delusional tenant, harrassing neighbour, what can we do?

[MamaChris]

We let DPs old flat through an agency. It's in a house divided into two flats. Today the neighbour in the other flat called to say that the tenant had reported her and her fiance to the police, making a statement that she had printed leaflets with tenant's picture on saying had AIDS and was standing distributing them on the street outside and other crazy things. The police turned up to arrest neighbour, then reread the statement, did some investigating and found tenant had made a similar statement a year ago, under a name differing by one letter from her current name.

Neighbour is obviously scared, police have asked tenant to stay away from neighbour, but are taking no further action. We're waiting for agents to call us back, but in the meantime, desperately need some advice.

We have known neighbour for years, and completely believe her that the tennant has made up the entire statement. We do not want the tenant to remain in the flat and continue to harass and make neighbour's life difficult. What can we do, legally, to evict asap?

"It's the tenant's own fault if she's harassing the neighbours, though. The neighbour has every right to want the tenant gone - why should she have to live in fear of the nut next door?"

If the tenant is ill then she cannot be held fully accountable for her actions. Its diminished responsiblity.

I can undestand codlips' reaction. There are some landlords who are money grabbing swines and don't care a dammn about anybody. In an ideal world bad tenants would have bad landlords.

It actually makes good business sense to treat your tenant well. Happy tenants stay and treat your property well.

There is a need in the UK for a rental market as many people are not in a postion to buy or even want to buy at a particuar moment in their lives.

For example our tenant has been going through a divorce. She needs to sell the family home before she can buy. Another tenant we had was on a six month contract and planning to return to her home country.

Aitch, except DP's lease has a convenant that she must allow the other leaseholder "peaceful enjoyment". By not asking the tenant to leave, she could be considered in breach of her lease.

hmmm, i would seriously leave it for a while, let the police deal with it. because imo pissing off the nice neighbour a bit (by dragging heels) is less likely to result in her flat being trashed than pissing off someone who is loop-the-loop enough to distribute literature about her nearest neighbour.

A contract is only as good as your ablity to enforce it.

"Aitch, except DP's lease has a convenant that she must allow the other leaseholder "peaceful enjoyment". "

Lettings law is really complex and you need a good solitor. A county court judge would decide whether the tenant has to be evicted. The law moves quite slowly. You cannot kick someone out of their own easily.

The neighbour is just going to have accept the situation or go to the police. A landlord cannot go outside the law without facing serious consequences.

Kick the nutjob out.

Really - there is no excuse for anti-social behaviour. If the tenant has mental health issues she should be in a hospital where they can give her the care she needs. Its not down to the OP to provide support.

The OP should give notice and can reasonably expect the tenant to be out by the 3rd Feb. In practical terms there is nothing she can do to bring that date forward.

You can't just change the locks on a property while the tenant is out.

reallytired, have I ever suggested I would change the locks or otherwise go outside the law?! my OP question was "What can we do, legally, to evict asap?"

we value dp's relationship with neighbour. we do not want her to be, or live in fear of being, harassed further, and have asked agents to serve notice today, which asks tenant to leave by 1st feb.