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?

I'd go and knock on the door.

If the man answers, tell him you're looking for Susan.

If Susan answers, just say you haven't seen her around in a while and were wondering if she's doing OK.

OP - I used to investigate unlawful subletting in local authority properties - it is actually a criminal offence to sublet a council house. - not sure about privately rented housing though. The first thing we would do after an allegation was to arrange an appointment to see the tenant in the home. We’d gather any relevant info ( we had info sharing protocols with other agencies. I appreciate you don’t have this). So there’s nothing wrong with prearranging an appointment to see your tenant at home. ‘A matter has arisen’ is the phrase we’d use. There is probably a simple explanation. Is it let on terms of single occupancy only or could your tenant move a partner in? I think you have a right to know if this has happened but it may not be a breach of the tenancy agreement.

As a renter rather then an owner/ investor im surprised by some of the responses here cause I'd absolutely love a landlord that rents out a property that's up to scratch then doesn't do inspections or visits unless necessary!

I would however check in on the tennant if your on friendly terms & haven't seen her in a while. is your rent at market rate ? I'm assuming you would have to have a good mark up to make it worth sub letting as you yourself need somewhere else to live+ profit so maybe she's just travelling or staying with family & can't afford to run 2 households or her own place as she plans to return ??

Not to jump to the worst case scenario like alot of other posters just thinking "there must be a reason/intention to return" if shes still keeping herself on the lease

Oh, I'm well aware it's an offence!

Right - off to work now but note to contact me has been delivered! I will check back later if there's been any developments. If I hear nothing back then I'm going to put a 24 hour notice through the door tomorrow morning and then let myself in the morning after that

Good luck! Thanks for the updates.

Fingers crossed all is well. It sounds like a sensible plan.

Don't forget to arrange a boiler service and gas safety check too. I'm surprised no one has mentioned it. 😉

Op says there’s no gas to the flats

Subletting a private rental isn't a criminal offence, though presumably it's in breach of her tenancy agreement.

Glad you're moving forward with checking out what's happening. Can I suggest you have someone with you when you enter? If she has sublet and there is a someone else living there now, he will probably have no clue why you're entering the flat or who you are and will think you are entering unlawfully. It's best to have back up.

You missed the wink at the end of B1anche's post!

This is a thread that will continue to have a gas problem!

Plot twist - the man who let OP in was the gas fitter.

OP, you have gas now, better arrange a gas service 🤣

I didn’t miss it
, I assumed another meaning to the one that you think

Really interested to know what that was!

Me too! 😂

Brilliant, best comment on here 😂

I had no gas and no boiler for 4 years. I still had to get a gas safety check and was given a certificate every year. Perhaps the council don’t know the law or something eh?

What are they checking for is there is no connection at all?

Why?

Sounds like a massive waste of money to me.

According to google, if there are no gas appliances it is not mandatory to have a gas safety check. I guess google is wrong though, eh?

Do you mean you technically had gas but it was capped off? That’s the only way your comment even vaguely makes sense, although what exactly were they doing? Saying ‘yes it’s still safely capped off’?

Theres a difference between ‘our gas is capped off’ and ‘we have no gas, never did, never will’.

Me too but they still did it every year. That was a tower block with no gas or boiler. They said they still had to check I hadn’t tried to connect a gas supply and provide a certificate.

I think you should cancel the cheque.

There was nothing to cap off. There was no gas. It made no sense to me either but I still had to faff around waiting in for them just to confirm there was no gas and give me a copy of the certificate.