Would like to ask tenant to leave but now we have a change in regulations?

[cheeseandbranston]

I have a small renter. I have only put the rent up by £50 in the past 4 years because I had (wrongly) assumed the tenant was a good one, because she rarely asks for anything, is polite and pays on time.

however, I asked to walk through the property a month ago, and it was shocking. She had painted everything herself and down a very bad job, the garden was full of junk as was the garage, she has a pet that we never discussed and the carpets are all ripped up by the pet.

i didn’t say much at the time because my visit obviously made her super anxious - she covered all the floors with sheets and claimed she had just carpeted them when it was obvious that it was because she didn’t want me to see them. And she tried to stop me going outside claiming the rain had made the garden and garage dangerous.

I could see she was close to tears as I left.

i felt sorry for and after texted saying that I hoped the walk through didn’t make her too anxious and I wouldn’t need to do it again for another year - I didn’t want her to be frightened.

BUT, it has made me realise, I don’t want to rent my house any more. I took a couple of months to think about it, and the damage will be costly to put right, and I don’t want my own property at risk like this.

I had planned to tell her in January because I don’t want to make Christmas difficult for them. (Her boyfriend and teenager live there too)

but yesterday I saw renting rights are changing and you can no longer simply give a tenant notice?

does anyone have any advice please? Not just opinion, but actual knowledge of what I need to do?

thank you.

Landlords let out properties as a business not a charity. No one is forced to rent a property.

A rental property is a temporary home. Rent is temporary. Ownership is permanent - once the mortgage is paid.

Yes there is every possibility that a tenant who has been living in home where the rent has barely increased in 4 years could end up homeless at the end of this.

OP says she been kind but to be honest it sounds more like she’s been conflict-avoidant (no judgement, me too, part of why I avoided becoming a landlord myself when I had the option!). But honestly it would be kinder to have a frank conversation with the tenant about sorting out the problems.

If OP is lucky she might be able to give notice, tenant moves out at the end of the notice period, she sorts the place out and it’s sold with no headaches. But there is every prospect that it drags on, OP is not getting paid rent, she is waiting months and months for a court date, and she’s making a family homeless in the process.

What the OP describes is more than wear and tear. My current tenants are very hard on my property, but nothing more than things like door handles coming off (although I do wonder how that happens, but anyway …) That’s normal wear and tear, but shredded carpets, garage and garden choked up with rubbish, and badly painted (without permission) is more than wear and tear, even for tenants.

But the hard fact is, that if you’re renting, it is your home for that time of renting, but it’s not your actual property.

“No one is forced to rent a property” - I mean, they kind of are? unless you are expecting people to live on the street?

Or do you mean people aren’t forced to be landlords? In which case yes I agree, it’s a choice and they should be fully aware of the risks and obligations they are taking on.

Landlords have the choice rent or sell.
Tenants have the choice rent or buy.

If you are willing to work hard you can move to cheaper areas if money is the issue.

Many like renting as they have no responsibility and want the benefit lifestyle.

Serve her and don't give her a second thought.
Get her out.
I have never been a landlord, nor would I be, but I have zero sympathy for anyond damaging the property they rent.
Get her out as soon as you can.
You owe her nothing.
Definitely no reference.
She has clearly thrashed your house.

I feel for you as you're in a terrible position but it's deciding what is the least worst thing. You could order them to fix all of the issues & make sure things are put right within a month or you will need to ask them to leave. Or just give notice & say you're selling. As a tenant who is essentially trapped in a house that has had multiple problems, although my landlords are lovely- I would not be here out of choice but I am similar to your tenant in that the rent has been kept comparatively low for the area so I can't actually afford to move anywhere else. I look after the property though & treat it as my own home. Even if my landlords were selling it is the local authorities position that they will not help you unless you are taken to court to be evicted. I wouldn't want to do this as my landlords are nice but it is the advice given by the council so it may be a long and costly procedure for you too. I'm sorry they haven't looked after your home though, that must have been quite a shock to see.

Frightened?!

The new tenancy bill allow you to sell the house 🏠 f that’s your plan you just need to give them 4 months to leave

You sound like you are trolling now - everyone could buy somewhere if they were just working hard and moved somewhere cheaper? Absolute fantasy land.

You think OP’s tenant who has lived there 4 years and wanted to decorate to their own taste and get a pet (things which would be MUCH easier if she owned a home) is renting out of preference?

Wear and tear is one thing, dodgy paint and flooring jobs, junk all over the garden and a pet that was never agreed to is entirely another. I’m not a LL and not one to defend them and I’d be pretty pissed off too if someone ruined my property, whatever the reasons - the renter obviously knows it’s not up to standard going from her reactions.

In fact I’m in social housing and we could do with monitoring a lot closer the state of the properties - both from the HA and the tenants perspective.

I rent out a lot of flats, after 4 + plus years, I’d be expecting to repaint and recarpet any way and repainting over badly painted walls costs as painting over not badly painted walls, sand with carpet.
the junk would bother me more as it might impact neighbours and there is a cost to remove.
personally, I’d ask her to remove it all and say you’ll be inspecting and put up the rent more each year- to help with any additional costs and to encourage her to leave.

Not trolling

If you live a basic simple life it is possible. Until financially secure eliminate holidays, cafes pubs, cars pets beauty treatments. Difficult but possible. Once in a good place you can reintroduce them and the sacrifice will be worth it.

Since when?

My dcs rent. My renting days are over, but I did a fair few years and properties. No landlord I have ever heard of did anything of the kind.

Your duty of care towards your tenant is laid out in the contract, as are her obligations towards your property, and sounds like she has breached those.

I wouldn't worry about evicting her. It isn't your problem where she lives after. Just get your property back and put someone you can heavily vet in it. She's squandered any goodwill by treating the place like crap

One way to get a tenant out of a contract (which it seems is what the OP wants to do) is to pay them- e.g. pay moving costs, source a new rental etc. It makes getting them out in what could be an illegal eviction much easier. Lots of landlord these days do it when they need a property back.

She hasn't breeched them until the end of the tenancy. Most "duty of care" element of rental contracts aren't legally enforceable during the contract.

Right so while these people are eschewing avocado toasts and getting their nails done to save for a deposit, where are they living? Tents?

Start saving young when at home.

I have rented out my old one-bed flat for years now. The first tenants had a dog which was huge and rubbed itself and its long wet hair against the hallway wall - I had to deduct the cost of repainting as they only stayed for 10 months. Next ones stayed 5 years, so repainting was at my cost, but I do have a strict no pets rule now!

If they don't clear out all the junk I'd take photos, hire a skip and deduct the cost of skip and labour off the deposit. But I'd not worry till then as they might remove it all without problem.

I would appoint a letting agent and let them deal with everything legally.

Yes, the Landlord would be expected to redecorate a flat when a tenant of 4 years moves out. Someone else paying your mortgage for four years, when you cba to even drop in once a year, doesn't sound like taking advantage to me.

That’s not an option for everyone. Anyone who was in care, who lived in an abusive home, who’s parents asked them to move out, who’s parents live somewhere with few job opportunities….
Have you no imagination?

I understand if you were in care or an extremely abusive family it is not possible. Are you suggesting those circumstances apply to everyone who rents? They don't. Many choose to rent because they live for the moment and do not think about tomorrow. I.e.it is a choice.