Complicated - need advice as a Landlord

Marvel1

anjou21 wrote: »

CJ Davies - I think there is, my house is not pristine but it is tidy and clean and if you owned a house and had just spent £20k on it plus having the garden landscaped at a further cost of £4k and the plants were not being watered and all dead - how would you feel. The tenant was incredibly appreciative of having such a nice place and took care of it and the garden - she it treating it like some doss house which it is not.

That's the problem, it's not your house, you rent it in excahnge for money. If you have an emotional attachment to it, then the landlord is not for you, if you can remove yourself from being emotional and also understand the business then keep at it.

theartfullodger

anjou21 wrote: »

Artful Dodger -

Lodger not Dodger: I don't dodge. Attention to detail matters in being a landlord, you are not demonstrating the characteristics you would likely wish to demonstrate to manage property & recover your investment as fast as possible. (I speak as someone who got things badly, worse than you, wrong when I started). Slow down, concentrate & get things correct, for your own sake:....

....Yes to all of your questions apart from last one ...

Funny, I somehow doubt the veracity of that statement.....

- if they owned a house worth £400k and it was the inheritance for their children I wonder if their attitude would be the same. This was paid for with hard work ...etc etc etc....

Perhaps more care in how you manage it then might have been prudent & be prudent in future? I tell my kids they should assume they will inherit nothing as I plan to drink it all: Want my kids to try harder, be more self sufficient & do better themselves!

Eventually even the most stupid landlord will succeed in eviction using s21 or s8: (s8 fairly easy for tenant to defend, but your likely won't turn up). Get judgment for monies owed then enforce, across the sea, in another jurisdiction, Iceland. (I've sone cross-jurisdiction enforcement, it can be done).

Cheers!

Kynthia

anjou21 wrote: »

Artful Dodger - Yes to all of your questions apart from last one as I was not aware that the girlfriend had moved in I only had the tenants passport details, all documents were prepared by a Solicitor who specialised in Property Law and the deposit was paid into an approved tenancy scheme and full details sent to the tenant and company. Unfortunately the solicitor is on an extended holiday ad his sidekick is not great at returning calls. I think that Marksoton is right that I can serve an S8 on the tenant (if I can locate him) as there are five terms and conditions including anti-social behaviour that I can sight.

what has amazed me on this forum is the number of people who obviously rent and have a 'don't give a damn what I do to the property' attitude - if they owned a house worth £400k and it was the inheritance for their children I wonder if their attitude would be the same. This was paid for with hard work and I am not about to allow some woman to destroy the place.

I think you might be surprised how many people here are landlords. They just want you to act as such and treat it like the professional business it should be rather than using emotional language such as 'my children's inheritance'. You've given away exclusive occupation to the tenant in exchange for money and they are entitled to quiet enjoyment without your interference. That doesn't mean you don't have rights though but you have to enforce them correctly.

You get a proper inventory when a tenant moves in and assess the property again it when they leave. Anything in excess of fair wear and tear can be claimed if you can evidence it. A tenancy doesn't end unless the tenant or a court ends it, and if the tenant had guests moved in then the tenancy can't end while they are still there. So the tenant needs to get her out or you need to go to court to end the tenancy and potentially evict. I believe you can serve the tenant at the property if that's the last address you have for him but your solicitor can advise.

Pixie5740

The original post:

