Shortage of rental properties so extreme tenants are refusing to leave?

Shortage of rental properties so extreme tenants are refusing to leave?

15:01 PM, 19th April 2022, About 2 years ago 76

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Hi, my name is Melissa Lawford and I am the property correspondent at The Telegraph. I have heard from some lettings agents that the shortage of rental properties is so extreme that in some cases tenants are refusing to leave properties because they have nowhere to move to.

I’m keen to talk to landlords who are being affected by this.

Are you having problems getting a property back because your tenants cannot find anywhere else to rent?

Please get in touch, melissa.lawford@telegraph.co.uk, 07936135425

Thank you so much for your help,

Melissa


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Comments

NewYorkie

13:36 PM, 23rd April 2022, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Jane Tomlin at 23/04/2022 - 13:23
This is an example of Westminster [as a whole] being out-of-touch with what's actually happening on the ground. Throughout history, the young have never voted Tory... 'If a man is not a socialist by the time he is 20, he has no heart. If he is not a conservative by the time he is 40, he has no brain.' Better to fully amend the Leasehold laws for all leaseholders, and not just future buyers. It affects millions of voters [and landlords who are ready to exit the sector]. Unfortunately, I believe they will bow to populist lobbying from shelter et al and we will see S21 ended and rent controls in cities.

Accidental LL

13:45 PM, 23rd April 2022, About 2 years ago

Thank you Jane.
My agent ONLY gave us a copy of the 12mth signed AST exchanged with the tenant instantly upon having viewed the flat.
We were NOT given a moment to speak with the tenant who disappeared prior to our agent telling is the deal is done.

We were NOT given any other paperwork and consequently have no idea about the tenant's reference standing or any other documents, I.e. EPC grade C assessment, "Right to Rent" booklet or any other essential document.

The agent dropped out saying they only did "find a tenant". We have NO CONTRACT with the agent.

We are concerned 're shortage of legal docs should eviction become necessary?

Any further advise anyone. Help is appreciated. Thanks

Helen

14:12 PM, 23rd April 2022, About 2 years ago

The facts above spell it out. It is good that finally the press is getting on to this and actually reaching out to us landlords for our opinions. The government has no idea.
I have 8 flats and mostly lovely tenants - apart from one I have had to evict due to intentional non payment of rent which has cost me over £10k - but I will have to evict all of them to sell my portfolio in order to retire. I hope I can do that if Section 21 is banned. My tenants are happy and mostly stay for over 3 years, so it is a shame but I cannot afford to upgrade to level C EPC, nor pay for licensing and other ever increasing costs and nor can I afford to house another non paying tenant for another year.

Jane Tomlin

14:16 PM, 23rd April 2022, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by CYRIL STALEY at 23/04/2022 - 13:45
The agent has to display whether they are a member of the Property Redress Scheme or the Property Ombudsman scheme, it should be on the bottom of their paperwork or on their window/door display of their shop. The agent is obliged under UK law to give you sufficient information for the 'average consumer' to be able to make an informed decision about whether you want to rent to that person or not. You have a contract with the agent even if they only found you a tenant rather than full management. The Government has written a helpful document called Guidance on Property Sales and Lettings, you can find it on the PRS website or google. Also, my landlord insurer is Axa and they have a legal helpline - maybe yours does too?

Helen

14:17 PM, 23rd April 2022, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by CYRIL STALEY at 23/04/2022 - 13:45
Did you not sign the agreement as well? If so did you not check that everything was in place before doing so?
You can check the EPC yourself and send it to the tenant now along with the right to rent booklet. Where has the deposit and the first month's rent gone? If to you then don't pay the agent until they fulfil their duties.
You can do a credit check yourself very cheaply and it might put your mind at rest about the tenant, or not. If it does not come up to scratch then you probably have recourse to take action against the agent.

Jane Tomlin

14:18 PM, 23rd April 2022, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by NewYorkie at 23/04/2022 - 13:36
Yes, Westminster is totally out of touch.
The law of unintended consequences strikes again!

Accidental LL

15:25 PM, 23rd April 2022, About 2 years ago

Thank you Helen.
Yes agent is a member of TPO and the AST concluded with 5 week paid deposit.

The tenant, we were told insisted on paying 6 mths upfront from which the agent took a one-off fee at the start.

Next payment due 1st May on a monthly basis, however the tenant tried not to take our bank details to begin standing order with his bank direct to ourselves.

We will now wait to see what occurs in May and assess again then.

There is no written contract between us and the agent, only ever had been verbal and no advise given to us dispite this being our 1st ever rental venture aged 77 and totally ignorant about renting. Never been given a copy of the "Right to rent" booklet.

The agent has failed to respond to our 3 letters asking her for written replies..

We fear we have been deliberately bamboozled from the start to enable a difficult tenant to move urgently?

Our inclination having had such a bad firstime experience is to get out of the PRS and never re-enter it.

How do we do a credit check please.

Again thanks

Paul Shears

15:38 PM, 23rd April 2022, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by CYRIL STALEY at 23/04/2022 - 15:25
There seems to be holes in this arrangement big enough to drive a bus through.
Don't panic though!
But this will almost certainly prove to be time consuming to sort out.
I see warning signs here all over the place.
I would be doing some investigation myself into both the "Agent" and your "tenant" and also looking for any potential link between the two that you are not aware of at the moment.
This whole thing smells very fishy indeed to me and you are wise to start getting your head around this now rather than waiting to see what happens later.
I think you definitely need some assistance on this matter and certainly a new "agent" if indeed they really are an agent.
Good luck but try not to lose sleep over this.
The law is still on your side, but it will require patience and much can still be done.

Paul Shears

15:40 PM, 23rd April 2022, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by CYRIL STALEY at 23/04/2022 - 15:25
I think you need the tenant's bank details in order to set up a Direct Debit rather than a standing order.

Accidental LL

16:53 PM, 23rd April 2022, About 2 years ago

Yes Paul I think it stinks of manipulation!

I am keeping a paper trail record of the tenant's non-communicating attitude and mannerisms.

The agent operates from a long established main street sales office.

I believe a direct bebit is only used with a company therefore as the tenant is an individual he needs to pay us directly as the best method.

Will see what happens next due date 1st May.

Thanks

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