AIBU?
Tenant has abandoned property
AccidentalLandlord1 · 18/03/2023 21:28
Hi everyone. My tenant of 5 years has abandoned my property today. She text me to say that due to a change in circumstances, she has left the property and has posted the keys through the door and the stuff she has left behind can either be thrown away or kept. I went to check and she has left her all her furniture such as beds, wardrobes, etc. She had always paid her rent on time so admittedly I'd become a bit laid back with checking but I checked today and she has not paid rent for the last 2 months and she missed a payment in October last year too. She also had the cheek to give me her bank details to give her deposit back...! Where do I stand with getting missed rent back from this tenant? I have no idea where she has gone and she seems to of now blocked my number. I am an accidental landlord as you can tell from my username and also rather stupidly did not protect her deposit. Does this mean I have to give it back?! Even if she owes rent. Help desperately needed...
Am I being unreasonable?
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daimtheman · 18/03/2023 22:33
Oh dear @AccidentalLandlord1 yet another clueless and shitty landlord on here.
You can't pursue this tenant for the outstanding rent because you've broken the law. Cut your losses, clear the flat and fucking sell it so you don't leave future tenants at risk.
Cordeliathecat · 18/03/2023 22:35
It sounds like you’ve had a lucky escape here.
By not protecting her deposit, you wouldn’t have been able to serve her a Section 21 notice.
She could have stayed in the property and not paid rent and it could have taken you years to evict her.
If I were you I’d thank my lucky stars, return her deposit and take some legal advice.
HatHairDontCare · 18/03/2023 22:36
LovingACountryBoy · 18/03/2023 22:02
This is clearly a wind up.
The OP knows that mumsnet hates landlords. This is ‘wind them up and watch them go.’
AccidentalLandlord1 · 18/03/2023 21:58
I did do a gas/elec safety check when she moved in
This.
How are people believing it? ðŸ¤
IncompleteSenten · 18/03/2023 22:38
HatHairDontCare · 18/03/2023 22:36
This.
How are people believing it? ðŸ¤
LovingACountryBoy · 18/03/2023 22:02
This is clearly a wind up.
The OP knows that mumsnet hates landlords. This is ‘wind them up and watch them go.’
AccidentalLandlord1 · 18/03/2023 21:58
I did do a gas/elec safety check when she moved in
I was until the gas safety check bit. 
There really are a lot of stupid landlords out there. It's not unheard of for them to not protect deposits.
Coffeellama · 18/03/2023 22:40
1ittlegreen · 18/03/2023 22:36
It's her property and the tenant has left. Stop spouting crap if you don't know what you're talking about.
FrostyFifi · 18/03/2023 21:39
Why on EARTH didn't you protect the deposit?
I also don't think you can just reclaim the vacated property immediately.
Maybe you should listen to your own advice there. It isn’t as simple as just reclaiming the properly straight away in most circumstances.
Kerfuffler · 18/03/2023 22:41
IncompleteSenten · 18/03/2023 22:38
I was until the gas safety check bit.
There really are a lot of stupid landlords out there. It's not unheard of for them to not protect deposits.
HatHairDontCare · 18/03/2023 22:36
This.
How are people believing it? ðŸ¤
LovingACountryBoy · 18/03/2023 22:02
This is clearly a wind up.
The OP knows that mumsnet hates landlords. This is ‘wind them up and watch them go.’
AccidentalLandlord1 · 18/03/2023 21:58
I did do a gas/elec safety check when she moved in
I had one who didn't protect my deposit, and faked our gas safety certs after I reported him to the council for not having any.
justasking111 · 18/03/2023 22:42
HatHairDontCare · 18/03/2023 22:36
This.
How are people believing it? ðŸ¤
LovingACountryBoy · 18/03/2023 22:02
This is clearly a wind up.
The OP knows that mumsnet hates landlords. This is ‘wind them up and watch them go.’
AccidentalLandlord1 · 18/03/2023 21:58
I did do a gas/elec safety check when she moved in
There's been a rash of troll threads this week sigh...
underneaththeash · 18/03/2023 22:43
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Zanatdy · 18/03/2023 22:44
I’d drop her a message to let her know about the missed rent payment and ask her to pay it and you’ll look at deposit situation. As she’s left a lot of stuff to be disposed of then you’d be within your rights surely to deduct cost of that from the deposit. If she took you to small claims she would surely have to pay the missed rent, so doubt she will
IncompleteSenten · 18/03/2023 22:44
Kerfuffler · 18/03/2023 22:41
I had one who didn't protect my deposit, and faked our gas safety certs after I reported him to the council for not having any.
IncompleteSenten · 18/03/2023 22:38
I was until the gas safety check bit.
There really are a lot of stupid landlords out there. It's not unheard of for them to not protect deposits.
HatHairDontCare · 18/03/2023 22:36
This.
How are people believing it? ðŸ¤
LovingACountryBoy · 18/03/2023 22:02
This is clearly a wind up.
The OP knows that mumsnet hates landlords. This is ‘wind them up and watch them go.’
AccidentalLandlord1 · 18/03/2023 21:58
I did do a gas/elec safety check when she moved in
What a bastard. I hope they were prosecuted.
Maybe the op's a twat rather than a troll. Guess it could be either.
Maverickess · 18/03/2023 22:45
If I hadn't had an LL very similar to this, I'd honestly think it was a wind up, unfortunately they do exist and some are even stupid enough to think they're untouchable and never in the wrong because they own some property, and that they're doing tenants a favour by 'letting' them pay money in return for living in their property and forget the tenant is effectively, the customer and as the LL you're providing a paid for service.
NortieTortie · 18/03/2023 22:45
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Deposits are often at least one month's rent. The fine is several times that. How is that call it quits?? Especially without an up to date gas check?? OP deserves everything they get, if it's a genuine post.
FrostyFifi · 18/03/2023 22:46
It's her property and the tenant has left. Stop spouting crap if you don't know what you're talking about.
Don't be so fucking rude.
I was a landlord for a few years and in fact you have to be careful about what constitutes surrendering a property, given that the OP hadn't even done the basics with the deposit I thought could do with the heads up there.
So wind your neck in.
AcornGreen · 18/03/2023 22:46
Not her fault that you didn’t check if she was paying the rent. She is clearly experiencing some difficult circumstances and you would have been aware of this if you’d followed up with her on the missed payments. Give her the deposit back and move on. I’d be pissed that that left her furniture but it might be useful to you in the long run.
ladygindiva · 18/03/2023 22:47
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Wow
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