I feel awful about this, really awful :(
The property needs some work doing that, if not done by a certain date soon, will mean I am breaking the law.
For the last few months the tenant has been evasive and uncontactable, (which is quite normal for her, changing numbers regularly, not responsive etc), and then eventually agreed a date for it to be done. When the guy turned up to do it (and he arranged it with her, not me so a date of her choice) nobody was in to let him in.
Eventually the tenant's boyfriend contacted him and said sorry he hadn't heard the door or some such nonsense.
Second date, again similar thing occurred. Workman also said lots of built up post behind letterbox, curdled milk on doorstep, nobody appeared to be living there (if nobody is there, my insurance is void which is another concern).
Obviously my guy is getting rather annoyed and has now lost two days work.
So third time lucky-again he arranges it with her, but this time says he'd like me to be there too just in case she doesn't let him in as the deadline is looming and he is fully booked up for next few weeks. Fine, I emailed the tenant a letter to advise her, texted her also, and told her she did not have to be in if she didn't want to be. I said because she hasn't let him in beforehand, I needed to make sure he could get in-to which she responded that she didn't think he was coming last time, as he hadn't responded to her text. I told him what she had said and he sent me a screenshot showing that she clearly DID know he was coming and he had confirmed.
I know she spends a lot of time at her Mum's.
A family member has another property nearby, and their tenant has said that my tenant isn't living there, he never sees her etc.
The date before this booking, tenant emails me a screenshot of an ordering of a covid test, saying a relative she has spent time with has covid, and she needs to self isolate as a result so we can't come.
The work guy received a msg saying same, she actually sounded quite panicked in her msgs to him, saying he 'must not come'. Amongst other things (I find it odd because, she isn't usually there anyway ad hasn't been last two times). She also told me she had checked with 101 and they've confirmed she isn't allowed anyone in, which obviously is true, but I smell a rat.
It's a quiet street in a nice area. I've had neighbours tell me that her and her boyfriend burn things in the garden quite often, and I've also learned the fire brigade were called to the property on one of these occasions as they had lost control of a fire and it was encroaching on a neighbours (expensive!) van. :(
I've had complaints about their garden being full of rubbish, dirty nappies etc (she has four very young children*) and complaints about other things.
The same tenant has told me the neighbours are rude to her-I am not sure what is going on here, perhaps they're off with her because of the above.
Issues here for me;
- I feel she really does not want anyone in that property for whatever reason, and I am worried. However not so long ago she was having some different work done and was happy for the tradesman to go in.
While he was there, he asked me to come round to show me something, a problem with the job meaning he'd have to do something else-I checked with tenant who said fine for me to come round, so she's been fine with people in quite recently. On this visit, the house was a COMPLETE tip although I only saw downstairs.
2)I feel utterly awful making a young Mum move out in these awful times. Horrible. But what about her poor neighbours too?
3)As above, if she isn't actually there, my insurance is void.
4)Why may she be so against people in the house?
5)I think she is lying about this covid thing. The screenshot she sent me doesn't contain her name or any other identifying details. It could be someone else's or something she has got from the internet, even, she's also obviously lied about the workman not confirming. I am not hurt or bothered even that she has lied to me, but this again supports her just not wanting people in the house. What I may do is ask her for another screenshot with her name or similar included, citing that I may need it if this essential work cannot be carried out in time-I have to find another tradesman capable of doing it and I just might not be able to-and she may play more cards to avoid anyone coming in. :(
*back to the children. They're very young, and when aforementioned workman was actually working in the house (the one she DID let in) he messaged me with concerns. He said the house was such a tip and the couple did not interact with the babies at all, they were left strapped up in a chair for well over an hour. Of course, I understand it must be so so difficult with 3 very young children like that and a house being a mess does not equal bad parenting, and the next time he visited he said he took back his concerns, the house was in better order and everyone was being lovely, the children looked happy. Should I be concerned? I think not, but I'd rather ask what others thought about the children, and if you'd evict someone in these circumstances. I am a bit concerned that she isn't coping with something, although obviously this isn't really for me to be concerned about. Her partner and the children's father seems a lovely young man, confirmed by the aforementioned workman, but, who knows?
Wwyd
YABU-Do nothing just keep trying for a date to get the work done,s*it happens..
YANBU-something fishy going on here, protect yourself and your property and/or you're right to be concerned.