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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to evict a family for not paying rent out of my house when they are spending money on other non essential stuff?

68 replies

CampbellsPoop · 29/02/2016 10:48

A few things have irked about my tenants but nothing to unerve me (We've had three non payers (in the space of ten years)one tenant it took me 6 months to evict and he trashed the house)

I know from social media (open profiles) that the tenants are not living hand to mouth, I know they are both employed and are buying stuff for their children (bragged about on FB/photos) nights out/holidays and all the trappings.

Meanwhile, I've not only suffered abuse from the family's friend (this morning) for giving them notice but my children are going without because I'm paying the mortgage on that property and I now have a shortfall.

Surely four months is enough messing around and enough time for them to get their priorities in order!

OP posts:
Original poster
CampbellsPoop · 29/02/2016 11:20

Hummus- bad luck perhaps but this is the 4th tenant now who- as soon as they got their 12month term started to forfeit on full payments. I'm not trying to evict them when the 12 months is up, I want them out now. Section 8 is the procedure I thought. That's what I have instructed the LA to do.

OP posts:
Original poster
CampbellsPoop · 29/02/2016 11:21

Teeny not they are not.

Can I say I didnt go looking/tracking for stuff on social media- she family come on up on my feed because we have mutual friends now. My profile is private.

OP posts:
Alfieisnoisy · 29/02/2016 11:24

Social housing will consider them intentionally homeless if they are evicted for non payment of rent so it won't be that.

You have my sympathy OP, I have been on all sides as a landlord and a tenant. I also had a tenant who didn't pay rent...took months to get her out and she trashed the place.

tootsietoo · 29/02/2016 11:25

Get them out. 4 months is more than fair - you can serve a s.8 notice when only 2 months in arrears. Although it's useful to know about their life, actually it isn't relevant - if they are that much in arrears you need to do whatever you have to do to get the money coming in again and if you don't trust that they will start paying up then you need to get new tenants. You will be 6 or 7 months down minimum by the time the court process has happened and you have relet. So no time to lose!

diddl · 29/02/2016 11:27

What they spend money on is relevant in a way as it shows that they have it & are choosing not to pay the rent.

It's not as if they have hit hard times & are asking to pay later or something.

expatinscotland · 29/02/2016 11:31

Evict them.

scarlets · 29/02/2016 11:33

If they jeopardise their kids' wellbeing by being profligate with money, it's their fault. People have to take responsibility for themselves, sometimes! Don't feel bad.

If that fishwife harasses you again, call the police.

Rangirl · 29/02/2016 11:37

You have to look after your own position and let them worry about theirs Make sure you serve the correct notices etc as it can be a bit of a minefield The sooner you start the better as it can all take months

Original poster
CampbellsPoop · 29/02/2016 11:37

Call police for shouty fishwife on the school run really?

thanks
Oh shit- the though of 6 months money down and a trashed house. I could weep.
Right, time to man up.

OP posts:
glueandstick · 29/02/2016 11:38

Sell it. Inform your nasty neighbour that you can't afford to subsidise other people's lives. FFS things like this wind me up so badly. You're not a charity! (But what they buy is irrelevant. However you're are so not unreasonable)

I genuinely couldn't be bothered with the hassle.

EssentialHummus · 29/02/2016 11:40

I'm not trying to evict them when the 12 months is up, I want them out now. Section 8 is the procedure I thought. That's what I have instructed the LA to do.

Yes, if they are in a fixed term, it will be S8.

I have had a similar run of bad luck with tenants. One has a s21 expiring today and I'm fucking euphoric. I'd never evict someone or want to see someone turned out on a whim, but when tenants don't pay...and continue not to pay...and then continue not to pay... it doesn't leave you much choice.

I know it is stressful now - and the name-calling nonsense takes it to another level - but once the eviction ball is rolling it gets easier.

specialsubject · 29/02/2016 11:45

good grief. No, you don't call the cops for one screaming harpy but you do if it gets worse, which it may. And get your own online presence locked down too.

section 8 for non payers. Still takes a lot of time and money.

it can't be sold with them in so you need to get rid of them whatever.

