Rent arrears and non-paying tenant

[Sunbird24]

I own a small HMO, where rent is approx £400 per month for an en suite room but includes gas, electric, water, council tax, broadband and a cleaner every 2 weeks for the common areas. One of my tenants stopped paying in April, so I’ve followed the appropriate legal procedure to evict him which has been a very long process (with him obviously still not paying anything so me effectively subsidising his lifestyle!), and we’re due in court in about 2 weeks. He’s over £4K in arrears, and has just informed me he’s moved out, is facing financial ruin, and doesn’t care if he’s declared bankrupt as that will actually help him.

Is it worth me continuing the case, or do I have no hope at all of getting any of that money back in which case it’s a complete waste of time?

Are you not insured for this? That's the route I would be taking now. You can't get blood out of a stone.

If it's costing you legal fees you might be best to let it go

Yeah, I’m going to let it go - I’d still have more costs after the court decision with bailiffs etc so it’s just not worth it. So frustrating though.
At least I don’t now have to take 2 days off work, drive halfway across the country and find something suitable to wear to court. 🤷🏻‍♀️

DId You not take out a MCOL the same time as you went through the eviction process? Easily done online, if you register a CCJ against them you have up to 6 years to pursue arrears. And warns future LLs about his current rent arrears.

I got the total of £2 from a tenant that owed me thousands. I had to pursue it though as they didn’t move out until the bailiffs removed them.
So I don’t think it’s worth it.

Personally I would carry on. I enforced a judgement via bailiffs and got every single penny back (£6,200)

Have you checked they have actually moved out? I would continue to getting the judgement and enforcing it.

Yeah he’s definitely gone. Fortunately the room only needs a kick of paint and a new mattress