How to help long-time tenant that can’t afford rent?

How to help long-time tenant that can’t afford rent?

0:01 AM, 8th June 2023, About 11 months ago 22

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So imagine this scenario you have a tenant that’s been with you for five years. Always paid rent on time, no problems, keeps the place well – the ideal tenant. BUT NOW the tenant’s maintenance payments for their child will end and they will no longer be able to afford the rent.

The rent is already well under market value, and the (now) adult child can’t work because of a health issue – possibly to the extent that the property isn’t suitable for them anymore. The tenant has asked for an S21 to go to the council, but this forces us into a desperate position.

While waiting for s21 to go through, the tenant will be forced to go into arrears, with no guarantee of council housing plus the court costs from eviction. Would like to help but stuck between a rock and a hard place.

What would you do in this situation?

Thanks,

Raz


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Comments

David Houghton

9:29 AM, 9th June 2023, About 11 months ago

Reply to the comment left by GlanACC at 09/06/2023 - 08:44
An acceleraterd s21 is mandatory. The judge can't refuse. He can give her up to 6 weeks.

Yes she is fooling herself if she thinks being evicted is going to get her a house, but that's not the landlords problem. First loss is the best loss.

Lyraloulou

7:10 AM, 15th June 2023, About 11 months ago

Her son is an adult and is on disability benefits practically living with his father so by my book it sounds like excuses being used to drag on a cheap tenancy for the individual .. don't be drawn in by other people's circumstances, the lady knew she has been in a below rent tenancy for a number of years and knew that child benefit would dry up at some point. Whilst you can sympathise with someones circumstances you have to take responsibility for not regularly reviewing the rent which would have gently given time to adjust rather than an unmanageable amount, you are managing an 'investment' not others lives, stick to managing the property professionally and bear in mind that most people will take a mile if given an inch, take what is said with a pinch of salt, it's probably not the whole truth, so I wouldn't worry about it if I were you and concentrate on getting your property back by whatever means.

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