I await the MN landlord name callers offering to take on these people and house them for free. Think it will be a long wait...

Millymollymoo8 · 29/02/2016 11:47

Did the fishwife do this in the playground? Maybe a word with school?

LegoRuinedMyFinances · 29/02/2016 11:49

Urgh, I'm sorry that you had a fishwife screaming row with the 'friend' of your tenants. That sounds hideous, if it happens again I'd maybe have a word with the Headteacher about the situation - hopefully they could have a word with the other woman about not bringing personal situations into the school setting.

Have you thought about letting an agency do the letting for you next time? I know they take a % of the rent but it may help you avoid the situation getting personal next time?

I've always been a renter OP- and only once struggled to pay due to job loss. We got HB sorted asap and explained this to our landlord. One of his payments were slightly late (think it took two weeks to get HB in place) but then we made up the shortfall and never missed a payment. So even in the event of a job loss etc it shouldn't mean missing months worth of payments.

MrsJayy · 29/02/2016 11:54

Id sell it such grief

Original poster
CampbellsPoop · 29/02/2016 12:07

MrsJayy
I've been tempted!
I'm hoping it will be a long term investment for my parents who've had some really bad luck the last few years. I want them to sell it or live in it when they're old, so I am holding out.

OP posts:
HandsoffGary · 29/02/2016 12:07

I would start with a friendly approach suggesting that they come up with a payment plan to catch up on the rent? make it seem easier to pay?

Add in a threat that if the arrears remain the you have no choice but to evict them, add that you want to avoid this is possible as the last time you had to it there was a paperwork etc (so they know that you have had experience of thjs).

Is the rent paid out of a joint account? if not could it be that the partner is not paying it and the other isn't aware?

MadamDeathstare · 29/02/2016 12:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
CampbellsPoop · 29/02/2016 12:08

and no the abuse was on the road leading up to the school gates- a whole group were there, they'd obviously been taking about it- they usually take up the pavement catching up with each other.

OP posts:
SevenOfNineTrue · 29/02/2016 12:11

YANBU. Get them out.

DeoGratias · 29/02/2016 12:16

As soon as they are late you need to start the court proceedings as they take so long to work through.
I liked your answer to the neighbour - that she shoudl house them herself. In fact they could move in this afternoon with her and you could have new tenants by the weekend IF she takes you up on that.

Some people are just takers in life and they need a kick up the bottom sometimes to make them realise the world does not owe them a living nor a house.

VoldysGoneMouldy · 29/02/2016 12:21

Of course YANBU. And I'm a tenant. I don't know how people do not prioritize rent. I've rented for six years now, never once been late or short for rent - and at times that has meant choosing whether to buy bread or milk until after the rent goes out. It's just what you do.

And i would log the incident on the school run with the police, just incase anything further happens, having a log up to date with them would be useful.

Rangirl · 29/02/2016 12:34

It might be a good idea to try and persuade them to pay up
Might be different in Eng but in Scotland courts are very reluctant to evict families with children So you can go through all the hassle and then the court gives them time to pay

MrsJorahMormont · 29/02/2016 12:46

Of course YANBU. Unfortunately as others have said, there is a certain breed of tenant who thinks the world owes them a home of their choice in an area of their choice AND expects someone else to pay for them to live there. Thankfully there are many good tenants too but everyone will get stung sooner or later.

If you are using a letting agent, try and keep your distance from the situation. But if the verbal abuse and harassment continues from 'friends' I would be logging it with the police and I would be putting my side of the story across in no uncertain terms. Just keep on like a broken record to the 'right' people (gossipy ones) that you are not a charity and you can't afford for them to live rent free while they use their money for holidays.

I had a tenant like that btw. She liked store cards and paying for holidays, instead of paying rent. No doubt her friends heard a sad faced tale of how her evil LL was evicting her and her small children. Her name is now on the shit list with every letting agent in the surrounding area. Word will get around after a while; people like this do themselves no favours.

KatharinaRosalie · 29/02/2016 12:56

So what was the friend yelling? 'How dare you not to house my friends for free?'

Do you think she is the MN poster who insisted on one landlord thread that the owner is mean to charge rent and should simply give her house to the tenant?

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