my tenant has done a runner, advice needed

DGJsaver

MissMoneypenny wrote: »

What if he doesn't own the camcorder? If it was stolen, then you will be handling stolen goods if you sell it.

You would have to be aware it was stolen goods for that to apply imo

qwopmnxz

do you not have his deposit to cover your costs?

just be thankful he is not still living there and not paying rent, as it would cost a lot more that way with fighting to get him out of the house

SquatNow

DGJsaver wrote: »

You would have to be aware it was stolen goods for that to apply imo

Bullcrap, if you handle stolen goods you can be charged whether you knew they were stolen or not.

I'de pop in to the police station with it and tell them what happened. Tell them that given the circumstances you think it *might* be stolen. They should be happy to check the serial number on their database for you.

In the meantime, change the damn locks... otherwise the tennant can just walk in and out as he wishes. Plus the cost of the locks will be less than any rent you will lose out on waiting to sort it out.

Also Note: Windows locks on double glazing are usually that's why all the keys open all the windows in the house... you'll probably find all the keys open all the windows in your neighbours houses too, if they got their windows from the same company.

DGJsaver

SquatNow wrote: »

Bullcrap, if you handle stolen goods you can be charged whether you knew they were stolen or not.

Rubbish


Scenario


Your Brother gives you his iron because yours is broken

He lets you keep it

You happily use it for years

Then you decide to buy a new one , and you sell the iron on ebay for say , a tenner


A week later your brother gets arrested for supplying stolen goods around town , one of which , was an iron

Are you SERIOUSLY telling me that the police , or more to the point , the CPS would press charges against YOU

?

Do me a favour fella:rotfl:

sooz

Has your tenant's fixed term contract ended?

Or did they give you notice before they 'ran off'?

Please read this before you change the locks

http://www.landlordzone.co.uk/legal/abandonment.htm

MissMoneypenny

DGJsaver wrote: »

You would have to be aware it was stolen goods for that to apply imo

Maybe, if the police/court believed the OP

The person that bought the camcorder wouldn't be too pleased with the OP, as they would have the camcorder taken off them and never see their money again. That's what happened to the person who bought my DDs stolen car last year They lost the car and their money, as the insurance company took the car to recoup their losses.

chappers

there are two sides to this if she sells the camcorder yes she may technically be guilty of selling stolen goods as she knows it doesn't belong to her. With regards to her selling it she could state that he had abandoned it(after waiting the prescribed time) and she would only be guilty if she knew it were stolen. As with nearly every criminal act there must be a degree of intent or knowledge of responsibility.

loopyh

I had a similar situation. my tenant was a nightmare from about last March. Missing rent payments - he was three months behind at one point. The landlord also paid me the deposit one month as he hadn't paid. I needed to pay mortage. Anyway he never paid deposit back and eventually I had enough and asked him to leave. He left around the 8th Dec - two days after the agreed date. He owed me about £250 in rent and has left the house in a right state. He also didn't give a forwarding address and didn't answer mobile. I have given up hope and chalked it up to experience. I have had to take a loan out to do repairs etc and then I'll either let again or sell.

SquatNow

I'm sorry the Law on handling stolen good does NOT have an exemption of any sort for people who did not know the goods were stolen.

If you have something and you do not know if it is stolen or not, you are required to check whether it is stolen, and if it is, hand it to the police.

You can't even throw it away... disposing of stolen goods is a crime too.

Your thinking of the childhood rule of "finders keepers" which rarely stands up in court. (Though I think Sharia Law allows it... seriously!!!)

In this particular case, having checked it isn't stolen with the police, the OP must now retain if for a set period (think it's 6 months) while trying to contact the seller before disposing of the item, at which point they must ensure they have a paper trail to show what happened to it... you can't just flog it to a friend or chuck it in the bin.

PasturesNew

polly7 wrote: »

Hi, I had a tenant who has done a runner and taken the house keys with him. he has also taken all window lock keys and french door keys. It will cost me £200 to have new locks fitted. He also ruined carpet which is costing £200 for replacement and other damage which is minor. He has no forwarding address and the only phone number I have is a mobile and he refuses to answer it.. Can I take him to small claims court or will it end up costing me more, also how will they find him or won't they bother. This is a nightmare as I can't relet it until work is done but I can't afford to have work done without his money. He also left a camcorder, how long must I hang on to it before I can sell it to recoup some of my losses.
thanks

Your insurance should cover these sort of eventualities in the first instance.