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?

@landladywithmissingtenant you've got the patience of a fucking saint here.

She really does. The number of people who haven't read what she's said is astonishing.

Thank you both so much.

Tenants are lazy?

Can you explain why there needs to be a carbon monoxide alarm (which is checked) in OPs flat when she has said the flat is all electric?

@landladywithmissingtenanti’m glad you are recovering enough from your cancer treatment that you are able now to give headspace to why you haven’t seen your tenant. It does sound odd that in a studio flat a man answered the buzzer. Unless she now has a partner and is cohabiting?

if your daughter hasn’t seen her either then it does sound like she may have moved. And, if you haven’t raised the rent in 9 years and it’s a sub market rate it provides a strong motive to sublet and make some extra cash.

Do you have a mobile for her? If so I would send a text telling her you are now doing better and ask her how things are with her and any issues with the flat? Particularly the decor (or similar) as it’s been a few years since you decorated and you are aware it might need repainting. Then see how she replies. See how she responds. I would also start walking by her building entrance, the shop etc more frequently to see if you spot her. Start surveilling it a bit more. If she has sublet the new tenant may not even know he is subletting so beware - he may want to shoot the messenger if you tell him.

Hmm, quite!

Sophiehoney · Today 13:56

Ah bollocks I just went an revealed my name. Mumsnet how could you do this to me 😂
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I did raise the rent once. HB went up so I raised the rent to meet the local rate, which I thought was fair. That's the only time I've ever raised it.

As for the rest of your comment, thank you so much for what is very helpful and sensible advice. I will be sure to take it

As in "sophie". I thought I had changed my name to something generic but it's still right there - that's my full name - Sophie Honey. Didnt mean to post under my actual name and thought I'd fixed it so I'm not doing that any more. I'm new so I fucked up. 😁

I go that. But then you went on to use that name again to reply to the ‘tenants are lazy’ post. You’re using both names. Why? Bit dodgy.

THERE'S NO GAS AND NO BOILER

Yes I know that, I was merely saying that should it be relevant, it can be checked by a professional, given a pp was saying the tenant should check it. In this case it clearly isn't needed. The main point was that its ok not to see your landlord face to face for ages if both parties are happy with that.

Can I just say - not that I wish to justify myself any further - I haven't not set foot inside the flat in 9 years. As I said, we were friendly, I know her well. I would go up to her flat on a regular basis for a cuppa, she would come down to mine. I was probably in her flat once or twice a month for the first 4-5 years. These visits started to peter out as other things happened in or lives, my dad got ill needed, a lot of care and died, I got a new grandchild, I started doing a lot of the childcare for older grandkids, I travelled a little, I got cancer etc etc etc... she had things going on in her own life. We drifted apart a bit and she likes a hands-off, on her own terms approach. Oh and yes, she does have a contract.

But I know her, I know how she lives, I was probably in that flat last maybe two or three years ago, which given I've had an op and chemo and I don't have to carry out inspections, I don't think it's too unreasonable.

She is, as I said, a nice woman, but she's quirky, unconventional, a little nuts, a little out there. I wouldn't put it past her to have buggered off to India for a few months and have installed a boyfriend she barely knows in the flat. That's probably why her phone won't connect.

I just want to know, that's all, and I asked for advice on how best to find out.

No need to be apologetic op. You are entitled to know what’s happening with your property. Hope you find out.

Well, that’s fair enough OP. So if you never get through on the phone, if putting notes through yield nothing, what are you going to do? Do you have a key to the flat?

I don't know!! This is where I am stuck!!

I do have a key but I don't really feel justified in using it just yet. I don't want to burst in on her and clearly she's not lying there dead because someone was in there two days ago.

Current plan is my daughter doing a facebook investigation for me. Trying to see if we can get any clues from there. She has an account but hasn't posted on it since 2016

Maybe your daughter could try Instagram as well.

Frustrating!

I think you or your daughter should knock on the door, asking for ‘Julie’ or whoever. Just do it as a friend, don’t identify yourselves beyond a first name, if the man answers he might be more forthcoming to a friend rather than the landlady or the landlady’s daughter.

What about LinkedIn? It does seem very odd, I agree. You're entitled to clarity.

It’s all electric…

So, if she has gone on her travels, the person staying there must be forwarding her mail? Can you send an official-type letter saying you need to chat with her about insurance/legal matters?

This is mad

You do know you have legal requirements like carrying out gas safety checks annually?

I hope your recovery is going well @landladywithmissingtenant
You sound so nice and the absolute polar opposite of the greedy landlord

There is no gas.