Tenant broken boiler, refusing me access to check it
Discussion
eldar said:
Don't forget the LA finds it easier to keep the tenant in your house, regardless of rent as it is easier than rehousing them
The above is so, so true, although not made so open and so obvious by local council authorities, tenants like OP's are still encouraged to stay put until the bailiffs call. Flumpo said:
Apologies to said Scotsman, auto correct seems to have changed groat to goat. Wasn’t meant as a slight.
Unfortunately these days I only own a tiny bit of Scotland now 
Down to my last 50-60 and further portfolio expansion has been strictly prohibited.But I'd certainly say I'd be in the running for goat in terms of Scottish landlords!!
(ps: was thinking of changing the screen name to 'goat' unless it's already taken. Boo hoo. it IS taken
)Edited by Groat on Tuesday 27th April 17:41
Auction with tenant in situ
Ideally target a nice leafy surrey /down sarf Auction
Hopefully they will be amazed you can get a house under 300k, let alone 30k so you could get a cheeky bidding war
"tenanted investment in up and coming northern powerhouse"
Im not even joking either
Ideally target a nice leafy surrey /down sarf Auction
Hopefully they will be amazed you can get a house under 300k, let alone 30k so you could get a cheeky bidding war
"tenanted investment in up and coming northern powerhouse"
Im not even joking either
Edited by TwistingMyMelon on Tuesday 27th April 15:18
Wings said:
It is always preferable for a landlord/agent to make an appointment to either inspect, attend a boiler and/or another type of repair, then to attend in person at the appointed time. Only then, by the tenant refusing access to the landlord/agent/contractor etc., will the court recognise that the tenant has refused access.
In the OP's situation, I would be talking to local neighbours of the rental property, and try to obtain some local information on the tenant/s, occupants, property etc.
I would already have served a Section 8 Notice on the tenant, 4 weeks Notice for over 6 months rental arrears, under 6 months arrears 6 months Notice. Section 21 Notice if preferred needs a 6 months Notice, but is in force for 10 months
Lots of hurdles a landlord needs to cross before a valid Notice can be served, and if in doubt the OP should ensure any Deposit monies are protected, either under the original Assured Tenancy Agreement, and/or a Statutory Periodic Tenancy.
Apart from the Deposit monies being protected, at the start of any Tenancy Agreement, the tenant/s should receive a copy of the EPC, Gas Safety Certificate, HMG's How to Rent leaflet, and since June 2020 a copy of the Electrical Safety Certificate.
In thirty plus years of being a landlord, I have only ever had one tenant refuse me inspection access to a property, that end with the property being completely trashed, with many months of unpaid rent, and police in attendance when the bailiffs removed the tenants.
OP, had you followed the above advice that I posted on the 9th January, then by now you would have had repossession of the rental property.In the OP's situation, I would be talking to local neighbours of the rental property, and try to obtain some local information on the tenant/s, occupants, property etc.
I would already have served a Section 8 Notice on the tenant, 4 weeks Notice for over 6 months rental arrears, under 6 months arrears 6 months Notice. Section 21 Notice if preferred needs a 6 months Notice, but is in force for 10 months
Lots of hurdles a landlord needs to cross before a valid Notice can be served, and if in doubt the OP should ensure any Deposit monies are protected, either under the original Assured Tenancy Agreement, and/or a Statutory Periodic Tenancy.
Apart from the Deposit monies being protected, at the start of any Tenancy Agreement, the tenant/s should receive a copy of the EPC, Gas Safety Certificate, HMG's How to Rent leaflet, and since June 2020 a copy of the Electrical Safety Certificate.
In thirty plus years of being a landlord, I have only ever had one tenant refuse me inspection access to a property, that end with the property being completely trashed, with many months of unpaid rent, and police in attendance when the bailiffs removed the tenants.
Regrettably you are part of the problem, and not the solution to your problems.
