AIBU to ask for more rent?

[ZaraW]

Even before Covid my tenant has always been behind with his rent. I've let him pay 50% since March when he lost his job.

He's now doing officer training for the RAF. I'm asking for £500 instead of £750.

Am I being unreasonable? Not sure how much they get during the training period.

Just seen your latest update OP.

All weekend leave is cancelled at Halston.

www.itv.com/news/meridian/2020-08-18/how-life-in-the-raf-has-changed-for-new-recruits-at-raf-halton

“Trips home during the 10-week basic training at RAF Halton have cancelled, and the size of each new intake has been halved to allow for social distancing.” He will be confined to the base.

Bloody autocorrect - Halton not Halston :)

Find a new agent. I (stupidly) thought using an agent would allow me to be a hands off LL but still have my interests protected. Found out the hard way than an agent is only intested in one party, & that's themselves. They'll do all they can to keep a property on their books, including playing T & LL off against each other. I've now ditched the % based company & gone with an independent who guarantees me a certain amount each month & anything made above that is his. Needless to say, he's on the ball & doesn't let Ts take the piss.

You were kind to give him leeway when everyone was struggling, but using your home as an occasional bolthole is a luxury he cannot afford.

@shitinmyhandsandclap

If he can't pay his rent then he needs notice to leave, sounds like it's been going on an awfully long time, and you were silly to allow it.

People aren’t allowed to be evicted if they’ve lost their job due to covid. Lots of landlords are having to allow rent freezes

You need a new tenant.

If he has joined the RAF then I doubt he will be allowed to leave the base every weekend. I would expect him to leave the flat.

It would affect insurances too wouldn't it if he was leaving the place vacant for prolonged periods?

Funky polar thanks that's interesting. My agent told me his "officer" training started around 8th September.

Yes, leaving the property empty for more than 30 days is an issue. Unless of course he has someone else in the property.

I need to look into getting him to leave. Hopefully, I won't have to evict him.

I wouldn't look for a new tenant it's too much hassle if I'm moving back June/July 21.

How many months of rent arrears does he have? You would need to give him six months notice unless he has more than six months of rent arrears.

Gancanny he's been paying arrears off so is behind 2 months. Yes, I want to give notice now so he should hopefully leave in March. If he's not out by then I will have to get him evicted.

I would give him notice sooner rather than later to avoid any delays at the end of the process if he hasn't gone by time it runs out.

Thanks. I'm going to get my agent to give him notice this week.

Not unless your costs have gone up no. He will just end up not paying anything and then you will have trouble getting him out as eviction is taking a long time now and will cost you extra through the courts.

@cosmicdoughnut

Not unless your costs have gone up no. He will just end up not paying anything and then you will have trouble getting him out as eviction is taking a long time now and will cost you extra through the courts.

I don't have much choice. I want to move back into my home.

My OH is in the RAF. Officers currently do their initial training at Cranwell and other ranks at Halton.
During his 10 week phase at Halton he will get approximately 4 weekends off, not sure if changed by covid.
During his training he will be paid, and its looking like he's paying you back. Once he finishes Halton he will be posted to do his trade training, depending on which trsdr where he goes.
Once he finishes trade training he will be posted to a station. So he's got a few moves coming up.
Let him know that the RAF look down on non payers/debts etc.
But if ges trying to pay you, maybe give him the benefit of the doubt.
He can get accommodation outside ofvnssicvtrsing cheaply, at the momdnt he will be sharing an 18 bed barrack block room.

Many people in the RAF keep a house/flat elsewhere. There isn’t enough space in a mess room to keep a houseful of furniture and other life crap. Wanting to keep somewhere to live isn’t that odd.

Paying half-rent when he is working is though! He needs to pay 100 % or leave.

As to his “officer” training, the other ranks are sometimes called “non-commissioned officers”, so he isn’t entirely making it up:

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-commissioned_officer

Maskingforit interesting thanks. I need to give six months notice because of Covid. Hoping he leaves without having to start eviction proceedings. Though as Whammyyammy states the RAF wouldn't be happy with him being in debt or non payment I might be ok and can move back next summer.

If he can't pay the rent you need chuck him out. You are not a charity and he is taking the piss.
I've had various lodgers who have behaved like this, can't pay the rent after a holiday ert and I've asked them to leave.
My mortgage lender isn't interested in my excuses neither should you be.

madcatladyforever I've emailed my letting agent but from the end of August I need to give six months notice.

Does anyone know salary of a commissioned officer. RAF states

ENTRY LEVEL SALARIES

Range from £15.220 - £39,000 depending on the role. When training with the RAF you will be paid from the beginning. While in the RAF your day-to-day living costs are dramatically lower, meaning you end up with more disposable cash in your pocket.

As myself and PPs have already mentioned he's not going in as an officer, he going to Halton. :)

Think recruit training starts about £15,000.

@GreyShadow

As myself and PPs have already mentioned he's not going in as an officer, he going to Halton. :)

Think recruit training starts about £15,000.

Thanks. If he's a commissioned officer I'm guessing he's getting more than £15K?