Theft by tenant catch 22

theartfullodger

Cakeguts wrote: »

.....Same tenant I think demolished the garden shed with an axe. Not much we could do about that.

Why not? Surely if inventory & photos showed shed and it wasn't there at end of tenancy why not request deduction from deposit ?

And surely that would be theft also.?

Margot123

Don't be fobbed off, this is a typical Police response when they can't be bothered to Google it.
Believe me, that is true. I know of an enquiry office who used to go behind a screen and Google people's complaints when they went to the front desk. She more often than not responded with 'the Inspector says it's a civil matter'.

I doubt your report has even been looked at by a Police Officer. The term 'officer' can relate to any member of Police staff, even volunteers.

Pixie5740

Are you sure that the item of furniture has been stolen and hasn't just been put into storage? Have you asked the tenant?

AdrianC

This piece of furniture is, presumably, on the inventory - and fully described to reflect the quality and value?

If it is not there at the end of the tenancy, you can claim the value of it (less wear and tear, obv) back from the deposit. If the deposit is not adequate, you can claim it from the tenant. Whether it's been broken or "stolen" is not really important. It was there on check-in, it is not there on check-out. Job jobbed, deposit dinged.

Why on earth is there a "high quality piece of furniture" in a rental property anyway? Furniture loss and damage is to be expected in a furnished let, and should really be priced into the rent. If this is the quality to furnished let, then you should be pricing it appropriately.

davidmcn

Just because there's a civil remedy doesn't mean it isn't also a crime. I mean, you theoretically have a civil remedy against most other perpetrators of crime against you, if you can identify them and think it's worthwhile suing them.