I'm a landlady....

[SomeOtherGirl]

I'm going to try to word this carefully. It's to do with making different life choices but it's in a sensitive area which could imply that I'm being judgemental. I don't mean to be. I'm just wondering if this sounds normal to the ears of anonymous mumsnetters.

So we have a rental property - our old place. I will try to give as much info as possible though some probably isn't totally relevant, but people might ask otherwise :-)

A nice couple moved in and they have a baby.

The deposit was covered by the council, and the monthly rent is £600, which was to be paid by them. They are on UC - they had asked me if I minded and I answered of course not!

I am 75% sure that the guy has a job of some description as he talks about it on Facebook.

They moved in and after the first month immediately fell into arrears, with a late partial payment and then a missed payment. They are a little more than a month behind on rent.

I did some research and found that the UC people can pay us about 90% of the rent directly to us, which sounded easier for everyone so I applied for that and all has been well, aside from the outstanding rent.

We asked the tenants if they can catch up this money and they said they'd have to do so in drive and drabs. This was last autumn. They have yet to make a payment but with Christmas and then corona virus I didn't push it. UC said we could apply to have it taken out from their other benefits in small chunks but I think the debt needs to equate to two months for this.

So now there are some bits and bobs to do maintenance wise so we've been looking at that and working out how to sort them out.

In the conversation, we asked if they'd be able now to start repaying the arrears as it would help with sorting out the maintenance bits. They said they could only do £10 a month as they have to pay for other stuff - namely Sky which they have at £90 a month.

I was really surprised at this. We rely on this rent as an income. I'm not able to work at present and we live modestly. I know people tend to think of their landlord as being Mr megabucks but it's not like that with us. We have netflix at 5.99 a month and thats the extent of our entertainment luxuries.

I'm just surprised that a lovely couple who get their housing costs covered plus additional benefits - and a job - see repaying this rent debt as so low priority.

Am I a bit mad? Should I sell the place?
I've not got cross with them or anything about it by the way. But I am wondering if I should sell it. They wanted me to come change a lightbulb recently. I think they've also moved an older step child in, which is fine I guess But they didn't mention it.

I try to be a really considerate landlady as far as I can but it's never going to be a perfect situation.

Just wondering what your thoughts are ? Obviously not planning on evicting them over this.

They are taking the piss . I’d ask them to repay what they owe or ask them to make plans to leave . If the council paid their deposit they really do have the life of riley. What incentive do they have to save for their own deposit? They won’t pay you because they know you can’t do anything to get the money off them . Dicks !
Does the property make you any money ?

@Boomclaps

You pay for Internet with sky which is about £30. They clearly have a TV package (or daft enough to take a high price on Internet when a comparison site offers you cheaper), and they were dumb enough to tell op.

Evict them op. They are taking the piss. TV is a luxury, not a necessity despite what some people think. Paying rent is a necessity. That comes first, then other bills like food, electricity, gas etc. Then luxuries. They need to learn a lesson but doubt they will. They will just blame op for being rude to people on benefits.

I’d evict. Then get new tenants or sell.
If they can’t afford to pay their rent, they can’t afford sky.

Obviously not planning on evicting them over this.

And that's why they're happy to not pay.

UC is itself paid in arrears though. If future payments are reliably complete and on-time I'd consider not pursuing the arrears at present. Ie the tenants are in arrears but the debt isn't increasing over time. But if there are more missed payments then to be honest you need to consider eviction proceedings.

But I would understand if you want to do a Section 21 while it's possible, since there's talk of removing that.

They are taking the piss. And I am saying that as someone who has been taken advantage of & generally ignored by a series of rubbish landlords. We always prioritised the rent though. £90 on Sky is ridiculous in their position, we pay less than that monthly for our phone, broadband, 2 mobile phones, Netflix, Amazon Prime & water bill!

You are being far too nice and they are piss taking twats. Change a lightbulb? Did you actually do that?

Get shot of them , sell or get some decent tenants in.

@Bumble84

I’m also a landlord.

Firstly, it’s nice that you took on a tenant on UC bit are you sure your insurance covers that because mine doesn’t.

Evicting tenants is not an easy option and can take a long time and cost you money. They really need to be in arrears for longer than a month or two. There’s very strict terms now for how and why a tenant can be evicted.

I’ve had a tenant in rent arrears previously but thankfully within 6 months it was paid back but like you I was patient with them and it could have gone the opposite way!

Just FYI, ex housing officer, UC claimant and private renter here 👋. If your tennant’s working their benefits will be akin to older style tax credits and won’t invalidate any Insurance 💓

You seem to be far to reasonable with them given your situation
You need to be stronger and insist on a payment plan

I think they are taking the piss.
I say that as someone who has rented for many years and will continue to do so (suits me so I choose to).

