Can I still recover rent arrears from a former tenant?

If you already have a court order for the arrears then I suppose that’s the biggest hurdle overcome. If it is enforceable in its current state I would go for it as bailiff fees are added to the debtor. Finding where the tenant moved to is easy. I suggest calling round a few agents to see if they could pick up you case. Failing that some will say cut your losses and be happy you have the property back all covered by insurance and that’s a fair stance too but please do all Landlords a favour and get a CCJ issued against them, even if they don’t pay it will mark their file for the next 6 years and red flag others in the PRS.

You generally have 6 years to recover civil debt.
I generally leave it a year before I chase errants..
In thus time they usually have left a digital footprint.
I use a ‘Tracing Agent’ who will cost IRO £75.
Provided you claim less than £5000 then use the MCOL system on .gov.uk
I think you can use it say twice for 4k each to re over 8k but not sure.
When you get the CCJ enforce it through bailiffs.
Even if you don’t get any money the debtor now has a CCJ and it’s cost you little.
This helps other LLs.

Bit left field but is it possible to sell the debt as with a factoring company?

Ie you pass on the court order to a debt collector who pays you X% of the debt. You move on with your life while the debt collectors chase for the full amount and profit from the difference.

Firstly, is it likely currently, that the tenant actually has the funds to pay you? If unlikely, I would suggest you wait. Otherwise you may end up with additional costs associated with trying but failing to get it. Timing is important, you have 6 years. Keep track of where the tenant is and what he could be earning / spending. If/when it looks like he can repay you, that’s the time to chase it.

You have 6 years from the Court Order to find this tenant and proceed to the next step ie Bailiffs Order or Attachment on Earnings or Benefits.
I have used Nationwide Tracing Agents in the past. I have 1 ex-tenant I could not find. She was even still using the rental address for Court correspondence even though I sold the property 2 years before the 6 years were up. She even had the cheek to ask the Court to contact me for a Certificate of Satisfaction when she still owed money. Not the once but twice! The LA even rang my number thinking it was her. But they wouldn’t give me her address lol.

Reply to the comment left by Judith Wordsworth at 02/04/2025 – 12:52
When a tenant owes money please help the rest of the community by taking legal action for a small proportion of the debt, a £300 claim in the County Court, (Moneyclaim online) will only cost £35. You will never get the money, but the tenant’s financial life will be ruined for six years.
After five and three-quarter years, make another claim for £300 and the tenant’s financial life will be ruined for another six years.
I did this to one tenant, and he phoned me, after two years, to say that he had lost a good job because of me, when I pointed out that it was entirely his own fault he made references to my parents and their state of marriage, how he knew I shall never know.

Reply to the comment left by TheMaluka at 02/04/2025 – 13:39
Revenge is a dish best served cold.

Reply to the comment left by Jason at 02/04/2025 – 10:41
Thank you for the suggestions.
Regarding getting a CCJ, what is the process for this? I already have the order for possession which also states the money to be paid back. Do I use this to apply for a CCJ?

Mithun.
Your tenant refused to pay rent for 6 months?
There is usually a reason. Maybe the person had no money. Maybe the person needed repairs.
You did not say whether it was left trashed.
If the person can now pay and would like to, maybe a meeting could be set up by a neutral party.

Reply to the comment left by TheMaluka at 02/04/2025 – 13:39
I did take legal action both through the Court application for Possession and MCOL.
It was after she had vacated the property I couldn’t find her despite all my efforts.

As I said in my post “She was even still using the rental address for Court correspondence even though I sold the property 2 years before the 6 years were up. She even had the cheek to ask the Court to contact me for a Certificate of Satisfaction when she still owed money. Not the once but twice! ”

Sadly sometimes it’s impossible to find where they have moved to.