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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:
Legoandloldolls · 26/03/2020 10:40

I think that all you can do is pay for the mortgage holiday and regain your house as soon as the laws go back to normal.

I'm a landlord because we live in tied accommodation. I'm not sure if my tenants will pay rent but I worry that they wont ever pay it again now and my house feels like it's no longer mine. It feels like a government assets.

I face losing my tied home and being homeless with four kids while my tenants can keep my only asset.

If worse comes to the worse and the law doesn't change back, I get no rent, the mortgage holiday doesn't cover it then the simple answer is to let the bank foreclose.

That's my plan. My landlord buffer was a years costs but not while I also to keep up legal responsibilities of a tenant in situ

Yellowbutterfly1 · 26/03/2020 10:44

I’m wondering what happens if the landlord doesn’t have a mortgage but needs the rent payments to pay his own bills and live.

Somebody posted the question on a local Facebook page as their neighbour was elderly and was in that situation as their tenant had lost their job due to the virus.

Cherrysoup · 26/03/2020 10:45

Those of you saying have compassion: the tenants have basically told the OP to get lost so aren’t co-operating. The rent covers the mortgage: how is the OP supposed to cover that? I’m going to guess she doesn’t have thousands stashed in the bank, like most people she probably lives from pay check to paycheck.

I’ve told my tenant not to worry about the rent for the next 3 months, he lost his job at McDonalds. He’s been a fabulous tenant, I’d rather not lose him. If he left, I would sell up, rather than risk having people in who aren’t as lovely.

I presume he’s applying for everything in sight re benefits and will no doubt be trying to get a job. Fortunately, he is happy to tell me how things are and to talk. I will support him because he’s a brilliant tenant. I’d be really unhappy with the OP’s tenant’s attitude.

ShesGotBetteDavisEyes · 26/03/2020 10:45

We own properties and knew straight away which tenants would be first on the phone to say they can’t pay their rent...

There are unfortunately many CF’s who will be massively taking advantage of the situation. I just hope they don’t moan when the properties are repossessed because we can’t pay the mortgages and they are turfed out?

MeridianB · 26/03/2020 10:49

Your willingness to help them is good (I bet a lot of landlords would not be so reasonable) and this could all have been so different if they hadn't taken the position they have.

If they have lived there for four years then they must know you are reasonable - you're a couple temporarily renting your home, not some anonymous company with hundreds of tenants.

Given their stance, if you now tell them you were prepared to waive the rent it could make things worse for you and extend the period without any payment.

I agree with the PP who said you should plan now if you want to move back to your home at the end of the year.

Legoandloldolls · 26/03/2020 10:50

Also people saying here that you have no rights to know where there money comes from - did you do a check on them when vetting them? You do have the right to know if they can afford the rent to certain extents. If you feel they wont pay it and it's none of your business and it's there property now, they have assumed all your legal rights then please think hard about about if you want them to stay long term.

My tenants have been in my house for 12 years so cheeky fuckery has been extremely low. It's there home, my asset. They pay very low rent because they are good tenants. I will protect them as much as financially I can. But if they was new and saying they will do as they please i would be extremely worried right now that they will never pay rent again

RedHelenB · 26/03/2020 10:54

They've just lost their jobs.They've paid your mortgage for 4 years so you can gave a house to come home to. Yes they've benefited by having somewhere to live but I think calling them CFs is ott. Give them time to adjust.

Womenwotlunch · 26/03/2020 10:59

I think that 0p’s tenants are CF. I cannot believe that people think that Op is being unreasonable.
I suspect that the tenants are already receiving benefits for housing, but have used the coronavirus as a reason not to pay their rent .

FlockofGulls · 26/03/2020 11:00

People suggesting "get a mortgage holiday" don't seem to realise that the mortgage still needs to paid eventually. The tenants are being unreasonable in not being prepared to pay something for their housing - we all have to pay for our housing, ffs!

They should be trying to come to a reasonable arrangement with a reasonable landlord.

Apirateslifeforme · 26/03/2020 11:00

I'm a tenant myself, and I think they're being quite unreasonable in their attitude.

I'm not perfect, but my first concern was keeping a roof over my head. What's the point in having a cagey attitude with the same person you're expecting to believe you cannot pay them?
My landlord (offered a rent break or reduction before it was mentioned by the government) can have any and all proof he wants of what we get so he knows were doing all we can to pay him, so if we do take them up on the offer of a reduction, it's the very last option. It's the only way I think that we can come out of this with a decent landlord/ tenant relationship.

