Tenant leaving property - Advice wanted on best way to handle it pls

[polo1]

Hi
I have a house rented to a tenant since last September. At the time I held the property from the beginning of Sept, for the tenant as they were re locating and they told me they were going to move in around the 23rd of the month. They then didnt move in until the 28th and have been living there since.

The rent has been late on a number of occassions and then last month I was left 500 short but they had already giving me notice to leave as they have bought a house in the area. They said the bank lost the money. I pursued this for a while but then decided just to take it from the Deposit.

The told me originally they would move out the 1st of June and then it was the third and then yesterday was the latest date. I rang them earlier in the wk to arrange a transfer but did not hear back from them. They rang me finally today to say that they could not meet me this evening and will only be able to meet me on Saturday to do a tranfer etc. They also told me that they have left food in my fridge and wont be able to collect this until late tomorrow cause of an issue with their fridge etc.

Over the past week or so I have been going into the property (at their convenience) to show prospective tenants the house.

I have noticed that their is quite a number of fairly bad markings to the wooden floors and the hallway paintwork / sitting room is extremely badly marked etc. some delph is broken and the cooker is extremely dirty (black where it has not been cleaned)

So I have the following questions.

Am I within my rights to charge them for 2 weeks addtional rent ie from 23rd - 7th June.
How much can I deduct for the damages to the wooden floor - some of them are deep crevices and damages to the paint work and or cooker etc
I know you have to allow for wear and tear but the house was in extremely good nick (like new) when they took it 9months ago.

I dont want to be difficult so would appreciate your comments. This was my first renting experience.

Cheers

 

[sam h]

I pursued this for a while but then decided just to take it from the Deposit.

Big mistake - a deposit is there to secure your property & shouldn't be used for rent.

Will the balance cover the damage to the house? You will need to get a quote for fixing the floor, cleaning, replacing etc. Personally I wouldn't charge for delph, then again they haven;t been too fair with you.

As long as their stuff is in the house, they have to pay the rent - whether you will get it is another matter.

You say you don't want to be difficult, but I reckon you've been way too easy!! It's time to get tough.

 

[S.L.F]

It's time to get tough.

I had the same problem with some tenants before.
Never again will I take rent from a deposit.
You should tell them to pay you a months rent and you will fund them the difference plus the deposit.
Most important after they move out inspect the house then when you are happy with the condition you give them the deposit back plus what ever else you owe them you can't delay paying them back for more than a few days.
I returned 1 set of tenants their full deposit before they left and I'll never do it again, place was filthy beyond imagining.

 

[computerman]

I think your all a little niave.

As long as the tenant has the keys to a property worth a couple if not a few hundred thousand - he or she is calling the shots.

Threshold / PRTB / God / your mother cant help you. Diplomacy and sharp practice are your only answer.

1. Call up with two friends - dont tell the tenants - and just walk in. Should the tenants say anything confrontational (you will know that they are taking the Pxxx. Just apologise and ask if they received your message notifying them that you would be viewing the house with prospective tenants. Ignore them and take your new tenants around the house.
2. Tell the old tenants that the new tenants will be moving in on Friday. Dont take no for an answer. Follow this up by pointing to a few stains here and there. Ask will they be getting those stains cleaned before Friday.

Follow along that route, and keep smiling!

If you still get no joy send them a copy of a civil bill (marked in small typeface " without prejudice"). I usually find that this scares them into going. You can also send them (the following day by registered post an application to the small claims court for damages. This is not worth the paper its written on - but chances are they dont know that.

Next time you are renting a property, dont tell them your the landlord. This means that should problems arise you can always say "I'll have to speak to the Landlord - but I dont think he will go along with that". This will give you time to think.

 

[S.L.F]

If you still get no joy send them a copy of a civil bill (marked in small typeface " without prejudice"). I usually find that this scares them into going. You can also send them (the following day by registered post an application to the small claims court for damages. This is not worth the paper its written on - but chances are they dont know that.

If they are reading this thread they know it now!