tenant left without paying

anasta81

Dear all,
My tenant gave me a verbal notice to leave my property on the 1st of November and asked if he could use his deposit to pay for the last month. He was a good tenant, paid on time, cleaned and even fixed some small issues in the house so I let him use his deposit for the last month's rent. Due to some unforeseen reasons he had to overstay at my place for another few days. He sent me a text confirming that he would pay for these extra days. He kept moving the check out date and eventually moved out without paying but texted that he would pay later at the end of November because he was broke at the time. I know that he works and worked previously. On top of that he shared with his friends who also work and moved out with him. Now I keep chasing him, texting him but he never replies. Additionally, I received a council tax bill for two weeks while he was still at the property and it was under my name. The rent that he still owes me is £600. Is there a way to get the money? Thank you

justjohn

most tenants bump you for the last month or so of rent.
just put it down to experiance..


Why was the council tax in you name?

missile

Text and tell him you will have to disclose this information if you are asked for a reference. That MAY encourage him to pay up.

It would appear he has no intention of paying and perhaps is blocking your number?

FBaby

You've done things the friendly way rather than the professional way and this is what happens when you do. You should never have agreed to him using the deposit money to pay the last month, deposits are to protect you against exactly that.

As for the council tax, you won't get anywhere either, 8m afraid and expect bills too to come your way. He would have called to cancel all and by default, they will go to the owner for that period. You might have been able to get the council tax reversed but you will need to prove that he was still there so unless you have anything in writing to that effect, they will go by his letter/email to you.

You can try to take them to small claims but again, the onus will be on you to evidence that they broke your agreed contractual arrangement. You are indeed better of putting down to experience. Not nice to not be nice by default but being nice gets abused so instead you just have to be professional.

You might also want to consider a deposit of 6 weeks rather 1 month in the future for that reason although that might limit tenants wanting to move in if its a lot of money to raise.

csgohan4

treat as a business as such, nothing personal, as clearly you got taken for a ride

AdrianC

You have two choices.


1. Put it down as a cost of business, and make a mental note not to voluntarily sacrifice the deposit again.

2. https://www.moneyclaim.gov.uk

Comms69

Do you have an address for him?


If not then that's that really.

CIS

anasta81 wrote: »

Dear all,
My tenant gave me a verbal notice to leave my property on the 1st of November and asked if he could use his deposit to pay for the last month. He was a good tenant, paid on time, cleaned and even fixed some small issues in the house so I let him use his deposit for the last month's rent. Due to some unforeseen reasons he had to overstay at my place for another few days. He sent me a text confirming that he would pay for these extra days. He kept moving the check out date and eventually moved out without paying but texted that he would pay later at the end of November because he was broke at the time. I know that he works and worked previously. On top of that he shared with his friends who also work and moved out with him. Now I keep chasing him, texting him but he never replies. Additionally, I received a council tax bill for two weeks while he was still at the property and it was under my name. The rent that he still owes me is £600. Is there a way to get the money? Thank you

In respect of the council tax charge it's a case of showing he was still resident in the property - assuming it wasn't a council tax HMO. Sounds like his constant date changing has caused the problems.

System

Former landlord here. My last tenant left leaving several grand of damage, pointless pursuing as they didn't have a pot to pee in. There's basically no chance of getting the money back, the best you'll get is an unenforceable CCJ which will cost you money to apply for and would just be throwing good money after bad.

G_M

anasta81 wrote: »

My tenant gave me a verbal notice to leave my property on the 1st of November
lesson: deal with letting professionally and get everything in writing

and asked if he could use his deposit to pay for the last month. He was a good tenant, paid on time, cleaned and even fixed some small issues in the house so I let him use his deposit for the last month's rent.
So why take a deposit at all? It's there to cover costs when the tenancy has ended, not as a savings scheme for the tenant to use for future rent.

Due to some unforeseen reasons he had to overstay at my place for another few days.
so charge double rent.

He sent me a text confirming that he would pay for these extra days. He kept moving the check out date and eventually moved out without paying but texted that he would pay later at the end of November because he was broke at the time. I know that he works and worked previously.
So there's an unpaid debt. Either chase it or ignore it.

On top of that he shared with his friends who also work and moved out with him.
Relevance?

Now I keep chasing him, texting him but he never replies.
So there's an unpaid debt. Either chase it or ignore it.
Additionally, I received a council tax bill for two weeks while he was still at the property and it was under my name.
So inform the councilthat he was still resident. Give them the date he moved out.

The rent that he still owes me is £600. Is there a way to get the money? Thank you

If he won't respond to requests, sue him.

As Tarambor says, if he has no money/assets the court will order him to pay £5 a week which he might or might not do.

Whether you choose to spend money chasing this, is up to you.

Cakeguts

Please take him to court and get a CCJ. It won't help you but it will help other landlords and it might help you in the future that someone else has done this.