Fastest way to evict a tenant?
Discussion
I have a BTL and the tenant has been terrible at paying rent.
They have been there for nearly 2 years and have been late with the rent for 6 months. They still owe some rent from Christmas. I have been as sympathetic as possible.
Communications have broken down (they don’t answer any calls) and letters are being ignored.
I have served a section 21 and they have 2 months to get out.
What other options do I have to speed up this process? I'm already a couple of months’ rent down and I guess they are not looking to pay anymore.
This is my first problematic tenant so would appreciate any help.
They have been there for nearly 2 years and have been late with the rent for 6 months. They still owe some rent from Christmas. I have been as sympathetic as possible.
Communications have broken down (they don’t answer any calls) and letters are being ignored.
I have served a section 21 and they have 2 months to get out.
What other options do I have to speed up this process? I'm already a couple of months’ rent down and I guess they are not looking to pay anymore.
This is my first problematic tenant so would appreciate any help.
Keep in the back of your mind, as horrible as it sounds, that in this position a lot of landlords would have been better 'paying off' a problem tenant and getting them to disappear so you can get rent again.
For example, they've stopped paying you rent. Once the letter of the law ticks and you go through the legal processes, let's say they are out in 4 months time.
However, you won't know they are out until they are out for good, so your marketing gets delayed.
So, 4 months rent at £1000 a month lost. You are left with chasing someone who is hiding to try and get £4000. Good luck. £4k down.
Instead, if you agree to wipe off a month's rent, and you pay their removal costs and give them £500, you've saved £2000 in total.
As pessimistic as this sounds, there's a lot of landlords who would have been better off cutting their losses.
For example, they've stopped paying you rent. Once the letter of the law ticks and you go through the legal processes, let's say they are out in 4 months time.
However, you won't know they are out until they are out for good, so your marketing gets delayed.
So, 4 months rent at £1000 a month lost. You are left with chasing someone who is hiding to try and get £4000. Good luck. £4k down.
Instead, if you agree to wipe off a month's rent, and you pay their removal costs and give them £500, you've saved £2000 in total.
As pessimistic as this sounds, there's a lot of landlords who would have been better off cutting their losses.
Edited by JustinP1 on Monday 14th September 15:02
VEIGHT said:
They still owe some rent from Christmas.
What other options do I have to speed up this process? I'm already a couple of months’ rent down and I guess they are not looking to pay anymore.
Legal ways to speed it up? None.What other options do I have to speed up this process? I'm already a couple of months’ rent down and I guess they are not looking to pay anymore.
Assuming the s21 is all correctly issued, then two FULL RENTAL PERIODS before you can apply for possession through the courts.
I'm a bit confused when you say you're a couple of months down, but they owe rent from Xmas - are you working some odd set-up of "Well, you're £50 down from that month, £20 from that month"? No. It's the TOTAL rent due that would matter, but for s21 it doesn't - you can apply for any reason. s8 needs two full months rent to be overdue. If you'd gone s8 because of the rent, the court must grant possession. For s21, it can be refused.
JustinP1 said:
Keep in the back of your mind, as horrible as it sounds, that in this position a lot of landlords would have been
So, 4 months rent at £1000 a month lost. You are left with chasing someone who is hiding to try and get £4000. Good luck. £4k down.
Instead, if you agree to wipe off a month's rent, and you pay their removal costs and give them £500, you've saved £2000 in total.
As pessimistic as this sounds, there's a lot of landlords who would have been better off cutting their losses.
I would do this but she wont answer my calls. Would a visit unannounced be ok?So, 4 months rent at £1000 a month lost. You are left with chasing someone who is hiding to try and get £4000. Good luck. £4k down.
Instead, if you agree to wipe off a month's rent, and you pay their removal costs and give them £500, you've saved £2000 in total.
As pessimistic as this sounds, there's a lot of landlords who would have been better off cutting their losses.
Edited by JustinP1 on Monday 14th September 15:02
VEIGHT said:
I would do this but she wont answer my calls. Would a visit unannounced be ok?
There's levels of 'OK', it's about as 'OK' as the situation. You need to give notice to enter the property of course. However, knocking on the door to offer someone free cash is somewhat different.
Could an overzealous person replay you knocking on the door has harassment or suchlike? It pushes the definition of harassment.
I guess you have to weigh up the risks.
JustinP1 said:
VEIGHT said:
I would do this but she wont answer my calls. Would a visit unannounced be ok?
There's levels of 'OK', it's about as 'OK' as the situation. You need to give notice to enter the property of course. However, knocking on the door to offer someone free cash is somewhat different.
Could an overzealous person replay you knocking on the door has harassment or suchlike? It pushes the definition of harassment.
I guess you have to weigh up the risks.
a: Done a one and left the property unoccupied thereby invalidating insurance
b: Died
This is assuming all other forms of communications have failed?
I was told once by a friend in the same position. He waited for them to go out and then stole the front and back door.
They were on the phone asking for it to be replaced .....
It was t and they were soon off ...
How true the story is I couldn't say, however he did live on the edge !
They were on the phone asking for it to be replaced .....
It was t and they were soon off ...
How true the story is I couldn't say, however he did live on the edge !
I have only had one feral tenant, in the end I paid their first months rent and deposit on a much cheaper flat for them as it got my place back and got rid of them in a week.
Find a cheap flat on rightmove, print out the details, go round there tell them you will pay the deposit and first month along with a glowing reference and make it someone elses problem.
Much cheaper and quicker, also less likely to damage your property as they are being evicted. Feral tenants seem to think its the landlords fault that they are being evicted.
Much as it hurts, be nice, keep teeth gritted, and move on
Find a cheap flat on rightmove, print out the details, go round there tell them you will pay the deposit and first month along with a glowing reference and make it someone elses problem.
Much cheaper and quicker, also less likely to damage your property as they are being evicted. Feral tenants seem to think its the landlords fault that they are being evicted.
Much as it hurts, be nice, keep teeth gritted, and move on
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