Mother left 13 year old daughter and three dogs?

Mother left 13 year old daughter and three dogs?

9:51 AM, 21st July 2022, About 2 years ago 13

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Help, after being four months in arrears the mother LEFT her 13-year-old daughter with three nasty dogs in our two-bedroomed flat and moved in with her boyfriend. (the lease was 12 months and ran out a few months ago)

We were reported to the council because the daughter “got a shock from the electric supply”,  and when the Sparki arrived he discovered the pre-payment meter was so far in arrears, there had been no electricity for weeks so it was just an excuse not to pay the rent.

The daughter let the council and us in who were genuinely shocked at the mess we found.

I couldn’t imagine more dog dirt if I tried, not one carpet was left down, furniture piled up like a dump and again covered with dog mess. I have been told that the daughter has now left and living with friends.

The flat has been abandoned what can I do? Is there a way of getting possession of the flat fast before someone in the block is ill, especially in this weather?

I am not bothered about the four months arrears, you can not get blood out of a stone.

Howard


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Comments

Mohammed Shafiq

11:52 AM, 21st July 2022, About 2 years ago

Sorry, can't advise about repossession, but the daughter can't just move in with "friends". The Council should have reported it to Social Services who would have removed the child and placed her elsewhere.

Dhanji Varasani

11:57 AM, 21st July 2022, About 2 years ago

Not an expert with legal experience, but if they have now abandoned the premises, take care to document this carefully, and then you should be able to take possession since most tenances would become void or come to an end on it being abandoned.

Smartermind

12:03 PM, 21st July 2022, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Mohammed Shafiq at 21/07/2022 - 11:52
You are right. Until legal possession has been obtained the OP cannot presume the flat is abandoned just because the daughter has "moved in with friends". At 13 she is not an adult and unable to make such decisions without the involvement of social services. Perhaps the OP should get social services involved rather than leaving it to the police.

Smartermind

12:06 PM, 21st July 2022, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Dhanji Varasani at 21/07/2022 - 11:57
Have they abandoned it though if they left their daughter, dogs and possessions there?

Smartermind

12:06 PM, 21st July 2022, About 2 years ago

What happened to the dogs? Were the RSPCA involved?

Mek Kah

12:49 PM, 21st July 2022, About 2 years ago

If you are not bothered about the lost rent, can you get the mother to give notice to vacate? Perhaps you could 'sell' it to her by saying you will write off the 4 months arrears if she gives written notice with immediate effect?

John Mac

16:29 PM, 21st July 2022, About 2 years ago

Only the Tenant or a Judge can end the Tenancy.

Best case is if you get the Tenant to sign a surrender notice, sell it to her that if she doesn\'t she is still responsible for the rent until the court gives you possession which could be 6M+

Bristol Landlord

17:34 PM, 21st July 2022, About 2 years ago

Sorry to say this but these are exactly the type of tenants the Govt wants to force landlords to take on. We won’t be allowed to say no to DSS, no to families with children and no to pets.
My view is the Govts ultimate agenda for the PRS, as they will not give money for council housing, is for the BTR corporations to take the best tenants, ie with good credit and references, good jobs and good salary, and the other smaller private landlords, who have remained in the sector, to take on the role of council housing where we cannot legally refuse any tenant who wants to rent our property.

David

22:34 PM, 21st July 2022, About 2 years ago

If its no longer the tenants home, then the tenancy is no longer assured. You could serve a common law Notice To Quit, (to all known addresses) and if she doesn't move back in before it expires, the tenancy will end and you can re-take possession. Check this position with a housing solicitor first.

Kate Mellor

11:04 AM, 22nd July 2022, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by David at 21/07/2022 - 22:34You can’t prove this. You don’t know where she’s registered for council tax or universal credit. If she has all her legal details at this address you can’t prove that she has moved out as opposed to just visiting elsewhere, particularly as her daughter was left behind.
Howard, proper notice must be served and all hoops jumped through I’m afraid, unless you can get her to confirm in writing that she has permanently left and won’t be back. That can be in the form of a text. It’s then up to you to accept her offer to surrender the tenancy as she hasn’t complied with her contractual obligations.
You may find she’ll do this if you explain that you won’t pursue her arrears in exchange for the text, although she sounds like a person who gives no thoughts to consequences anyway.

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