AIBU to think my tenant might be subletting

[landladywithmissingtenant]

I live in a flat in a large block (60 flats in all) I own the one I live in and one other, which I rent out.
I used to see my tenant now and again, probably twice a month or so but I have realised that I haven't seen her in about a year or more. My daughter lives nearby and also used to bump into her quite a lot at the local shop and she says she hasn't seen her in ages either.
She's a retired single lady and it's a single occupancy studio flat.
The other day I was locked out of the main building and I rang her buzzer to ask if she wouldn't mind letting me back in and a man answered and buzzed me in before I'd finished my sentence.
I tried the buzzer again the next day and no-one answered.
Am I being unreasonable to think she might have left the flat and be subletting it? or something more sinister?
And WIBU to go and knock on her door and see if she's there? I'm worried I might come across as harassing her. And what do I say if she answers?

What a piss take?

This is a woman who is now in her late 60s. She's worked her arse off since she was 16, working full time up until a few years ago, and working in healthcare too, right through the covid pandemic. She's paid a LOT of tax herself during those years, and she gets a bit of help with her housing for being on a low income, in what has been a back-breaking and gruelling job.

She's got no family, no spouse, no grandkids, very little to bring her joy in her elder years, other than a few houseplants and a nice view out of the window of her little studio flat.

And you want to begrudge her taking herself off a few months to get a bit of fun out of her retirement? What's she supposed to do with her home while she does that? move out and back in again?

She lives here, in England, in the country she grew up in and has paid into all her life. She's just gone on an extended, well deserved Holiday. She's not "taking the piss" in any way, shape or form. She's taking her dues, if you ask me.

Well said! 👏

OP I understand why you're so protective of her and that's fine.

But on a practical note most insurers need to know if a property is going to be unoccupied for any significant length of time (a two week holiday doesn't count). IF anything happened to the flat in her absence and you needed to claim you might find you weren't covered. You must insist that she lets you know and that you inform your insurers if she goes away for that long again.

If she claims housing benefit she is allowed to be abroad for 4 weeks. The fact she left without telling you probably suggests she doesn't want you to know clearly shes not financially struggling if she can afford to travel for 6 months and continue to pay bills..your insurers and DWP might have an issue with this now you know if she is still claiming you could become part of any fraudulent claim. What would have happened if you wanted to raise the rent how would you be able to notify her?

@landladywithmissingtenant

I like you OP. A very enjoyable satisfying thread with no nonsense brooked.

8/10 from me 👌🏾

People on here…probably envious….need to jump back to reality. Life is for living not for whining.
PLEASE STOP making up pathetic scenarios and get a grip. You really are too much.
go out and enjoy yourselves.

If you worked in healthcare for years, you'd get a pension, not housing benefit. If you get HB you can only be out of the country for a month before forfeiting it. If she hasn't declared it, it's fraud. If she needs benefits how does she travel for six months at a time.
At least one of those applies.

But if she is still claiming housing benefits and you are accepting the situation when you know the true facts then you equally liable.sorry to be bearer of bad news

She actually makes a point, if the tenant happens to be claiming fraudulently due to breaching the terms, even if you are unaware of this, if the property is in England, then they can actually reclaim overpaid HB from the Landlord!

Just something to be aware of!

🥱 🖕 🫡

However you try to justify her benefit fraud it’s still against the rules. You’re not allowed to be out of the country that long if you are claiming housing benefits. It’s for people who can’t afford their rent. Not people who can afford to go travelling for months.

🥱 🖕 🫡

No you're not, you love it 😂

Just love your use of the term Narna 😁 Made my day.

As to the person complaining about the suggestion they’re a Narna (isn’t it a kid’s contraction for banana) … come on, there’s far far far worse thrown about on Mumsnet. Narna is quite endearing 😁

100% OP

Absolutely!

Ok but don’t come moaning to MN when you get pursued by the Benefits office to pay back 6 months worth of housing benefit that she’s claimed unlawfully

If the HB is going direct to the tenant, who then pays the rent, for all we know she could have closed her HB claim and now be paying the rent out of her retirement lump sum or even her pension income.

Why the immature hate?

I'm an experienced Landlord, and just making sure the OP is aware that she will be liable IF the tenant is breaching any benefit entitlement.

If OP is in England, they WILL claim it back from her, IF the the tenant has breached, and they find out. I'm not suggesting whatsoever that the OP makes any kind of report about her tenant though!

This is why many Landlords in England won't let to people on benefits, because of their own liability to pay it back.

it isnt wise to disappear for 6 months she shold have at least let you know

why the mature love ❤️ from me, you mean? 🤷🏾‍♀️✌️🫡

I am a landlord and I be delighted to see my tenant off enjoying themselves. I often give tenants a few bob going on holidays. I would however ask her to let you know if she is going away longer than a month as your insurance may not be valid if there was a claim for having appointment vacant so long.