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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Aibu tenants not paying rent

267 replies

FrenchFancie · 26/03/2020 08:35

AIBU?
We are ‘accidental’ landlords in that DH got posted abroad four years ago and we put tenants in our flat. It’s our only flat, we have a mortgage on it. Rent has always just about covered mortgage and costs, we don’t make any money on the flat.

Tenants have contacted us to say they can’t pay rent due to one of them loosing work due to Covid. Fine, ok, I know it can’t be helped.

I’ve asked them to apply for whatever help the government will offer, asked for clarification if it was a job loss through redundancy or just that she’s been given no hours (iirc she works for a retail chain). - as this will make a difference I think in the support that she will be offered?
I’m prepared to accept lower rent for a period but I want them to apply for whatever they are entitled to in order to minimise both their loss and ours! I’m not going to evict them due to this, and we probably won’t treat it as rent arrears but instead just write the missing rent off - I think I’m being pretty reasonable with this, but tenants say it’s none of my business what benefits they apply for and I just have to accept whatever rent they choose to pay as they can’t currently be evicted.

AIBU to think they are being CF? I mean I’m happy to work with them on this but feel we are being taken for mugs if they just refuse to pay rent.

OP posts:
Monstercruch · 26/03/2020 09:04

The tenants are being CF. To not discuss it with you proves it. Can’t believe people are defending it.

Alaimo · 26/03/2020 09:04

Agree with PPs who have said you should apply for a mortgage holiday in the first instance.

How long have your tenants been there? If they've lived there for a while and pay rent on time I think you'd be very stupid (and heartless) to consider eviction.

And please don't call yourself an accidental landlord. You made a choice that comes with certain risks. Missed rent is an obvious one & which you should be able to absorb.

Winterwoollies · 26/03/2020 09:04

This reply has been deleted

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HostessTrolley · 26/03/2020 09:05

My son is due to move into a flat share in a couple of weeks which is now unlikely to happen as he’s wfh and it would be potentially taking germs from our house into a new household. He’s been told that his rent is still expected from the agreed date whether he’s there or not and government advice re the current health situation is irrelevant as he signed a contract....

Santaclauswhosthat · 26/03/2020 09:06

Well for me personally it all started when this spare house fell into my pocket ...

Agree it's a bullshit term, usually used to justify poor behaviour eg 'I'm being a bit CF but fuck it I never wanted tenants anyway' sort of thing.

starrysimon · 26/03/2020 09:07

It’s a hard one isn’t it. Our rent is due on the 1st and, at the moment, we don’t have enough money to pay it due to COVID. We will however pay as much as we possibly can. It all depends on if we can get a UC advance to cover it in time (had a claim set up anyway as I wasn’t working and am heavily pg but DH was working as self employed but less than minimum wage). We would have if it wasn’t for everyone else suddenly claiming it too. I can imagine DWP are overrun right now

BootShakin · 26/03/2020 09:07

Kick them out as soon as you can. Cheeky fuckers. It is your business since they are staying at your house for free!

imamum21 · 26/03/2020 09:09

if they are going to claim universal credit the LHA website will tell you the amount they will receive in the rent element, you as a landlord can ask Universal credit to have the money paid straight to you, once thats been done they have no choice in the matter and the rent will be paid (depending on figures from LHA website if its fully covered)

thecatneuterer · 26/03/2020 09:10

@HostessTrolley I would tell them to do one (unless you are acting as a guarantor, in which case I would think twice). It's very unlikely that, given the circumstances, that could be enforced in any way. It would involve a court case (which isn't gong to happen), and I'd be amazed if the current circumstances weren't taken into account should it ever get to court (which it won't).

Reginabambina · 26/03/2020 09:10

It seems like they’re trying to take advantage of CV to evade rent payments. Just say that it’s fine if they don’t want to tell you, they can pay back the arrears once it’s over, they’ll probably take a different stance. Do be prepared to evict them as soon as you can though, these are the kinds of people that refuse to leave in order to live somewhere for free.

R2519 · 26/03/2020 09:10

People saying get a 3 month mortgage holiday......sounds good in practice but my mortgage lender has confirmed they holiday is not added to the end......the monthly payments are be calculated afterwards and increased to make the difference up so OP maybe out of pocket.

