Tenant Flat Fire - Next stage - how to sell?

[Deleted User]

I will take meter readings but both are on a card - kind of pay as you go system.

Incidentally - point of information.

When I spoke to council tax they said that they will come out and take a brief look at the fire damage.

They said that I could get 6 months 'empty and unfurnished' exemption.

He said it would be more useful for my flat and the one above to have 12 months 'uninhabitable'.

I said that there was no water, gas or electricity to the flat.

He said that technically, having no water etc does not necessarily mean it's uninhabitable. As it would still be possible to live there.

So he needs to just check that there was a fire.

[Deleted User]

Thanks so much clutton. I would love to just dump everything and start the next stage of works, but I will make sure I cover myself.

hev_2

Clutton - I lurk on here, and I always think you sound so lovely, and you give such sensible sounding advice. So please don't take this as a criticism. But you would be surprised by what people will sue for.

Twenty years ago I was doing filing at a County Court when someone rang up to get an injunction against the Queen Mother - they were ringing from a mental health ward in the days when such wards were still open. You would not believe what can go across a county court counter. I dread to think what turns up now, with 'Care in the Community'.

Mental health problems can also run in families - sometimes because it is a condition that has a genetic component and sometimes because a family has gone through the same awful experiences, and sometimes there is a combination. Daughter (b) does not seem to have a sense of proportion.

I can't give any advice to cgw, except hugs, but get really thorough legal advice from your insurance helpline, take notes, ring back if anything occurs to you and even if it sounds silly don't be afraid to ask. Make sure the legal advisor is aware of all of the circumstances. I really hope things work out for you. Good luck

dunnomate

Is love blossoming among the forums ?:-)

cheers

dunnomate

[Deleted User]

Thanks hev - I agree, clutton sounds gorgeous and so supportive!

I will check with insurer's legal advice line.

Thanks for the hug - I am enjoying it right now!

PasturesNew

You bring up the question of where to store the stuff. Normally if they'd just walked, a normal storage facility would suffice - but for obvious reasons they probably won't want it stinking up their nice units.

I'd look on rightmove. Find the agents who have clients selling a garage - and see if they will let you rent it out for 1-2 months max. Put the word around estate agents and see if somebody local can have a quick look through the small ads in the local papers. Pain in the !!!!, might not get a result after all that effort... but with a garage at least you can store stinky wet stuff.

Good luck!

I have had opportunities to become a landlord, including renting out my own house. I knew I didn't have the inner resources or backbone for it. So hats off to you that you can take this all on.

clutton_2

thanks peeps for the complments !! if it was me, (and whilst i am very supportive, i can also be very stubborn) i'd just photograh then dump the stuff and argue the toss later on -

priorities - that's what's important - and one of those priorities is getting this old chap back into his home - he is the worse victim in all this - (no offence intended cg - you have insurance, he may not - many older folks don't).

Sodden watery stuff downstairs will probably give off nasty fumes - he won't want to come back to that !

Do you know a local builder who can project manage all this for you ? driving so far each time is going to take its toll.

Paying him to get skips and remove the rubbish and clear out the mess is all part of the insurance claim - you don't have to do that yourself.

bw

[Deleted User]

I'm gradually making a list of the things I need to do.

I have done all the stuff with police statements, etc

I have sent a copy of the contract I had with my next tenant to the insurers.

I have secured the property.

This is what is on my list (NOT in order of priority)

I next contact the organisation that holds the deposit.

I talk to the housing benefit - so ensure I am not overpaid.

I take advice from my insurer's legal advice line re storage.

I meet loss adjuster and council tax person on Friday.

I continue to liaise with freeholder, who owns the damaged flat above mine.

I try to stop having nightmares.

I look at B&Q to pick out replacement boiler, doors, floorboards, light fittings, radiators, light switches, kitchen units, wall coverings.

I identify what I want to replace the white painted tongue and groove in living room and kitchen.

I gather my strength to assert that I want plaster taken off walls and replaced - as spraying does not get rid of the smell. I decide what I want done about ceilings.

I decide what I want done about 4 month old double glazing.

Replacement extractor fans, floor tiles, fitted carpets.......................I guess

What else should I look out for? What else should I pay attention to?

Catblue

cgw,

Sorry to hear about this - it sounds horrendous. For what it is worth, I think you've coped really well with all this so far.

The local council or housing association should have lock-ups and garages that are available to rent. Might be worth giving them a ring and telling them that the tenant's stuff needs to be stored immediately, and therefore you should be a priority for getting one of these. You'll probably have to cart all the stuff to the garage, and if it isn't picked up by the tenant, from there to the tip, but it would mean that you don't have to deal with her or the daughters face to face. Much safer for you.

Looking to the longer term, you should maybe start to consider what you want to do with the flat when it is finished, rent it out again or sell it.

You mentioned that you live two and a half hour's drive away and have nobody to act on your behalf locally. This is not ideal, obviously, and it meant that your tenant could move in anyone she wanted, without you even being aware of it.

From a tenant's viewpoint, I wouldn't move into a place where the landlord lived quite far away and who had no agent acting for them - I would be concerned about how speedily he or she could respond to requests for repairs/maintenance. The type of tenant who doesn't mind this state of affairs may not be the type of tenant that you would want in your flat.

Maybe the best idea would be to sell the flat and buy one close to where you live now? Sounds like you have the skills to renovate houses - it would be nice to work on a place that doesn't have the history of your old flat.

[Deleted User]

On Friday, the loss adjuster will appoint a surveyor who will project manage the works.

The elderly man's flat is on the top floor. It's an early Victorian building with basement/garden and four floors above.

There is little smoke damage above the ground floor and none evodent on top floor - according to sympathetic freeholder.

My concern - and one which I voiced to the elderly man's social worker - is that having no relatives, he really needs someone who can clearly advocate for him. Particularly in relation to insurance. He has no money and may not have been able to contribute to repair works we ahve recently done on the building - including roof.

He does not like people coming into his property - he is very private. I don't know quite how long he will be able to continue living in his flat - there is no lift. I hope this incident doesn't mark an end to his independant living.

I know the council have had concerns