Page 2 | AIBU to think my tenant might be subletting

landladywithmissingtenant · 2025-07-04T10:58:56+00:00

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?

ranthanbore · 04/07/2025 12:37

She may have just had a guest over…

Original poster

landladywithmissingtenant · 04/07/2025 12:38

murasaki · 04/07/2025 12:35

Does it have an electricity safety certificate? They last for 5 years though, so you may not be due one yet.

Yes, the next one isn't due for just over a year, she's just coming up to 9 years in the flat.

OP posts:

EdisinBurgh · 04/07/2025 12:38

The truth works fine in this case!

Knock on the door and say “I’ve not seen you for a year and wanted to check if you’re ok”

That’s the right thing to do. And may also answer your concerns most quickly.

Original poster

landladywithmissingtenant · 04/07/2025 12:38

ranthanbore · 04/07/2025 12:37

She may have just had a guest over…

She may have, yes.

OP posts:

murasaki · 04/07/2025 12:41

It is odd not to have seen her for that long though given you live in the same building. Another vote for a casual knock on the door.

FeedingPidgeons · 04/07/2025 12:46

You are on the hook for a 20k fine if you let to an illegal immigrant, you have failed to do proper inspections and would likely be deemed culpable.

That's before you get into the whole breach of contract / possibly facilitating benefits fraud.

If you don't understand basic landlording you really need to sell up.

TimeForABreak4 · 04/07/2025 12:50

Just knock the door and ask how she is and say as it's been awhile can you arrange a date for an inspection if she answers. If the guy answers ask him if the lady is there and see what he says.

Inyournewdress · 04/07/2025 12:55

I think it’s fine to call by in your capacity as an acquaintance to see if she is ok, then while there you can always mention an inspection but you need to follow with giving written notice of that I think.

I don’t know what is going on but it is definitely odd.

VeganStar · 04/07/2025 12:58

FlamingoFloss · 04/07/2025 12:21

she could have been cuckood. It’s a very real thing

Even if she has been “cuckoo’d” you’d think that the op would still see her around now and again.

DiscoBob · 04/07/2025 12:58

She could be subletting. She could've passed away. She could be being cuckooed. The man could just be a friend who's visiting?

There's lots of things really. You do need to try and see who's there and if it's not her get a message out to her to find out what's going on.

Don't jump the gun and assume she's the villain in this though as she could be being taken advantage of or have become very unwell.

Original poster

landladywithmissingtenant · 04/07/2025 13:00

FeedingPidgeons · 04/07/2025 12:46

You are on the hook for a 20k fine if you let to an illegal immigrant, you have failed to do proper inspections and would likely be deemed culpable.

That's before you get into the whole breach of contract / possibly facilitating benefits fraud.

If you don't understand basic landlording you really need to sell up.

I'm not legally required to carry out inspections, actually, and all of the safety checks I have to undertake are up to date. So get your facts right before you come in here and tell me I don't understand basic land lording.

OP posts:

BMW6 · 04/07/2025 13:05

Jeez OP how have you not done any regular inspections? Never heard of Cannabis Factories?

A flat very near me was used to grow and they did the usual job with the electricity supply - the flat caught fire as a result and the whole block was evacuated - luckily no lives lost but the LL would have invalidated his insurance as he had failed to inspect regularly so the refurbishment costs had to be paid by him.

He was a fool and it cost him - don't be like him.

Peridot1 · 04/07/2025 13:05

You could of course just say you suddenly realised you haven’t seen her for a while and thought you’d knock to see how she is doing. Especially if you used to be friendly.

sandyhappypeople · 04/07/2025 13:05

Why don't you just knock on the door and when she answered just say you wanted to pop round and make sure she was okay as you hadn't seen her in ages, if the man answers ask him where she is and see what he says?

Don't you have her phone number?

Clearinguptheclutter · 04/07/2025 13:11

Knock on the door (today) and tell her that you want to do a full inspection next week.

LynetteScavo · 04/07/2025 13:13

Just knock on the door and ask to speak to her….if she’s there say you had some spare flowers and wondered if she’d like them, or something lame like that.

Inyournewdress · 04/07/2025 13:14

My landlord has several hundred properties and has a team to manage them, they never do inspections. They do fire alarm, gas etc checks as legally required but never inspect the flats.

ExpertArchFormat · 04/07/2025 13:16

Just knock.

If she answers you say "Oh hello Doreen. I was just knocking as I realised that it's been ages since I have seen you out and about and I wanted to check that you are OK. If you have any mobility issues or there's any problems you are encountering that are making things difficult for you, I'd like to know and hopefully may be able to point you in the right direction for help"

she might be ill and less able to leave the flat, for example, and you can help alert Social Services if she needs help.

