Landlord Bad Tenant Reference , or No Reference.

[Wings]

I was in the process of serving repossession Notice on tenants breaching their "No Pets" Tenancy Agreement. When approaching the tenants on breaching their Tenancy Agreement, I was met with fouled mouth verbal abuse.

Today I received a request from a local Letting Agent for a request for the above tenants.

Of course I want rid of the tenants, but I do not want future potential landlord/s to go through what I have had to go through with these tenants, and any possible legal repercussions from either the tenants or their future landlord/s.

What should I do, no reference or a truthful reference.

[SAS Tom]

Just remember if you keep giving bad references you’ll never get rid of them.

[Djtemeka]

No reference. Don’t get involved.

If another LL asked for a reference and you say no, they will know what you mean without saying it.

[Mr.Chips]

I have absolutely no experience in property letting but would be a bit annoyed if I received a positive reference for a tenant that failed to mention any abuse given to a previous landlord. Having said that, I do have experience of giving employment references. If I was giving a positive reference, I would give full detail on as many different aspects of the person as I possibly could. However, for a less than positive reference, I would just stick to the most basic of details, in your case, say that they were your tenants between the applicable dates. I would imagine that the new letting agents would be able to “read between the lines.” Maybe if you were really concerned, you could phone the new letting agents and have a conversation, but explain that you won’t be putting everything in writing?
With respect to tenants keeping pets contrary to their contract, isn’t that going to change soon under the new legislation?
Good luck OP hope you come to a satisfactory solution.

[TonyF1]

So you are looking to evict and make people homeless over them keeping a pet? Just take a moment to reflect on this and who is BAD in this scenario,

I suspect they want to be rid of you as much as you them so maybe the answer lies within.

Edited by TonyF1 on Thursday 2nd October 19:54

[davek_964]

TonyF1 said:

So you are looking to evict and make people homeless over them keeping a pet? Just take a moment to reflect on this and who is BAD in this scenario,

I've thought about it - I'm going with : the people who signed a no pets tenancy agreement and then broke the terms

[OutInTheShed]

TonyF1 said:

So you are looking to evict and make people homeless over them keeping a pet? Just take a moment to reflect on this and who is BAD in this scenario,

I suspect they want to be rid of you as much as you them so maybe the answer lies within.

Edited by TonyF1 on Thursday 2nd October 19:54

Because the next lot of tenants deserve to live in a stinking kennel?

The tenants were dishonest and deserve nothing.

Don't give a dishonest reference.

[nikaiyo2]

TonyF1 said:

So you are looking to evict and make people homeless over them keeping a pet? Just take a moment to reflect on this and who is BAD in this scenario,

I suspect they want to be rid of you as much as you them so maybe the answer lies within.

Edited by TonyF1 on Thursday 2nd October 19:54

Why would an adult sign an agreement to not do something, then go ahead and do it? Most flats are unsuitable for pets cats or dogs, it’s not fair on the animal or other occupants.

You are between a rock and hard place. Give them a reference to get shot, then make sure you take them to court for the full cost of getting rid of them and any damages, so the landlord after can see what they are like.

My partner is a letting agent and now insists on referencing from current AND previous landlord.

[xx99xx]

Surely you can evict them anyway regardless of the reference? So what difference does it make?

[miniman]

TonyF1 said:

So you are looking to evict and make people homeless over them keeping a pet? Just take a moment to reflect on this and who is BAD in this scenario,

The tenants are. They signed up to an agreement and they broke it. They can get to fk. Honestly.

[Alex Z]

OutInTheShed said:

Because the next lot of tenants deserve to live in a stinking kennel?

The tenants were dishonest and deserve nothing.

Don't give a dishonest reference.

How on earth could you possibly know the condition of the property?

It could be a single cat that goes outside a lot which has no impact, or a pack of dogs wrecking the place.

[Heaveho]

TonyF1 said:

So you are looking to evict and make people homeless over them keeping a pet? Just take a moment to reflect on this and who is BAD in this scenario,

I suspect they want to be rid of you as much as you them so maybe the answer lies within.

Edited by TonyF1 on Thursday 2nd October 19:54

I'm a landlord. You clearly have absolutely no idea of the circumstances in which it may or may not be appropriate to keep a pet, and no knowledge of this particular situation other than the fact that it was stipulated in the contract agreement that there were to be no pets, which the tenant will have read and signed, prior to moving in. As you say, just take a moment to reflect on that.

My tenants wanted a cat and I allowed it. Then they wanted a dog, which I didn't allow, because it's a flat with elderly neighbours who are in all day and a nightshift Dr. who will obviously be in all day and trying to rest. And the tenants work 10 hours a day. And wanted to leave the dog in the garden all day while they worked. The dog being a Dachshund, which are notoriously needy and barky. My first priority was the dog, this wasn't an acceptable situation for it to be kept in.

I'm the landlord, with responsibilities not only to the tenant, but also the neighbours, and the welfare of the the animal. I'm guessing you're one of the now prolific private landlord haters that we've had to become accustomed to tolerating over the past few years, regardless of the fact that many of us are decent people who are potentially treated way worse than those we rent to ?

[Jinba Ittai]

Heaveho said:

TonyF1 said:

So you are looking to evict and make people homeless over them keeping a pet? Just take a moment to reflect on this and who is BAD in this scenario,

I suspect they want to be rid of you as much as you them so maybe the answer lies within.

Edited by TonyF1 on Thursday 2nd October 19:54

I'm a landlord. You clearly have absolutely no idea of the circumstances in which it may or may not be appropriate to keep a pet, and no knowledge of this particular situation other than the fact that it was stipulated in the contract agreement that there were to be no pets, which the tenant will have read and signed, prior to moving in. As you say, just take a moment to reflect on that.

My tenants wanted a cat and I allowed it. Then they wanted a dog, which I didn't allow, because it's a flat with elderly neighbours who are in all day and a nightshift Dr. who will obviously be in all day and trying to rest. And the tenants work 10 hours a day. And wanted to leave the dog in the garden all day while they worked. The dog being a Dachshund, which are notoriously needy and barky. My first priority was the dog, this wasn't an acceptable situation for it to be kept in.

I'm the landlord, with responsibilities not only to the tenant, but also the neighbours, and the welfare of the the animal. I'm guessing you're one of the now prolific private landlord haters that we've had to become accustomed to tolerating over the past few years, regardless of the fact that many of us are decent people who are potentially treated way worse than those we rent to ?

Boom. TonyF1, your attitude encapsulates perfectly why this country is going to utter st. No sense of responsibility for one’s self, one’s actions or their consequences. Everything is always someone else's fault.

Hat tip to Heaveho for taking his responsibilities as a landlord seriously.

And no, I m not a private landlord! And I do love my pets!

Edited by Jinba Ittai on Friday 3rd October 06:54

Edited by Jinba Ittai on Friday 3rd October 06:55

[Jeremy-75qq8]

Keep it factual. All they seem to have done wrong is a pet ( also a landlord and when their dog caused damage all denied ).

" x has been a Tennant for x years and paid the rent on time. They have a pet xxx which is I do not allow and are moving on "

As an aside the new rent rules I believe force you to allow pets. So along with small deposits another recipe for disaster.