Tenant unlikely to pay

Dodgysailor

Dear all,
I am renting a two bedroom property to a tenant who never pays on time and refuses to do a direct debit.
She has insinuated that she will be unable to pay the rent next month due to the corona virus and that she may not be able to work
At this point I have no ways to determine if she is telling me the truth or if this is an excuse to have a rent free place for a month or two. If it is true I will have most sympathy for her but if she is not...
Anyone knows what are my rights at this a point? can I ask her to show me proof that she has been laid off or proof (bank statements) showing that she has not being paid next month?
Any suggestions are welcome
Thanks!

hallmark

The Govt is going to completely screw landlords who are basically going to be totally at the whim of whether their tenants decide to pay rent, probably for at least a year.  Some (not all) of those tenants are going to instantly use the pandemic as an excuse not to pay and live rent free, meaning the landlord has no income and no way of ever getting that money back in most cases (live rent-free for a year then quit and let your landlord chase the debt through the courts unusuccessfully).  The landlords might be given a "mortgage holiday" but THAT debt will be enforceable, it'll have to be paid in time or the house will be repossessed.
The existing system worked, and had the Govt done nothing decent landlords and decent tenants would have worked together to sort out a way through the crisis.  Alternatively if the Govt wanted extra protection for tenants it could have said it'll pick up the tab for rent.

Instead it's screwed landlords completely and given all of the power to the tenants.  Landlords lucky enough to have honest tenants may be OK.  Lots won't. Human nature being what it is there will be plenty of tenants who see the pandemic as all the excuse they need to simply not pay rent.  And the new Govt move is going to mean there's nothing to stop them.

jaybeetoo

If you are a private landlord you can’t set up a direct debit.

What checks did you carry out on your tenant before you agreed to rent it to her?

The government is about to introduce legislation to stop tenants being evicted if they can’t pay the rent so you may not be able to evict for a while.

greatcrested

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/complete-ban-on-evictions-and-additional-protection-for-renters

Subject to specific details that sounds like at the end of the 3 months the tenant either has to pay down the arrears, come to some agreement with the LL, or can be evicted via S8. Though things might change again.

At the end of this period, landlords and tenants will be expected to work together to establish an affordable repayment plan, taking into account tenants’ individual circumstances.

diggingdude

Landlords will be hit on this. Rare I defend landlords but I would support them in seeking CCJs in the long term 

molerat

I know where all this money to bulk buy food is coming from, no rent = more food.