Benefits agency told me tenant they will only help her if the landlord evicts them

ftsos

I have a nightmare tenant, and I have started threads about her in the past. She calls about an issue at the property once a month on average, and that's no exaggeration. I think she does it almost to get back at me. Anyway, I have told her repeatedly she is free to move. Her tenancy has ended. So, I can serve her notice now. 

However, she has told me several times now, almost boasted about it, that her benefits agency has told her that they will only find her another property if the landlord evicts her. And I believe she means the court process. I am genuinely shocked that the benefits agency would tell customers this. Is there anything I can do?

Also, as a side note. The first 12 years of my property I never used to let to benefits tenants. However, I decided to take a chance with one, and it went well. However, my experience with the second one makes me not want to go near benefits tenants again. I always felt it was hard for benefits tenants as most landlords won't take them on, so I was sympathetic to their situation because we can all end up in tough situations. However, I now feel actions like this will put landlords off benefits tenants in a big way.

I would be very reluctant to take on a benefits tenant again. 

MaryNB

Many councils won't house someone if they make themselves intentionally homeless. This includes leaving before the bailiffs turn up. Often they can't just wait until the notice expires or the court issues an eviction order. Some councils won't offer any assistance until they turn up to the council, bags in hand, with the eviction order after the bailiffs have got them out.

Slithery

ftsos said:

However, she has told me several times now, almost boasted about it, that her benefits agency has told her that they will only find her another property if the landlord evicts her. And I believe she means the court process. I am genuinely shocked that the benefits agency would tell customers this. Is there anything I can do?

She is correct. Councils won't house people unless they have to, and your tenant currently does have somewhere to live.

All you can do is evict, but do bear in mind that at the moment there is a couple of years court backlog for evictions so it will probably be 2024 before you can legally get your tenant out.

Exodi

Massive sympathies on your situation.

Unfortunately that is the stance of councils - else people could orchestrate an eviction for often cheaper council accomodation.

If you're receiving money for her accomodation, then at least there's that... some landlords get nothing except the additional bill of getting their tenant out.

ftsos

Guys, thank you for your comments and thoughts. The thing is she is a single mother or someone who has divorced recently. So, I look like the big bad wolf. She was so nice when she wanted the property. On the positive side, she is paying, but lets be honest, its the council that's giving her money to pay.

I started collecting proof or evidence, but given what you guys have said, its pointless. People know about all of this already.

It's ridiculous now. Even if I exaggerate and say that it's terrible property, even then I would not expect a call every single months (definitely not an exaggeration) for the last 18 months. The reality is I have rented that property for over 15 years. I was lucky if we had one call a year there. I so, badly want to stop letting all-together. The truth is I have been one of the lucky ones. We have mostly had good tenants. 

To make matters worse I am unemployed. Not "legally" unemployed, but because I am self employed and the COVID more or less destroyed my business, I am not entitled any help at all of any kind because I have assets but no cash. I am genuinely between a rock and a hard place. I have had days when I felt like jumping. Not literally, so please don't get concerned. But you know what I mean, when you see no way out and the situation is causing arguments between you and your partner. 

I blame myself for getting myself in this situation. If I can get myself out, I will do some things very differently. 

NameUnavailable

Just a couple of thoughts, if you really want out, you could sell the property at auction as tenanted. Or you could keep it but get an agent to manage it (so the tenant has to deal with the agent) but of course there will be costs for that.

Or...visit and discuss the 'problems' with your tenant, obviously try to rectify them where possible and get back on good terms.

caprikid1

"get an agent to manage it (so the tenant has to deal with the agent) but of course there will be costs for that."

Pointless getting an agent in this situation to manage it, they have your contact details they will ignore the correct route, even if they do they will still text you.

Getting an agent does not remove you of your responsibilities. As many know the way to avoid this situation for most landlords is not get into it in the first place.

Selling a property with a problem tenant is likely to restrict your market and you will not get the best price.

canaldumidi

Why should the council find housing for someone who is not homeless? Councils are extremely short of cash, and extremely short of housing.

So yes, they will do nothing till the tenant is evicted and made homeless (and for what's it's worth, rightly so in my view!).

The tenant calls about an issue monthly? Are the issues genuine or not? If genuine, perhaps the property requires an inspection and repairs/improvements to be identified.

If not, and as you suspect the tenant is just trying "to get back at [you]" (for what?), then when next an issue is raised, offer to send round a contractor, but make clear that if the issue is outside your responsibiity (eg damage caused by tenant, no actual issue, issue falling outside LL liability etc) then the contractor's bill will be passed to the tenant.

But if it's all getting too much hassle for you, serve a S21 and remove the tenant.

elsien

For the sake of clarity, finding housing is nothing to do with the benefits agency. 

It’s up to the local council to decide whether she qualifies for emergency housing or not. 

And making monthly calls about issues is nothing to do with her being in benefits. You could get an employed tenant who does the same, or who defaults on the rent. She’s not in arrears, however the rent is paid, so things could be a lot worse. 

KxMx

High demand for council property and low supply of both temporary and permanent council housing (for the temporarily housed to move onto). 

The council will currently be busy dealing with those who have been evicted and do not have capacity for those who have somewhere to live (haven't yet been evicted). 

deannagone

While once a month calls is more than you'd expect, if you aren't working, I am not sure why its such a huge hassle.  If its a repair issue that is your responsibility as a LL, you can go and fix it, if its not you don't.

What sort of repairs does the tenant call about?  Are they not genuine or not things you should be responsible for?