Student campaigners demand ban on guarantor requirements for tenants
1 year ago | 45 comments
How should a landlord handle a troubling student tenant?
12:02 AM, 18th December 2024, 1 year ago
24
Hi, we have a 3 bedroom student HMO where one of the students has been continually aggressive towards her fellow tenants.
She has cut all communication with myself and I am now only able to contact her via her parents, who are aware that she has mental health issues even to the point where she was recently admitted to A&E for one night.
The other two tenants are now fearful for their safety and are considering moving out. About four weeks ago, the problem tenant suggested in her final email that she reserved the right to leave, but based on recent messages with her father, it seems she has no intention of actually doing so.
I am very concerned for the safety and well-being of all three of the girls in the house including, the problem one. However, I feel helpless in what I can do as a landlord to help?
Any suggestions please?
Thank you,
Steve.
Tags:
aggressive tenant, dealing with difficult tenants, Landlord advice, landlord responsibility, resolving tenant disputes, student HMO issues, tenant safety
Comments
Have Your Say
Every day, landlords who want to influence policy and share real-world experience add their voice here. Your perspective helps keep the debate balanced.
Not a member yet? Join In Seconds
Login with
or
Previous Article
Landlords sell unprofitable properties amid tax fearsNext Article
London council cracks down on unsafe HMOs
Member Since August 2015 - Comments: 342
4:26 PM, 21st December 2024, About 1 year ago
Reply to the comment left by Steve Lillington at 21/12/2024 – 15:37
I’m just wondering Steve what sort of lease you signed them up to. Did it not have a fixed term?. Surely what you want is only the troublesome tenant offered university accommodation?. Some people are worth getting rid of fixed term or not.
Member Since June 2016 - Comments: 6
9:20 AM, 23rd December 2024, About 1 year ago
Reply to the comment left by Yvonne Francis at 21/12/2024 – 16:26Yes they are all on a 12 month fixed term lease.
I’m hoping that the university will see sense and do their best to remove the troublesome tenant only but they have told me they are duty bound to offer the opportunity to move in to temporary accommodation to all involved for their own safety in something like this. Unfortunately I will have no control over this and the parents of the troublesome student appear to burying their heads.
Member Since August 2015 - Comments: 342
10:24 AM, 23rd December 2024, About 1 year ago
Reply to the comment left by Steve Lillington at 23/12/2024 – 09:20
If the tenants are under a fixed term then your students are legally obliged to stay or at least pay the rent for the term of the lease or until you re-let. The university should know that. Does the university really want three of their students to break an agreement and be in court? You may not want to go that far but there is no harm in thinking or saying.
I know that is easily said and hard to do but I think Steve you should make a stand to the university on this point. There is no reason why if the accommodation is all fine you should lose rent.
Member Since June 2016 - Comments: 6
11:20 AM, 23rd December 2024, About 1 year ago
Reply to the comment left by Yvonne Francis at 23/12/2024 – 10:24
Thanks Yvonne. I find myself in a difficult position emotionally as I have every sympathy with the 2 girls who are not at fault, but I also realise that we are running a business not a charity and sometimes tough decisions need to be made. So we can’t end up in a position where 2 good tenants leave and the other remains, and finding replacements at this stage of the academic year may prove difficult at least.
The university are supposed to sorting this out but I’m worried that the xmas break will get in the way of any real progress and the parents of one of the 2 has said that if the troublesome one doesn’t leave then they have advised their daughter to look for alternative accommodation. I haven’t yet played the rent/contract card but will probably need to after xmas.