Evicting a tenant who’s already left legally?

I would think that even if court grant you possession you still need to use a Bailiff. There is only the tenant or the Bailiff can legally give you possession. I know it’s a faff, but if tenant did return you could be in trouble if things not done by the book.
I assume he has left belongings in property, once you have possession I would send him notice that you have possession and give him notice that his belongings will be disposed of within so many days. Check exact number of days with the eviction specialist.
Once you have possession change the locks. You may find something in the property giving contact details of family or friends, such as address book, I would try to contact him through them. Then you will have done all that is legally required of you.
Doubt he will return as he would owe best part of years rent.
Strange he hasn’t been in touch, but maybe he’s died.

Send him a pdf of a Deed of Surrender and that until you have this returned signed by him then he is liable for the rent, council tax and utilities AND that you will be informing Customs and Excise and Border Control so that should he attempt to re-enter the UK he will be turned away or arrested.

He’ll probably send it back pronto.

Should have done this in March to be honest.

Hi, I had a similar scenario back in 2019 when my tenant went to prison and didn’t relinquish the keys to the property. I had to go through an eviction process but got my property back straight away when it went before a judge.
I’ve just checked the paperwork on my claim and under ‘a section headed ‘what the court is being asked to do’ my solicitor made a request to ‘give the claimant forthwith possession of the property’.

Under the order I also had to retain his possessions for 30 days and then I was free to dispose of them.

Hope this helps!

Silly question maybe? But how does a bailiff evict a tenant who is not there and whose last known location was not in uk and may be dead? Why not just change the locks a get a new tenant on a periodic tenancy? Put his belongings into storage. If the existing tenant comes back say he can have the flat back if he pays off all the arrears first, which of course he will not want to do.

Reply to the comment left by Dennis Forrest at 13:21

If tenant not there at appointed time the bailiff accesses the property by whatever means, takes some photos, presumably to prove he’s been there, then formally gives landlord possession by means of signed form and then leaves. The 2 bailiffs I have encountered have been very professional, not chatty though!

Reply to the comment left by Jill Church at 03/11/2025 – 12:56
thanks for your reply, no he’s not dead i did check. he’s in bangkok has been playing music and singing in a group since March

Reply to the comment left by Dennis Forrest at 03/11/2025 – 13:21
I think I should have done this at the beginning, but I was trying to do it legally. I don’t want to re-let the flat, I want to move in, as I’m not well

Reply to the comment left by Jill Church at 03/11/2025 – 13:47
I was hoping not to have to wait for bailiffs as this could take months and I’ve already lost most of the year waiting for the court

The tenancy doesnt end until the bailiffs return possession to you. If you can effect a surrender in some way that might save some time.

Reply to the comment left by Judith Wordsworth at 03/11/2025 – 13:14
I did all this, problem is he doesn’t respond to any emails, phone calls, messages etc