Collaborate · 26/03/2020 11:01

There seems to be a misconception that landlords are required to write off rent in the next 3 months. Thay are not, and I wouldn't advise any of them to do so.

If a lender grants a mortgage holiday that doesn't mean the arrears don't have to be paid at some point in the future, and given that banks will be taking a massive hit right now I expect all of them will be demanding the arrears be paid in full as soon as the crisis is over.

Same for rent - unless the landlord writes it off it is still payable - it's just that the tenant has gone in to arrears for 3 months.

InfiniteSheldon · 26/03/2020 11:07

I can't get a mortgage holiday, can't stop paying the monthly maintenance, am self employed and now have no income. I have asked my tenants to pay what they can and they have refused. I will be evicting them as soon as this is over. My other flat we have agreed they will pay 30% and if they struggle we will revisit they have said they will pay increased rent when all this is over I have said no if you can keep up the 30% then I appreciate that and won't be chasing arrears. I have always been self employed and put my pension money and 2 tears of hard graft doing up and creating beautiful homes. Tenants who respect that will get respect back the others can go fuck themselves

zaffa · 26/03/2020 11:08

@Santaclauswhosthat DH has a flat that he has had to rent out. We would dearly love to sell it, would have sold it from the beginning - but we physically can't as it's in negative equity. It was bought before the financial crash and has an interest only mortgage so I don't know how we will get it sold really. And if we do now, which we so want to do, we will have to evict the tenant to do so. Even if we sold it with a tenant in situ It's not a great situation for any of us as we charge minimal rent to cover the mortgage and their rent would go up considerably under a new landlord. There are a lot of us in this situation and we aren't the problem. If the government offered to buy the flat and it just cleared the mortgage I would jump at the chance - so don't assume we are all here contributing to the problem.

WhentheRabbitsWentWild · 26/03/2020 11:09

I have a council house so my rent money is paid in with UC and then via Direct Debit the council take the rent .

So in private rentals do tenants not do the same ? Set up a DD for the landlord/lady ?

Jaichangecentfoisdenom · 26/03/2020 11:09

Does rent insurance work in the case of Coronavirus? Doesn't this count as an Act of God?

ShootsFruitAndLeaves · 26/03/2020 11:12

Contact them saying that if they refuse to explain why they can no longer pay any rent at all then you will issue s21.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 26/03/2020 11:14

Interesting that 86% of 247 votes say you're not being unreasonable, and yet out of only 107 posts so many insist you are ... sounds like the usual all-landlords-are-bastards keyboard warriors have once again leapt into action, which is par for the course on Mumsnet

FWIW they're technically right that their benefits situation isn't your business, but in the current situation - especially since you've taken a reasonable stance - I'd expect a bit more cooperation. Unfortunately, saying in effect "we're not paying so get over it" suggests they're CFs who intend to take advantage, and since this is unlikely to change overall it may soon be something else even when the virus has passed

Therefore I'd take careful advice and do everything possible to get them out and find better tenants

Fruitsaladjelly · 26/03/2020 11:16

You;ve been very fair. My stance would be that either work with you or just accrue the arrears in full with no flex on the rent. What are they expecting? They are being more than cf.

Rosebel · 26/03/2020 11:20

It isn't really any of your business why they lost their job or what benefits they're applying for. As long as they do apply and give you the money as soon as they can I don't see a problem.

Funnyface1 · 26/03/2020 11:22

They are being unreasonable. They can't just claim hardship and do nothing to prove it. Be a bit firmer with them. It's only fair of them to work with you to do the best you all can in this situation.

JustInCaseCakeHappens · 26/03/2020 11:24

whatever you do, (and as unhelpful as this is NOW), do not treat the missing rent as lost rent. They are CF of the highest level, they know they can't be kicked out and that disgusting behaviour will go on everywhere.

We all still have to pay for bills, food.. being a tenant doesn't mean you are excluded from paying your debts.

Thelittleweasel · 26/03/2020 11:27

@FrenchFancie

I am a landlord too though less "accidental". The idea of going for the mortgage holiday is a good one provided that you did tell the mortgage company about your arrangement.

Alsohuman · 26/03/2020 11:30

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

Good luck with that at the moment. You stand more chance of walking on water than selling a property right now - and for months to come.

fishface1979 · 26/03/2020 11:30

It's not a holiday, it's a deferral of payment - you still pay the same, and with additional interest. So ultimately you pay more. The term 'holiday' is very misleading.

fishface1979 · 26/03/2020 11:31

That was in regards to the comment about it being unreasonable because the OP could get a so-called mortgage holiday...