I rented my house in February on a 12 month AST to a person who is working for a local company but is from Iceland, he said that his girlfriend and her 3 children were coming to visit and was I OK if they brought the dog with them to which I said yes. In March I paid a visit and the girlfriend and kids were there but no dog. The rent and deposit is paid from the company he works for and he pays them as he had no UK bank account at the time. As the gas certificate was due in July for renewal I emailed him with no response to say that I needed access to the property the following week (I have a set of keys) as he often returns to Iceland I was not to worried and arrived at the property to meet the gas man only to find the place in a right mess and marks all over the walls, a bike in the dining room and a small dog at the property, The garden (their responsibility) unwatered and pictures/posters put up. I also found a homemade 'gate' which did not open put up down the side of the property and a Sky system with dish on the side of the house. A number of gardening and painting items missing and a large stain on the ceiling below the bathroom. I contacted the tenant again both by email ad phone to no avail so resorted to contacting the company he worked for. It turns out that he has gone back to Iceland and they had him call me and he said he has split up from the girlfriend and will come back when she has gone. I agreed to give him until September to sort this out but have subsequently found out that she has been working for the same company, the children are in school here and she has put some of the bills in her name. She is going to have her work contract terminated this month and the company would like to rent the house for other employees to live in and I have no problem with this. I also find out that the tenant has been charged and dealt with by the court for assault and criminal damage. The tenant has breached several conditions of the tenancy so what I need to know is :- 1) do I have the right to get the girlfriend out and what rights if any, does she have. 2) Can I terminate his tenancy and do I need to use a Section 8 and what notice do I need to give? His company are being very helpful but they cannot do anything regarding his tenancy. I should point out that the property has had £20k spent on it in the past year and the garden landscaped and we are planning to put new flooring in next month and a new kitchen in next spring. None of which ill happen whilst the girlfriend is there.

theartfullodger

anjou21 wrote: »

Problem solved to those I have upset - removed the text, but thank you to those who were constructive in their replies.

Problem solved? I somehow doubt the veracity of that statement....

Do, kindly, let us know what stunning, rapid, massive progress you have made & how so that you may assist others in future, please!

Pixie5740

anjou21 wrote: »

what has amazed me on this forum is the number of people who obviously rent and have a 'don't give a damn what I do to the property' attitude - if they owned a house worth £400k and it was the inheritance for their children I wonder if their attitude would be the same. This was paid for with hard work and I am not about to allow some woman to destroy the place.

What amazes me is that you are so precious about the property and its garden. If you are going to make this a successful business you will have to detach yourself emotionally. If the garden is such a big whoop-dee-doo then hire a gardener to come weekly, fortnightly, monthly, whatever and adjust the rent to factor in this additional cost.

You can't have it both ways, take the money in exchange for exclusive occupation but dictate how tenants live or you'll go through tenants like nobody's business. Tenants don't have to keep their home like a show home.

Good luck with your Section 8, I have a feeling you're going to need it.

Edit: An important point to note is that you cannot terminate the tenancy. The tenancy can only be ended by a court or the tenant, not the landlord.

theartfullodger

anjou21 wrote: »

I have given her at least 48 hours notice and have made 3 visits over the past month to meet contractors for quotes to flooring and kitchen and since the first visit the place has not been cleaned, more marks and damage has been done to walls and doors and dog poo all over the garden.

She says they are still together, he (my Tenant) says they have split up. As for the state, it was immaculate before she moved in and now it is being abused.

The company will not pay the rent after next month and there is no way she can afford it on her own and I do not want her as a tenant. She is not on the agreement. I am not being hard, just that she is not my problem and needs to move out.

Sorry sir/madam, she is your problem.

marksoton

anjou21 wrote: »

what has amazed me on this forum is the number of people who obviously rent and have a 'don't give a damn what I do to the property' attitude - if they owned a house worth £400k and it was the inheritance for their children I wonder if their attitude would be the same. This was paid for with hard work and I am not about to allow some woman to destroy the place.

Then i suggest you wake up, grow up and stop being so naive.

I find it utterly amazing you slate the very people you seek help from.

Start acting in the professional and legal manner you should. Oh, and buy a book. Preferably on how to be a LL.

That asset you have is someones home. Remember that.

septemberblues

Ouch......I can see why people are scared to ask questions on this board........try being nice peeps!!

marksoton

septemberblues wrote: »

Ouch......I can see why people are scared to ask questions on this board........try being nice peeps!!

As stated, you hardly endear yourself when you insult the very people you're asking for help.