I am currently evicting a tenant or, rather, my agent is managing through a specialist company. The tenant has not paid for several months for a second occasion and has proven to be a complete 'lemon'. This is my first experience of this and I would like to know your opinion on what losses I can claim and the likelihood of these getting paid and the timescale.
First, a bit more background, the tenant is on benefit and her father is guarantor and has bailed her out once for non payment but now seems to be keen for her to vacate.
I have not been paid several month's rent, have paid a company to pursue the legal route to eviction (serving notice and issuing appropriate letters etc). I have also gone overdrawn so have had to pay interest payments.

Can I legally claim all these costs and how likely is it that I will be successful? Also, do you have any idea over what timescales these debts tend to be paid?

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Major question to my mind is wheter her dad has the means to pay, and is willing to do so or will defend it to the last.

Good Afternoon

It really depends on what your Tenancy Agreement and Guarantor Deed states.

Her father should have been credit checked to prove that he is financially sound for the rent, have the agents confirmed this? Was a deposit taken by the Agent?

I am an ARLA member and as a legal advisor within a property firm for 4yrs. I will be happy to dig out my training files and get an answer for you

Thanks for the kind offer Sarah.

The standard credit checks should have been undertaken by my agent who is usually reliable. A deposit will also have been taken.

I will chase my agent for the documents you have mentioned.

There is a third party form called Landlord Action who are pursuing this for me (engaged by my agent) so I shall be consulting them first for a realistic assessment of the likely outcome and timescales.

Alex

Hi Sarah,

May I please ask your advice on a similar matter?

I am in the process of taking my properties under my own management. My managing agent has proved to be useless! They now tell me that they will charge me as per their agreement becuase I am taking their tenants?

can we please get in touch somehow to discuss please?

many thanks in advance

regards

jag

Hi Jag

Thank you for your post.

It is usual practice that Letting Agents only charge you a FT Fee (Find Tenant) at the commencement of the tenancy term, taken from the first months rent. However without seeing the tenancy agreement that you have signed I cannot give you a full answer.

Please contact me on 01270 539552 and we can discuss in further detail.

Best wishes

Sarah-Jane