OP they are in a shit situation but need to understand you have a mortgage to pay. If their attitude is it's none of your business and make do with whatever we can pay you can't evict us then fine.....after this is over I would evict them, simply for being unreasonable. In times like this people need to work together. If that's their attitude then I wouldn't have time for it. Sorry if that's unreasonable to others but OP has a mortgage to pay and either way will have to pay it. OP can't just choose to pay the bank what she can afford and have those missing months 'written off'. As I say, people need to work together. If OP is prepared to accept partial rent then her tenants should work with her a d be forthcoming rather than adopt the attitude of it's none of your business and you can't evict us!

NewYearNewJob123 · 26/03/2020 09:11

If I told my LL that i'd pay what I wanted for a bit and offer no evidence at all of my financial difficulty or what I was trying to do about it; I don't think they'd be unreasonable in wanting me out as soon as they legally could.

thecatneuterer · 26/03/2020 09:11

Can’t believe people are defending it. LLs are always in the wrong on MN. Have you not realised this before?

MsChatterbox · 26/03/2020 09:14

I'm in the exact same situation as your tenants. I think they are being really rude. I've been open with my Landlord. I'm still waiting to hear back what his expectations are regarding this months rent. But I have been polite and recognised this will also affect him negatively!

TheGirlFromStoryville · 26/03/2020 09:16

YANBU.
OP is trying to help her tenants.
Someone I know is using this as an excuse not to pay rent for a few months, thinking they can't be evicted. Very foolish.

Greysparkles · 26/03/2020 09:21

My landlord reckons she cannot get a mortgage holiday on a buy to let. I'm sceptical about that! She also refuses to engage about agreeing a lower figure
Like not talking about it will magic the money up Hmm

Genevieva · 26/03/2020 09:22

I think there has been some confusion over the government announcements on property. People with mortgages who can't pay them because of financial hardship during this pandemic get a three month breather on paying them. That doesn't mean they don't have to pay three months worth of contributions. Similarly, people in rental accommodation cannot be evicted for not paying rent for the next 3 months, but they does not mean that they do not owe the rent. They still owe the full rent - they just have a longer window within which to pay it just like mortgaged property owners have a longer window in which to pay their mortgage instalments.

AlannaOfTrebond · 26/03/2020 09:23

Your tenants are being CF, but they possibly don't understand that you haven't just been given 3 months mortgage free and that it still needs to be paid - just later.

On BTL mortgages it is also contingent on the proof that tenants are unable to pay - so no proof from your tenants - no deferred mortgage payments for you.

If you look on the websites for the NRLA and other landlord organisations, they set it out clearly in wording that you can share with your tenant which will hopefully help you explain.

ElatedDragon · 26/03/2020 09:23

Do NOT go for the three month mortgage holiday - I have been advised by a mortgage broker and a financial advisor that this is not so sugar coated as it is being made to be.

If they are given help, they need to pay rent, you are not being unreasonable. 80% of two wages should easily cover rent plus living costs, particularly when we are on lockdown in a lot of places - maybe not if it is London?

ChrissieKeller61 · 26/03/2020 09:25

Why are they being like this ? I’d give them one more gentle you need to help yourself in this situation and apply for everything you’re entitled to and pay rent as due and if that doesn’t work send the I may not be able to evict you yet but will as soon as I can and fuck your credit record up so you can never rent again email.

DamnYouAutoCarrot · 26/03/2020 09:26

@imamum21 it doesn't work like that on uc I'm afraid. Rent money goes straight to the tenants now.

@FrenchFancie I rent and I think if you approached me with that attitude, I'd be more than happy to engage with you and quite frankly overwhelmed at how supportive you are being!

loobyloo1234 · 26/03/2020 09:30

YABU if you have not already applied for a mortgage break when they are clearly in dire need if you to do that

FortunesFave · 26/03/2020 09:31

YAnbu I am a renter and know that I MUST try my best to pay rent in full. I know someone who thinks he can get away with 'just not paying' because 'It's Coronavirus innit!"

LaurieMarlow · 26/03/2020 09:36

I have been advised by a mortgage broker and a financial advisor that this is not so sugar coated as it is being made to be.

It’s not supposed to be free money. It’s a way of managing the difficulties thrown up by the crisis.

OP why haven’t you applied for it? Surely that’s an obvious first step.

And I agree ‘accident landlord’ is a bullshit term. No one has forced your hand.

oohnicevase · 26/03/2020 09:38

Just explain kindly that you will have to sell it if they can't pay . That's what I've done as it's true .