Tenant wants to wrestle control?

Tenant wants to wrestle control?

9:46 AM, 19th November 2021, About 2 years ago 16

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My tenant has been renting from me now for 4 years, and he still doesn’t have an understanding of what are realistic expectations as a tenant.

He wants to tell me what to do by pointing out my responsibility. Demanding any workman to contact him directly, stating, “it’s between me and your contractor “. I always struggle to get anyone in for jobs that he wants doing.

After struggles from last year for gas engineer for yearly checks, I decided I am going to arrange for him and not let him take charge. That didn’t sit well with him. So a very difficult 1-hour face to face meeting at his convenience took place yesterday. Still, he got his way choosing the date, but I didn’t give in for him to directly arrange the date with the gas engineer.

Also, I had already raised the subject of increasing rent, he of course don’t want to accept. In fact, he doesn’t want to accept anything. I sent him section 13 notice in email and was going to print it for registered post, but he responded within minutes to say he is going to take professional advice!

Bingo … I kept on telling this yesterday in an hour-long meeting, but he then was a “qualified estate agent” that I never knew!

So what is next, watch the space…. but any advice for me before I get stressed again like losing my sleep again as last night?

Angie


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Comments

Rob Crawford

10:27 AM, 19th November 2021, About 2 years ago

Why are you even tolerating such a tenant? There are many good respectful tenants looking for a place. I would have served a section 21 by now! I would add that any dates for contractors visits do need to be agreed with the tenant and sometimes direct communication between the tenant and contractor works best. As long as it happens!

Graham Bowcock

11:09 AM, 19th November 2021, About 2 years ago

I rarely get involved in arranging access for contractors; it's too complicated. Our main preferred contractor has a help desk which is staffed with people making appointments for their engineers. Have also found out thsi week that their calls are recorded!

Life's too short for me to get involved between a professional firm and adult tenants.

No hate plz

11:10 AM, 19th November 2021, About 2 years ago

Section 21! You can not have a Tennant messing up things like gas & elec safety checks. Nor you 6 monthly inspections as the consequences of you not doing them are great for you.

Peter Vine

11:28 AM, 19th November 2021, About 2 years ago

I have a tenant in an HMO, never paid rent on time, always aggressive to me, tells me I'm not allowed to in the property without 24 hr notice, which I informed him I do if I have to go in his room but not the common parts, has his 6 kids staying overnight, and new pregnant girlfriend, I've issued him with a section 21. I try to provide decent home for everyone, but he is decent. Best to evict your tenant and start again, some tenants have no respect for the landlord or others. Best of luck.

Ann Shaw

11:32 AM, 19th November 2021, About 2 years ago

Hi Angie, I have had similar situations over the years. One of my tenants was so demanding that I wrote to them by email on these lines. This was enough for them to give me their notice and leave "Given that your attitude and non-conciliatory response clearly indicate that effective communications between us have broken down, I would suggest that you might want to consider alternative accommodation". However, if this tenant doesn't leave on their own volition, I would certainly issue a s21. Don't let a tenant control your day-to-day running of your contractual obligations ie gas certificates etc. Best of luck!!

Alexandra

12:29 PM, 19th November 2021, About 2 years ago

Hi Angie
If he is like this now he is not going to get any better and when they finally abolish S21 he will have his feet under the table and be impossible to get rid of.

On the occasion I was faced with a tenant like this I issued a S21 and then did a refurb (even if it just paint and small repairs) and then relet.

Re tradespeople my tenants trust me and are happy for me to let plumbers etc in and wait while they service/certify and lock up afterwards and are grateful that I take the time to do so. Its also a good opportunity for me to assess the condition of the houses! You are trusting him with an expensive asset and I would be concerned as to why he does not want you involved in trades people appointments? What is he hiding? As other people are commenting he has no business controlling how you run your properties. He really needs to go before you find you cannot get grounds under a S8 to get him out and are saddled with him in the long term. There are some lovely tenants out there crying out for a nice place to live!

Simon M

12:55 PM, 19th November 2021, About 2 years ago

Angie, Section 21 is the route to solve it. The replies are consistent because it's not uncommon, a minority of tenants are plain difficult. Some are difficult about access because they're hiding something - a sub-let or unauthorised occupant. So you can't let this continue and need to be firm.

Your tenancy agreement specifies your responsibiities and theirs. Use it to assert your rights and re-balance your relationship with them. The tenant will realise they need to change or be evicted. Assume they won't change and keep a record of every contact in case you need it to support a Section 21 and possibly for court. Good luck

aga smart

15:14 PM, 19th November 2021, About 2 years ago

Thanks for very useful replies indeed. I am prepared for anything comes ahead now, circumstances allow me to use the difficult tenant to learn something including how to show them the way out and start with new tenant! Or he can learn his lessons from me and change his attitude 🤷

Blodwyn

15:44 PM, 19th November 2021, About 2 years ago

You may be very savvy in this field but, if I were in your position, I would ask Property 118's legal people to help you over the legal hurdles waiting to trip you up/

Paul Shears

18:29 PM, 19th November 2021, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by aga smart at 19/11/2021 - 15:14If he changed his attitude it would not make a scrap of difference to me. I would not want this individual in my life. Section 21.
I have had two such tenants who left of their own accord and although they did a lot of damage both financial and otherwise, I was well rid of them. I think that the other tenants did not want them either.

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