UK Landlord Forum / Life

Hi I have one house which i rent. I currently live with with my girlfriend but we have separated and she is moving out soon so i would struggle to pay the rent on my own which is due on the 18th of each month [750]. Unfortunately my tenant is persistently late with their rent to me [600] which means i struggle to pay the rent on time now, never mind when my ex moves out. I have tried explaining this to her and told her i need to end the tenancy so i can move back in. I got met with a load of abuse that it is not her problem if i don't pay my rent on time, and i am an old man so i don't count, and my house is a shit hole etc.
She is the daughter of a friend who i trusted , so no bond was paid and it was agreed that we have a rolling two month contract[ unfortunately i can't find my agreement ], . i also don't have any paperwork like a gas cert or elec one , again it was just a shake hands gentlemen s agreement between me and her dad. She has been there two years now and she is now just over two months behind with her rent, i believe she is claiming some form of benefit towards the rent ,though i am not positive about this.
I have got a solicitor , though that is in the early stages and just e mails have been exchanged. Again call me silly but i thought the solicitor was at the branch in my town only to find out she is based twenty mile away at least.
Any help/advice whatsoever will be appreciated.
Darryl
PS i have no savings just the house to my name   

Can't the friend you were doing a favour for do the same for you?

Each post has lessons on how not to do things, there are no friends when it comes to letting, remember what your Gran said quoting Hamlet "never a lender or borrower be". 

Always consider the worst case scenario before doing favours.

I mean she sounds delightful and someone you would want your kids to marry, real class. OK BOOMER!!

The Royals have a saying too, never complain and never explain.  A Tenant is not your friend, your business and problems are not their business or problems. 

They owe you money, that is it.

You really need to comply with the law, I have zero sympathy for failure to adhere to Gas Safety regulations, in fact I would throw the book at you.  This is not a hobby it is a business, if there is an issue with the boiler it can kill.

There is no gentleman's agreement when it comes to your legal obligations.

The first thing you need to do is to send her a friendly message asking for a convenient time for Gas Safety check, she may resist this but you need evidence you have tried in case things go bad.

If the property IS a shithole then she can involve the Council and seek an Improvement Order (not easy) but maybe it is just how she has been treating the property.

I would not waste money on the Solicitor at this stage, if you think she is on benefits then make a claim with the DWP, inform them of the arrears, ask they they pay all future Housing Benefit directly to you and that they make deductions towards the arrears, it is only £4.25 extra but it adds up.  You can do it online at the link below.

https://directpayment.universal-credit.service.gov.uk/

Apply for Both direct rent payment and rent arrears.

This turns off the bath tap on arrears getting any worse and if the Tenant is living off this money it can be the push to make them leave of their own accord, especially if they are not owed a housing duty by the Council.

Once you have that coming in you are only £150 short and you can decide on starting Section 8 claim to evict her. Ironically her arrears need to be at least two months, so maybe asking for the arrears contribution not good advice if you wish to evict based on arrears.

The lack of a written agreement does mean that there is not one in place nor does it diminish her rights.

Quote from: dazzer6 on May 12, 2024, 11:50:35 AMHi I have one house which i rent. I currently live with with my girlfriend but we have separated and she is moving out soon so i would struggle to pay the rent on my own which is due on the 18th of each month [750].

Unfortunately my tenant is persistently late with their rent to me [600] which means i struggle to pay the rent on time now, never mind when my ex moves out.

I have tried explaining this to her and told her i need to end the tenancy so i can move back in. I got met with a load of abuse that it is not her problem if i don't pay my rent on time, and i am an old man so i don't count, and my house is a shit hole etc.

She is the daughter of a friend who i trusted , so no bond was paid and it was agreed that we have a rolling two month contract[ unfortunately i can't find my agreement ], . i also don't have any paperwork like a gas cert or elec one , again it was just a shake hands gentlemen s agreement between me and her dad.

She has been there two years now and she is now just over two months behind with her rent, i believe she is claiming some form of benefit towards the rent ,though i am not positive about this.

I have got a solicitor , though that is in the early stages and just e mails have been exchanged.

Again call me silly but i thought the solicitor was at the branch in my town only to find out she is based twenty mile away at least.
Any help/advice whatsoever will be appreciated.
Darryl

PS i have no savings just the house to my name