New Tennant - deposit/1st mth rent late

[nancydrewfoundaclue]

Just a rant.

I knew this was asking for trouble, renting privately to an acquaintance. But she was really keen and I got sucked in to thinking "how much easier" it would be without the agent and here we are the day the deposit/1st mth rent is due and Oh what a surprise! Not here.

It's not even so much that it is not here, so much as that she is totally and utterly blase about it.

The rental is total legit - deposit in TDS, all the appropriate paperwork in order. She was told that deposit 1st months rent was due today. I get a call yesterday to say that the cheque from a third party to me had been delayed in the post (apparently it was sent on Saturday ) I pointed out that for it to have cleared in my account it would need to have reached me and been paid in by me on Friday. Tell her to transfer rent money direct to my account. She says OK.

Get text this morning to say cheque paid in today.

I'm pissed off with myself because I knew this would be difficult.

[RattysPicnic]

Hmmmm. I am dealing with tenants like this.

Can I point you to here for support?!

[Bucharest]

My Mum is having the same trouble, not an aquaintance, but a friend of her nephew's.....moved in in September, and every month so far, rent has been late and incomplete. Issued them with their 2 mth notice thingy, and they promised to make up shortfall and pay by dd. They are now paying dd but shortfall still not been made up.

Has since found out they have been evicted from 4 previous properties for same thing....

Hope you get it sorted out.

[nancydrewfoundaclue]

Thanks

Ratty I have a feeling I might be joining that thread!

[annh]

Why did you let her move in without paying the deposit - acquaintance or not?

[HollyBollyBooBoo]

I've been a tennant in many houses in numerous countries - how do tennants even get a set of keys without their deposit and 1st months rent paid and cleared to the LL?

There are some real basics to the LL/tennant relationship and if they're not in place then as a tennant I'd be concerned how professional the LL is, so you're bound to get piss takers.

[nancydrewfoundaclue]

She doesn't have keys nor has she moved in.

Normally I would take the deposit when the lease is signed, usually a couple of weeks before it actually starts and the tennant moves in, and then the first months rent on the day the lease starts at which point they would obviously get the keys.

Due to a complicated set of arrangements (on her part) she wanted to pay the deposit and the first month rent together as one cheque (I don't really understand why but there it is )

So she assured me the money would come today. It hasn't. This means cheque will now clear next Thursday (if indeed it has been paid in). I am not available to give her the lease to sign etc on Thursday, because I am having a baby that day.

As I say it is not so much the time frame that bothers me - I wouldn't have ever asked for the rent in advance for example - it is the fact that she undertook to do something on a certain date and has not done it. I fear it doesn't bode well for the future.

[HollyBollyBooBoo]

Honestly I'd tell her she can't have the property then. Trust your instincts with her, as you say if she's failed to meet even this first payment then you'll never trust her. You don't need that sort of additional stress in your life with a new baby!

P.S I love how nonchalant you are about 'having a baby that day' v. funny!

[lalalonglegs]

If she hasn't signed anything and you think you can find another tenant easily, tell her to get lost. She probably doesn't mean to be difficult but she could be one of those types who just doesn't realise paying late will cause problems. Find someone else.

Hope the birth goes well.

[RattysPicnic]

Sorry Nancy, everyone's right. Trust your instincts.

Tell her you have had to reconsider. Be blunt if necessary. She hasn't got the keys nor the money to challenge you. Return the money and ring an agent to deal with it. You don't need the stress.