You sound an extremely reasonable landlady, better than many, and I think you are being taken advantage of. I can't believe your tenants are moving extra people in without asking, and as for being behind with the rent....I have always made my rent my priority above anything else. I wonder if you'll see any of that money.

And who on earth asks the landlady to come and change a lightbulb? I'd sell up and get rid...

I am a LL and in your current situation I would apply to receive the back rent via the UC system. Having Sky is a luxury, there are many entertainment options which are a step down from that but better than Freeview and they shouldn't be paying for a premium service when they have basic living depts. Unfortunately I suspect Sky will remain and food will suffer but that is not your responsibility and you should not feel bad for getting back what you are owed even if it ends up leaving them 'short'. At the end of the day we all need to learn about responsibility and to cut our cloth accordingly.

I'm not wanting to bash people who are on UC through the way I'm describing this but yes it does seem a bit life of rileyish. UC gets such a lot of bad press and as a societal group they have it really hard from all angles. But if all my housing costs were paid my life would be easier too, and yes I would go for some luxuries.
It seems that this situation would give a bad reputation to the UC group as a whole doesn't it, sadly.

Goodness OP that's mad!! I can't believe how people prioritise their money; at the beginning of COVID I was put on part-time hours at a 33% reduction in salary. The very first thing I did was sit down and cancel Spotify, Now TV, magazine subscriptions and some memberships, to make sure I could cover mortgage, bills and essentials.

As for asking you to change the lightbulb, I can't fathom that people think that's a thing?!? Even in a rental property surely people know that some day to day maintenance (opening windows for air, changing lightbulbs, giving the grout a wipe over) is their own responsibility?

Do they still pay you the 10% shortfall regularly?

£10 a month would pay you back in quite a few years time! A silly suggestion.

I'm on housing benefit but they are 100% taking the piss. I wouldn't dream of dicking my LL about or being late with rent. Even if you get the amount back, they will probably end up causing more hassle in other ways.
Could you consider using an agency in future to prevent this sort of stuff?
I hate tenants like this because they give benefit claimants a bad name and make it harder for me to find somewhere to rent when we move.

I should say - I didn't change the lightbulb in the end. It was in the middle of lockdown, and I'm pregnant so I politely messaged saying erm the previous tenants usually did that themselves. They didn't answer so I guess they stood on a chair or something 😂 I'm sorry I should have said that bit - but it was their having asked that I thought relevant to the story.

I have rented before and if I had behaved like that, I would expect you to give me my notice and aim the outstanding rent.

Our landlady let us bring 1 dog & 2 cats, the day we left she came over to clean.

I had just finished polishing the windows and the inside was sparkling, she was really shocked.

I wouldn't have dreamt of leaving it any other way.
It was pristine when we moved in - although freezing as it was a non insulated extension and their was ice on the inside of the windows

Piss takers. People like this give renters on benefits a bad name. I say that as someone who in the past has rented, and been on benefits.
I’d apply to have rent taken from benefits, and make plans to sell. You will never get the arrears paid back. They have told you what their priorities are. Some people just don’t know how to help themselves.
FWIW, you sound like a lovely and understanding landlord. Please don’t get taken advantage of

Oh my goodness you sound so lovely. Why can't I get a landlord like you, instead of the miserable bastard that we do have!

So you are getting paid regularly now, it's just this old arrears that is hanging over? Very cheeky to get into arrears almost immediately they move in. Could you put it to them how you really need the money - and maybe say how hard it is at the moment and you are thinking of selling - that might wake them up a bit!

And they can change their own bloody lightbulbs.

@Boomclaps yes, agreed. I’ve worded it wrongly. As long as they’re working but it sounds as though OP isn’t sure if one or both are when she refers to seeing something from Facebook. I’ve always took copies of payslips or at least a reference from tenants employer confirming they are employed.

I know there’s been a decision taken recently which may change this but insurers also have to follow this through.

People like this really annoy me! My friend is on UC, a single mum with 2 young children and she is having an absolute nightmare trying to find a landlord/lady to take her because of people like this!

They’re not a lovely couple OP, they’re taking the piss. Easier said then done but please don’t let it put you off people claiming UC, they are not all the same.

Get them out.

Can you just explain to them as per the contract these are your responsibilities including paying your rent on time and taking care of basic house stuff like changing bulbs fuses etc. Are they inexperienced perhaps? Say the rent must be paid and ask them to speak to UC to pay you directly. Give them the chance to sort it out/,grow up. Put it in writing. Ensure you keep the house maintained as that is your responsibility.

You should evict asap because as you sound super reasonable, you could find MN tenant immediately 😂

You've been far too nice and they're taking the piss. Evict and get new tenants.

and this is why LL don't want to accept DSS

Apply to UC to have the arrears paid.

Are they getting into more arrears or does the direct UC payment cover all of the rent?

Evicting is expensive. If you are getting all of the rent covered then don't evict. If they are getting further into arrears then start the process and make sure you know all of the ins and outs