Tenant vacated property with MY white goods, what now?

davidmcn

Andrea15 said:

I do not have her new address (but the council does) and needless to say she is not picking up her phone, so if I wish to pursue it all I can do - I think - is go to the police.

No, you could recruit a tracing agent to see if they can get her address. I can't see the police investing any time into helping a landlord chase up some second-hand appliances.

Andrea15

So, the consensus seems to be "what goes around comes around".
My idea is that her children/grandchildren took the white goods and flogged them on Gumtree. I cannot see her needing them in sheltered accommodation.

AdrianC

Andrea15 said:

I do not have her new address (but the council does) and needless to say she is not picking up her phone, so if I wish to pursue it all I can do - I think - is go to the police.

The police are not interested in a commercial debt. Don't waste your - and their - time.

Andrea15

AdrianC said:

Andrea15 said:

I do not have her new address (but the council does) and needless to say she is not picking up her phone, so if I wish to pursue it all I can do - I think - is go to the police.

The police are not interested in a commercial debt. Don't waste your - and their - time.

Well, it is not a "commercial" debt, is it. It is theft.

Scotbot

Andrea15 said:

So, the consensus seems to be "what goes around comes around".
My idea is that her children/grandchildren took the white goods and flogged them on Gumtree. I cannot see her needing them in sheltered accommodation.

In which case she may be completely unaware they have gone and would probably deny she took them , which arguably she didn't . Whilst annoying I feel this will be too much hassle to persue

AdrianC

Andrea15 said:

AdrianC said:

Andrea15 said:

I do not have her new address (but the council does) and needless to say she is not picking up her phone, so if I wish to pursue it all I can do - I think - is go to the police.

The police are not interested in a commercial debt. Don't waste your - and their - time.

Well, it is not a "commercial" debt, is it. It is theft.

Yes, it is a commercial debt. They are items provided for the use of your tenant as part of your residential lettings business. They have not been returned to you along with the rest of the property. It's no different to if the carpet had been ruined and had to be thrown away, or if the place needed repainting, or if the bath was cracked.

Get over the "BUT THEY'RE MINE!" - it will just drive you down a path of spiralling resentment.

The reality is that this is a very small debt in the framework of the entire tenancy, and the ex-tenant is a person who is now in a position vulnerable enough to require sheltered accommodation.

You don't appear to have given answers to the question I asked earlier about their purchase price and their age.

kazwookie

Write to her c/o the council department or to the address in case she is having her post forwarded, tell her you own xyz items, and prove that as well in the letter.

Ask for their return with in x number of days.

Take her to the claims court for £x but you will need her address to issue such a claim.

Have you asked the neighbours if she left an address with any of them.

greatcrested

This is not a police matter. It is a civil case.

If you had a deposit, you would simply deduct the (fair) cost from that.

Failing that, you launch a civil claim (small claims track), initially with a 'Letter Before Action' and then via moneyclaim online.

As explained, you can't claim the fullreplacement value, only the relevant 2nd hand value based on market cost / expected lifespan x age.

lookstraightahead

Don't you have to have a deposit (for the tenants protection as well as your own) or is that something that is only done with newer tenants? I'm just thinking if you are supposed to have a deposit in a scheme, she can pursue you for a lot more than you can pursue her. 

theartfullodger

Report theft to Polis.  Of course it's a police matter, theft always is, even if they declined to take action.  Get CRN (crime reference number) or whatever they are called in Scotland. 

Call SaL free helpline (for members) for advice.

I normally end such posts with "cheers" in Gaelic but out on me 'phone.