my tenant has done a runner, advice needed

RabbitMad

one could (and I'm not advocating this) set up an ebay account and sell the camcorder on there using a new paypal account.

And if one's tenant ever asked for it one could deny all knowledge of it.

The chances that you would ever be found out are so minimal you might feel its worth it.

First of all though check if there is anything interesting on the camcorder. A celeb snorting coke would more than cover the damage and changing the locks

loopyh

would the fact that the tenant left owing money and selling the camcorder was a way of getting some of it back not a good argument?

PasturesNew

Going back to the tenant leaving.

How do you know they've left?
What are the dates of their agreement?
Are they behind with the rent?
How did you come to be in the property looking around and deciding they've gone AWOL?

clutton_2

i know this will sound harsh - but if you do not have a few hundred quid spare to change locks etc - what are you doing being a landlord/lady - how would you cope if the boiler needed replacing and your tenant was freezing? ?

Legally you cannot just "assume" the tenant has left - if you do change the locks you must put a notice in the window - something like "anyone with legal rights to enter this property please contact xxxx phone number. This shows you have not ended the tenancy if the tenant re-appears. If you have put his deposit in a Scheme you will need to do this anyway, before you can claim the deposit back. You will also need to swear an Affidavit re the abandonment. Legally you are bound to store tenants abandoned belongings for 3 (?) months - but if this happened to me - i would be tempted to say "What belongings - the house was empty when i inspected it ?"

MissMoneypenny

PasturesNew wrote: »

Going back to the tenant leaving.

How do you know they've left?
What are the dates of their agreement?
Are they behind with the rent?
How did you come to be in the property looking around and deciding they've gone AWOL?

Was the camcorder plugged in?:eek:

SquatNow

If the tennant has the keys, how did you get in... or did you have a spare set? (Which is highly frowned upon on MSE boards!)

shafeeq

SquatNow wrote: »

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

Mate I think in Sharia Law, if you found something you have to advertise for 1 Year, then after that allowed to use it. If owner turns up some stage you have to prepare to give it back or pay them it's value.:j

polly7_2

clutton wrote: »

i know this will sound harsh - but if you do not have a few hundred quid spare to change locks etc - what are you doing being a landlord/lady - how would you cope if the boiler needed replacing and your tenant was freezing? ?

Legally you cannot just "assume" the tenant has left - if you do change the locks you must put a notice in the window - something like "anyone with legal rights to enter this property please contact xxxx phone number. This shows you have not ended the tenancy if the tenant re-appears. If you have put his deposit in a Scheme you will need to do this anyway, before you can claim the deposit back. You will also need to swear an Affidavit re the abandonment. Legally you are bound to store tenants abandoned belongings for 3 (?) months - but if this happened to me - i would be tempted to say "What belongings - the house was empty when i inspected it ?"

Firstly, It's not the fact that I can't afford to change the locks, but I shouldn't need to. I am a damn good landlady and I expect my tenants to behave in a proper manner. Not too much to ask.
secondly. This tenant was found through an agency. They got references and told me he was employed on £45,000 pr annum. This wasn't strictly true as he is self employed and the work address is a company he sub-contracts for.
thirdly. He didn't pay his rent for Jan and I could not contact him. Eventually I got a txt fromhim saying he was leaving at the end of Jan (10 days later - not the required one months notice).
Fourthly. We had already been down to the flat to check the boiler malfunction (Hubby is CORGI engineer) and found he had not put gas on meter!!. We also found bathroom like pigsty, white loo was now brown etc etc (won't go into details as not plesant). I sent letter officially to tell him he must keep it in good order and ensure that is how he leaves it. The flat was done up with new bathroom etc just before he took over.
From that day I have received no communication. He just packed his things (except camcorder) and left. Don't know whats on it as battery dead and no charger left!!. Flat is still disgustingly filthy. The agents put deposit in goverment scheme but they won't release it without tenants say so or an address to contact him. If I want to claim it I have to get a solicitor onto it.
I have had to get new carpet, new locks etc, cleaners, redecorate bedroom. I have written to him recorded delivery via the work address and advised him that he can either send me money & keys & I will forward his camcorder or I will sell it to offset damages.

polly7_2

SquatNow wrote: »

If the tennant has the keys, how did you get in... or did you have a spare set? (Which is highly frowned upon on MSE boards!)

Of course I have keys!!!! I own the property and yes I am allowed a set of keys and I am allowed to enter giving him 24 hours notice or immediately in event of an emergency.

bunnydrumming

DGJsaver wrote: »

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:

Of course they would not do anything about an old iron worth a pound or two- get real. The camera could be worth a few hundred pounds of more so is worth chasing

If you buy stolen goods and the police track the stolen goods down you have to give them back to the original owner without recompense. If you unknowingly buy stolen good you can take the person who sopld them to you for court so you can get your money back. If you are last person in chain and therefore the first person that sold on the item you may be taken to court for the person you sold video to, to claim their money.

Unlikely but it could happen!