Please help, non paying tennant.

tucbiscuit

Debt_Free_Chick wrote: »

You only have two options - only one, potentially.

Firstly, you can issue a section 21 notice NOW to tell them that you want the property vacated at the end of the fixed term, as stated in the agreement. If (as you suggest) the tenancy started on 8 December and if it was for a fixed term of 6 months, then you can give this notice at any time, before 8 April.

As they are not yet 2 months in arrears, this is your only option.

However ..... if they get more than 2 months rent in arrears (even if the arrears are only one penny), then you can issue a section 8 notice at that time. It doesn't matter at what stage the tenancy is at - if they are in arrears (i.e. more than 2 months) then you can issue the section 8 notice.

If I were you, I would issue the section 21 notice now, anyway. This way, you are likely to get the property back on 8 June. Of course, they could ignore the notice - in which case, you'll need to get a Court Order and that will add a few weeks onto the process. But you minimise your losses this way.

To be honest, I would have thought that your agents should be giving you all this advice. Isn't this what you're paying them for?

thanks for the advice, maybe foo,ishly I am hoping they will sort his blip out and become good tennants

and with regards to the agents, they seem to have one good member of staff who I had all my dealings with when I was asking about signing up, but now I have signed up I tend to have to deal with other not very good staff members

clutton_2

if they are waiting for Housing Benefits to pay their rent - they may wait for many weeks - ask your agent what the current processing time is for the local HB office. HOWEVER, unless the tenant ticked the box on the HB application form allowing the agent/and/or/you to talk to the Council about yoru tenants application - you will be no wiser as the Council cannot talk to you if there is no Data Protection disclaimers signed by the tenant.

is this your first property ?

speedtwin

As others have said this is your agents job and the fact that you have to go on to this forum because they havent given you any options and charge you 12.5% makes me bloody cross and gives agents a bad name (more that it is already).

Get on to the phone to them every day and demand to know what they are doing for their 12.5%. Its all very well taking the fee when its running smoothly a sign of a good agent is how they handle it when it doesnt.

i will now get off my soap box:mad: