RAS DCC Query

[10amwalker]

I am a landlord and the four year RAS contracted ended in September. I was going to renew again for another 4 years however am unsure as to what to do.

The house was completely refurbished 4 years ago, new kitchen installed and new floor covering throughout, decorated etc.

Single parent with 3 children moved in however the day they moved in I was astounded at the amount of possessions they moved in.

Subsequently found out that one additional child and another adult moved in. The house has not been adequately maintained or cleaned.

Ras have been out to inspect at the end of the first term and to enter into a second term with them. The list of work they want completed will cost approximately €5,000. RAS will pay up to a maximum of one months rent if the damage to the property is above normal wear and tear however that case has not been easy to make as I am being told why didn't I visit more often.

However I am now thinking would I be better off not renewing as if I renew and the current tenants stay ( that is what they want to do) I will end up paying spending about €5,000 after another 4 years or sooner depending on when they leave.

Should I cut my loses and go back to private letting ?
If I do the work and the current tenants stay I think I will end up doing it up again.

At the moment RAS DCC are paying me fortnightly in arrears as the contract has expired.

What are the implications now that the 4 year contract has expired.
The contract only outlines situations that could arise during the availability, ie during the four year term.

If I do want to finish with RAS DCC what steps should I take.

I do not want to end up taking a case under the PRTB or being taken by the tenant to the PRTB.

Regards
10amwalker

 

[murphaph]

It's certainly untenable to be forking out an average of 10%+ of every rent payment on redecorating the place! The tenants are slobs by the sound of it and you should get rid of them. You could request to stay in the scheme subject to alternative tenants I suppose but you risk more of the same.

I only entered into RAS because the property in question was already let to reliable RS tenants who'd looked after the place exceptionally well and really treated it like their own and they migrated to the RAS. I signed an in-situ contract that expires if the current tenants leave. I wouldn't agree to the nomination based contract where the council chooses a tenant after so called careful vetting.

If the contract has expired and you want to exit the scheme then DCC should be informed of this and you should give them a deadline to have their tenants out of your property. That's how I'd be moving if I were in your shoes.

I'm reading more and more RAS related questions like yours on various forums and it is now clear (if it wasn't at the outset) that the scheme hasn't been thoroughly thought through. It will (IMO) get harder and harder for local authorities in the cities to find landlords willing to participate due to shortcomings (1 month's rent for damage is basically nothing)

 

[10amwalker]

Thanks for that advice Murphaph.

How long has it taken anyone at the end of the RAS term for the tenants to be rehoused by the CC ?

Has anyone moved from the RAS scheme with DCC back to private letting and how was the transition ?

Thanks
10amwalker