(I apologise in advance if this is a bit muddled, I am soooo tired)!
She's not been the best of tenants. Always had something going wrong,some issue, something to complain about but I'd quickly sort it, I've never had a tenant complain as much however,something seemed to go wrong constantly. She took the flooring up without permission, removed my (beautiful!) fireplace, which I knew nothing of until I spotted it outside after visting for a different reason so luckily I was able to rescue it-not exhaustive. She's had fires in her garden which have worried the neighbours, I've had complaints from other neighbours about rubbish, dirty nappies, takeaway boxes outside... It's not a scruffy area, nothing special but a nice house in a quiet street. I always get things sorted the moment I know about them, and have never let her down or not got something done she's asked for.
A few months ago she asked for a certain job doing. It wasn't essential, just her preference so I got a tradesperson in touch with her to do it. She never got back to them.
She then complained that it hadn't been done so I explained to her about not messing this person about, and got another tradesperson to get in touch with her. Never answered her phone-in between this obviously these people contacted me, and I rang her, no answer, text her asked why she hadn't been in touch, she said she had.. I had screenshots sent proving she hadn't (you get the picture I guess).
Anyway, she hasn't paid her rent since September. She didn't respond to any messages about this, from me, until I sent her notices of s21 and s8 eviction.
When she finally responded to my messages she said because Id not got the above job done and that she wasn't paying me anything until she had had a meeting with the council about the dangerous house she was living in.
I responded that I had proof that I'd tried my best to get the job done and she hadn't allowed access, and that the job didn't deem the house dangerous at all.
She then told me she wasn't paying because her universal credit hadn't been paid. I asked why, and she said she needed to send them a bill and a copy of her tenancy agreement. I sent her the latter and told her to download a bill online.
Council subsequently rang me and I explained. Meeting took place, I couldn't attend due to work, ad sent a representative. Council were very matter of fact, told tenant that nothing much was wrong and that they'd tell me to get the job done and that she needed to pay her rent.
The council also rang me later that day and asked would I let her stay in the property if they paid her arrears. I said no, she's troublesome and she's damaged my lovely house and I want her gone.
I arranged the job to be done (along with another small job for an electrician, one of her children had swung off a wall lamp and broken it, I was unaware until after the meeting) and she told me she had covid so they couldn't come in, but that shed be out by the 8th of January (the date for the section 8).I told her I would not pursue her for what she owed provided she vacated on the 8th, otherwise I will serve s21 and she'll be taken to court, risk a CCJ etc.
Anyway, she hasn't gone.When I messaged her on the 8th asking her to give me 30 mins notice and I would come and collect the key, she said she would but then I heard nothing. Following day she said she still had some belongings to collect but it would be done by Monday (10th). I arranged to meet her at the property that morning. She wasn't there (I don't think she's lived there properly for ages to be honest, I think she's always at her Mothers) and there were 6 bags of rubbish in the front garden, lots of toys piled up in the back garden, generally a mess...). I was rather annoyed as I work nights and was really very tired, but whatever.
I asked her for a date, again today and she's said something along the lines of 'Still got stuff to get out and I dunno, I've got children to look after so It's not easy getting stuff all the time'.
Grr. I am awaiting a court date. She also wouldn't let the man in to do a recent gas safety inspection, he had done the first part to it but had to return-so I need to meet him there to get that signed off soon.I'll try arrange that in next couple of days.
I've got two other tenants who are a breeze, so lovely and always full of praise as they've had awful landlords before me and are grateful of how I try my best to look after things. It's such a contrast. I had a bit of a bad feeling about her when I first took her on but I ignored it. Really shouldn't have!
AIBU to hope she gets a horrid landlord next time if she ever bloody goes
I am not loaded despite what folk think of landlords sometimes, and this is all really stressful :(