If the man answers you say "Oh hello, I was looking for Doreen. Is she about?"

if he says that she doesn't live there, you can take steps to get him evicted as he has no right to live there.
if he's her partner, that might be fine unless there's a specification in your contract for what to do if moving in a new occupant, though from a safeguarding point of view it would be good to still ensure she's OK in case she is being controlled in some way
he might be just a visitor or be providing her with support if she is bed-bound.

If no answer, try a few times over the course of 3 days and if there is never an answer, follow the normal procedure to obtain access as a landlord by giving reasonable notice.

If something dodgy is going on, you may find your key doesn't work - in which case it would be legitimate to ask the police for assistance in accessing your property, though you will need to show them evidence that it is your property!

lifeonmars100 · 04/07/2025 13:31

I thought landlords/ladies were meant to do annual checks to ensure that the property was in a good state of repair and that the smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector are working. If you are getting a rental income you have reponsiblities to your tenant.

VanCleefArpels · 04/07/2025 13:31

landladywithmissingtenant · 04/07/2025 13:00

I'm not legally required to carry out inspections, actually, and all of the safety checks I have to undertake are up to date. So get your facts right before you come in here and tell me I don't understand basic land lording.

Show quote history

OP you are legally required to know the identity and immigration status of your tenant. Your insurer (assuming you have one) will also require info about your tenant in order to ensure you are paying the correct premium (student vs family for example). Presumably you want to make sure the flat is being kept in good order and, say, make sure no decorating needs to be done or new carpets fitted. If you are receiving the HB directly (as opposed to the tenant receiving it and paying you) then you definitely need to know the identity of the person living there otherwise you may be deemed to be facilitating fraud.

So yes, perhaps some updating of your knowledge of landlord regulations (which as I’m sure you know are due to change imminently and not in your favour) and some greater attention to your property generally.

ThejoyofNC · 04/07/2025 13:32

landladywithmissingtenant · 04/07/2025 13:00

I'm not legally required to carry out inspections, actually, and all of the safety checks I have to undertake are up to date. So get your facts right before you come in here and tell me I don't understand basic land lording.

Show quote history

A very snooty reply from someone who doesn't even care enough to do checks on a property.

Original poster

landladywithmissingtenant · 04/07/2025 13:34

lifeonmars100 · 04/07/2025 13:31

I thought landlords/ladies were meant to do annual checks to ensure that the property was in a good state of repair and that the smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector are working. If you are getting a rental income you have reponsiblities to your tenant.

You thought wrong. Landlords are not legally required to do inspections. Carbon monoxide/smoke detectors have to be replaced as soon as the landlord is informed they are faulty - they do not need to check themselves. Gas safety inspections need to be carried out yearly if there is gas (there isn't). Electrical inspections need to be done 5 yearly, and hers are up to date.

I am aware I have responsibilities, and more importantly, what they are. Thank you

OP posts:

SayLaveee · 04/07/2025 13:37

landladywithmissingtenant · 04/07/2025 13:34

You thought wrong. Landlords are not legally required to do inspections. Carbon monoxide/smoke detectors have to be replaced as soon as the landlord is informed they are faulty - they do not need to check themselves. Gas safety inspections need to be carried out yearly if there is gas (there isn't). Electrical inspections need to be done 5 yearly, and hers are up to date.

I am aware I have responsibilities, and more importantly, what they are. Thank you

Show quote history

You know you are allowed to do what's ethically right, rather than just what's legally required?

Original poster

landladywithmissingtenant · 04/07/2025 13:39

OP you are legally required to know the identity and immigration status of your tenant.
I do know the identity and immigration status of my tenant.

Your insurer (assuming you have one) will also require info about your tenant in order to ensure you are paying the correct premium (student vs family for example).
My insurer has all the information they require.

Presumably you want to make sure the flat is being kept in good order and, say, make sure no decorating needs to be done or new carpets fitted.
Yes, I do. But how I do that is up to me.

If you are receiving the HB directly (as opposed to the tenant receiving it and paying you) then you definitely need to know the identity of the person living there otherwise you may be deemed to be facilitating fraud.
The tenant is paying it to me, and again, I do know their identity. It is possible she is illegally subletting but I absolutely know the identity of my tenant.

So yes, perhaps some updating of your knowledge of landlord regulations
No need

(which as I’m sure you know are due to change imminently and not in your favour)
Yes I do know this too, thank you

and some greater attention to your property generally.
🙄

I didn't actually ask for advice on any of this.

OP posts:

VanCleefArpels · 04/07/2025 13:39

With regard to CO and smoke alarms please check the requirements of your insurer in this regard