TwistingMyMelon said:
Auction with tenant in situ
Ideally target a nice leafy surrey /down sarf Auction
Hopefully they will be amazed you can get a house under 300k, let alone 30k so you could get a cheeky bidding war
Think this may be an answer. I worry that the tenant has still a few more twists an turns of the UC process to teach OP though. Ideally target a nice leafy surrey /down sarf Auction
Hopefully they will be amazed you can get a house under 300k, let alone 30k so you could get a cheeky bidding war
bristoltype603 said:
TwistingMyMelon said:
Auction with tenant in situ
Ideally target a nice leafy surrey /down sarf Auction
Hopefully they will be amazed you can get a house under 300k, let alone 30k so you could get a cheeky bidding war
Think this may be an answer. I worry that the tenant has still a few more twists an turns of the UC process to teach OP though. Ideally target a nice leafy surrey /down sarf Auction
Hopefully they will be amazed you can get a house under 300k, let alone 30k so you could get a cheeky bidding war
I'm basing the above on southern prices & getting trades in + VAT etc . Obviously doing it yourself would be much cheaper
pincher said:
Out of interest, how big was your portfolio at it's peak?
BTLs to keep? Personally, 200, and together with others about 1000. Management? 2000+ . Buy-2-sells, flips etc....don't know. Me and one of the guys I built portfolios and a management agency with must've done close to if not more than 1000 in one partnership alone, mostly buying cheap (his job), renovating and let-creating (my job) and arranging finance for and selling (another dude's job) to landlord portfolios who then kept them in the agency for us to manage. BTLs a 'doorway business'. It's a decent place to park dough, but it's the lucrative property industry diversifications it leads to that turbocharge the rewards.
But....to put it in perspective, there's a guy in Germany with more than 40000 units, and single commercials (Heathrow Airport?) which are worth 10 times more than I and everyone I know combined have, have had, or will ever own.
One day someone will own ALL the real estate and land on the entire planet. And it's chuckleful to imagine what he'll think when he stands on a beach somewhere in the Southern Hemisphere and looks up at the night sky.........
Edited by Groat on Tuesday 27th April 16:45
Groat said:
One day someone will own ALL the real estate and land on the entire planet. And it's chuckleful to imagine what he'll think when he stands on a beach somewhere in the Southern Hemisphere and looks up at the night sky.........
Probably "one of these days my own security are going to help string me up from a lamppost"
MDMA . said:
Groat said:
Get a job. With a pension. Put any surplus money into an ISA. Breed. Spend some money on family frivolities. Grow old. Retire on that pension plus SP plus the odd withdrawal from the ISA for special treats. Die.
Wear sunscreen. popegregory said:
MDMA . said:
Groat said:
Get a job. With a pension. Put any surplus money into an ISA. Breed. Spend some money on family frivolities. Grow old. Retire on that pension plus SP plus the odd withdrawal from the ISA for special treats. Die.
Wear sunscreen. 
king place or letting the bank repossess it.TheBinarySheep said:
On top of all of this, we know the local council have been trying to put plans together to sort the area out, including pulling some of the houses down. Which leaves us thinking, do we sell now at a loss, or hold it out and sell at a later date when property prices might increase.
I do sympathise with you, I won't make harsh comments, because you are clearly a nice guy and see the good in others. Unfortunately I can see the issue with the UC has arisen because you didn't anticipate the tenant would be so crafty, and the moron dealing with the UC has allowed her to get away with it, and not keeping you informed. Anyway, moving forward, for my 2d worth, I'd be contacting someone on the local Council and trying to find out what the 'rejuvenation plans' are? It could be your property is at its lowest, so not the time to sell (unless Council offers a good price). Anyway, knowledge is power, so find out what you can, as it is a string to your bow...... If necessary anything you reveal about the plan can be quoted verbatim in the 'advert' you give to an auction house down south, which to my mind is an avenue worth pursuing. Just ask the questions, then contact the auction house and see what they suggest - it won't cost anything to ask questions! Another thing, sack the agent, they are getting you to do their job and are taking nearly £50 a month for doing nothing.
Don't be drawn into an agreement from auction house saying 'yeah we'll get a good price for it' and end up with no sale, but fees to pay. Ask about reserve, what if it doesn't sell etc. I've learnt in life "trust very few people", and have instilled in my Daughter to "treat all banks and large companies with caution - they are after your money." Not a pleasant viewpoint, but it's never let me down.
Drawweight said:
If you were to sell it with a tenant in place can a potential buyer find out whether the present tenant is up to date with the rent?
Any half competent conveyancer would ask for rent receipts / proof of rent payments.You simply wouldn't get away with selling the place with a sitting tenant who hasn't been paying rent.
TheBinarySheep said:
Parbold milkperson said:
Why on earth did you spoil a good result by transferring payments to the agent? Pure madness I am out of hear
Why, because that's what the letting agent asked us to do.Trust nobody - they all have ulterior motives.
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