bad tenant.

I'm afraid people do get accused of things they haven't done, they even get convicted of things they haven't done. The police raid premises and find nothing. Twenty years experience in a large police force has shown me this is true. Is your local force West Mids? Didn't they get six men locked up for years for pub bombings they didn't do? The police are fallible.

I think from a business and moral point of view you are right, let it go to a rolling tenancy and see what happens. He might be a thoroughly bad lot but on the other hand he might be a decent young man just like your son.

Hopefully your agent did proper checks, got references from employer and previous landlords. If they didn't you might need to look for another agent.

Re the door I think your tenant is responsible for the repair, if there has been some mistake he should be looking for the police to foot the bill.

This is all part of the joys of being a landlord, welcome to the reality of "easy money" and high returns. Sometimes it is no money and damaged property, the risk we take.

Just to say, mumps, I have just read this reply to my husband - he says to tell you he likes it very much

iammumtoone

I would let him stay (as a business decision) at least until the dust settles you say he is a good tenant if you ask him to leave either a) he is an innocent man and might take offence at you assuming he is guilty meaning he no longer feel he wants to take such good care of your property (a lot of damage can be done in two months) or b) he is guilty and but still takes offence as he hasn't been found officially guilty yet.

In the mean time I would keep an eye on the local court papers and also contact the police to see if they will tell you if the case goes to court or gets dropped (they might not but its worth asking).

Maybe a few more property checks than would be normally carried out might be a good idea whilst he is still there.

Good Luck

45002

theartfullodger wrote: »

http://www.landlordzone.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?74418-Help!-Police-have-forced-entry!

seven-day-weekend wrote:

Yes I am reading that one too....OP is me

scampicat and seven-day-weekend are the same OP

Jamie11_2

missbiggles1 wrote: »

I would also question your use of the word "honest" in this context which seems inappropriate here. In fact, I used it myself when suggesting that an honest tenant didn't equate to a good tenant.

Anyway, at the moment, this guy is as "honest" as you or me and definitely as innocent which is the most important thing to remember.

Putting the question of drugs aside for a moment, what would you do if your tenant was making his money from other types of dishonest transactions? An example might be flogging dodgy motors, or a straightforward scam aimed at other peoples bank accounts.
Would you refuse to accept his ill gotten funds as rent?

I'm just finding it interesting that this whole thread assumes there is a possible drug related crime being investigated by the police.

theartfullodger

John 8:7

....

seven-day-weekend

Jamie11 wrote: »

Putting the question of drugs aside for a moment, what would you do if your tenant was making his money from other types of dishonest transactions? An example might be flogging dodgy motors, or a straightforward scam aimed at other peoples bank accounts.
Would you refuse to accept his ill gotten funds as rent?

I'm just finding it interesting that this whole thread assumes there is a possible drug related crime being investigated by the police.

I have good reason to believe that this is the case.

seven-day-weekend

theartfullodger wrote: »

John 8:7

....

At the moment we are giving the guy the benefit of the doubt because we believe in 'innocent until proven guilty'. If he is guilty, then I do not want my flat used for illegal purposes . Why this is being used against me, I have no idea.

It will not be me that that throws the stone, it will be the law of the land.

He may of course not wish to stay and leave when the tenancy finishes.

seven-day-weekend

Jamie11 wrote: »

Putting the question of drugs aside for a moment, what would you do if your tenant was making his money from other types of dishonest transactions? An example might be flogging dodgy motors, or a straightforward scam aimed at other peoples bank accounts.
Would you refuse to accept his ill gotten funds as rent?

I'm just finding it interesting that this whole thread assumes there is a possible drug related crime being investigated by the police.

If I knew for sure he was doing these things, then yes I would refuse it, I do not want my property used for illegal purposes.

Of course I might not ever know, in which case there is nothing I can do about it.