UK Landlord Forum / Life

Tenancy agreement finishing 02 Feb 24 and my tenant is in rental arrears for the past 2 months. Not responding to any messages, emails or letters, property suspected not being used. Informed police and went to the property to check and found the doors were not locked , I knocked and opened the door as advised by police and found my flat keys on the cabinet . the flat was empty, tenant has taken all his possessions including my furnitures and the carpet is heavily damaged. Police says this is civil case and asked to approach a solicitor. Solicitor advised to put a abandonment notice on the door giving 2 weeks notice. What are my rights here to recover the cost of rental arrears, missing furniture costs and damage to the property with just one month rent as deposit? Appreciate your support.

There is a big difference between your rights and what is actually possible.  You will obviously claim the deposit,  but any further action depends upon the status of the ex-tenant.  If you can trace his address you can go through the small claims route without using a solicitor,  to try to recover the rent arrears. It may  be harder to recover the other costs if the furniture and carpet was old.

However, if he has no assets or regular salary your chances of actually getting anything are poor. It is worth going for a  CCJ, as this can make it harder for him to do the same to other landlords.