“Not allowed” to travel back home during lockdown?

[JurassicMermaid]

Received an email from my tenants today asking for a rent reduction on the flat they rent from us in London. They both travelled back home to their respective parents elsewhere in the UK before Christmas and have not returned to the flat. They say that contributing to rent and bills at home is making meeting the rent difficult. Does anyone know if, under the current lockdown rules, they are allowed to travel back to their primary residence - the flat- or whether they have to stay put at their parents? I’ve looked at Govt. website but it’s not clear to me. Thanks.

If I decide to stay with my parents I don't think the bank would take too kindly to me not paying my mortgage. It's 100% a choice.

They are chancers! Don't be a push over and offer them a discount. There is absolutely not reason they can't travel home to their permanent residence. I bet their parents aren't charging them a penny!

@sofiaaaaaa

To clarify - ask if they want to end the tenancy contract early and move out, and don’t penalise them. It’s the easiest way for you to get rid of them and prevent the situation from potentially becoming more stressful

I suspect they won’t agree to that - they do sound like chancers who want the best of both worlds

They've been at their respective parents for 3 whole weeks and claim to be paying their parents bed and board rather than their parents treating it as a prolonged visit? Yeah, right. I'd love to hear their parents' side of things.

They're cheeky fuckers who're chancing their arms.

Cheeky! Unlikely to be paying their parents rent- esp when they've only been there less than a month!!!

Chancers

We had this request too. We offered a rent holiday period of 3 months (aligned with a mortgage holiday period) on condition they signed up to a payment plan which ensured the 3 months arrears would be repaid in a timely manner. The tenants declined but moved out not long after, having given normal notice period.

Yes, they can go to their prime residence.

No, they have no right to expect a rent reduction because they're choosing to stay elsewhere, same as if they chose to go to a hotel.

Tell them they need to pay their full rent or give notice.

They're definitely CFs. Are they very young, is this their first home away from parents? I can't figure out why they would think that them choosing to spend money staying with parents, would be your problem. Fine if they can afford to do both, if they can't afford both then the simple answer is to move back to the rented place and only have one set of bills, surely?!

Also second / third that you need to check your insurance and tenancy agreement regarding leaving the place empty - every tenancy agreement I've seen has required me to get advance permission to leave the place unoccupied for more than 2 weeks. When I did get permission there were conditions, like leaving hearing on at x degrees to prevent frozen pipes, etc.

I’d ask to speak to their parents! (Joking sadly - can’t really demand to speak to parents if the tenants are over 18!)
Agree with others that they are being cheeky.
Given that they are allowed to return to a primary residence if they choose, I would start by saying you are very sorry that you are unable to reduce the rent.
See what they say...

@bluecheesefan

They (and their parents) are taking the absolute piss.

Why are the parents making them pay rent in a situation like this?

Or maybe they (tenants) are just pulling a fast one. As if you wouldn’t come home if you had choosen To travel... pull the other one

Absolutely legally they can return home:

www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/1374/schedule/3A

Exception 11

I wonder if they're even able to work if they're at their parents, and if not, if that's the cause of lack of funds?

Have they shown themselves to be more trouble than they're worth OP? If so I think I'd be tempted to send a message back saying you're not able to reduce rent but would consider ending the tenancy early. Hopefully be a way to get shot of them before you've got rent arrears piling up, or it might even give them a wake up call to come back and start adulting!

I know of a number of young adults (working, not students) who went 'home' for Christmas (against Govt advice) and stayed for a couple of weeks. They have all returned to their rented flats since lockdown.
I also know of a number of students who are paying full rent on house/flat shares in their Uni cities but who haven't been living in them for many weeks - in fact one returned home before the November lockdown as us still paying full rent on a London flat.
Your tenant is fully able to return to their/your property and is just trying it on. If they get stopped in returning, the biggest question they would have to answer is why they left Tier 4 London at Christmas in the 1st place!

Sorry I would be insisting they pay full rent or give up the tenancy and you relet

For a comparable-ish scenario, I was stuck in a European holiday resort by the Icelandic volcano back in 2010. My travel home was covered by insurance, as well as food for the delay etc. What wasn't covered, was a reduction in my rent.

@sofiaaaaaa has the best idea from a practical perspective. Far better to get shot of them early than end up with months or years of issues from irresponsible tenants.

I'd just give them a rent reduction.

Finding new tenants in this environment is difficult, evicting expensive, so better to have something come in.

But limit to say two months max and then if they dont return then you will evict them

I would love to tell my mortgage company that I am staying at my parents ( I am not by the way, I am an adult living in my mortgaged house!) and therefore please let me not pay you!

The point about the property being empty is a good one, my insurer has a clause to this effect although without checking I'm not sure what the time period is.

I'd write a comprehensive reply stating that they are legally able to return, if they choose not to you are happy to offer a small rent reduction (assuming you are happy of course) which can be repaid once they return to the property in addition to the usual rent.

If mortgage holidays come up in conversation, make it clear that these are not mortgage free periods - which was being suggested by some tenant groups last year - the unpaid mortgage is added to the term of the whole mortgage effectively increasing the overall amount of interest paid.

What parent would take money off the kids knowing that it means they have to ask for a rent reduction and potentially piss off their landlord and lose their rental?

I’d go back initially and say that they are legally able to return to their home, so not to worry and If they’re finding the strain of the extra expenses of living at the parents, they can relax and know that they’re able to come home anytime they like.

I’d start there

It’ll flush out what they’re up to.

There’s a big chance that they’re actually saving money by being away from London, the tube passes, the coffees, the gym passes...

Parent may genuinely not be able to support an extended stay free of charge - could have lost job etc.

Parent may also be charging to encourage offspring to leave!

You are allowed to move house during lockdown.

If they're not students and living in London they shouldn't have travelled home for Christmas in the first place.
Dd's a student. They've been told not to go back this term. They won't be getting any reduction of rent even though they will have only had people in the flat for around 22 weeks max this year and the landlord (with permission) is making the most of this term by carrying out repairs and improvements. They haven't got the same house next year, so it's not like the improvements will make a huge difference to them.

They're trying it on!

It's none of OP's business that they left in the first place or why.

The point is that there is nothing stopping them moving back and they are liable for rent even if there were.