I have a property rented for a number of years to mostly the same tenants at a much reduced rent, in fact about 50% below market rent. I did not increase rent since 2018. I will be serving them with a rent review.
I noticed correspondence from TV Licence records addressed to me in hall of property. After I pointed it out to them the letter disappeared the next day eventhough addressed to me. I subsquently asked for it.I had been at property to undertake essential maintenance. I never lived there at property nor took out a TV licence there.
I assume the tenants unilaterally put the licence in my name without my permission or consent . I discovered this was done in 2019. I was shocked. I asked one tenant about it she said she knew nothing about it. I asked her to ask the others about it and said I was surprised and that it was serious as if Licence wasn't paid I could be prosecuted by an post and convicted for an offence I knew nothing about. I pointed out under the Broadcasting Act the occupier is liable. I feel they were pulling a smart one. I think they did pay the Licence but had they decided not to pay none of them would face the legal ramifications as it wasn't in their names.
I think it just shows a deceitfulness on whichever one of them did this and the others who had knowledge conspired and feel as if the fact I let them have the property at a knockdown rent meant very little to them. I was a good landlord and had a good relationship.
"No good deed goes unpunished " springs to mind.
I would love to hear your views on this. I think I will definitely serve them with notice of a rent review. I would like to get rid of them and re-set the rent but I'm not going to do a major refurbishment or sell. In fact I can't sell due to a massive uncrystalised CGT if I were to sell. The property is thankfully mortgage-free. The tenants pay on time and are not too demanding as they know they're onto a great deal.
I noticed correspondence from TV Licence records addressed to me in hall of property. After I pointed it out to them the letter disappeared the next day eventhough addressed to me. I subsquently asked for it.I had been at property to undertake essential maintenance. I never lived there at property nor took out a TV licence there.
I assume the tenants unilaterally put the licence in my name without my permission or consent . I discovered this was done in 2019. I was shocked. I asked one tenant about it she said she knew nothing about it. I asked her to ask the others about it and said I was surprised and that it was serious as if Licence wasn't paid I could be prosecuted by an post and convicted for an offence I knew nothing about. I pointed out under the Broadcasting Act the occupier is liable. I feel they were pulling a smart one. I think they did pay the Licence but had they decided not to pay none of them would face the legal ramifications as it wasn't in their names.
I think it just shows a deceitfulness on whichever one of them did this and the others who had knowledge conspired and feel as if the fact I let them have the property at a knockdown rent meant very little to them. I was a good landlord and had a good relationship.
"No good deed goes unpunished " springs to mind.
I would love to hear your views on this. I think I will definitely serve them with notice of a rent review. I would like to get rid of them and re-set the rent but I'm not going to do a major refurbishment or sell. In fact I can't sell due to a massive uncrystalised CGT if I were to sell. The property is thankfully mortgage-free. The tenants pay on time and are not too demanding as they know they're onto a great deal.
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