URGENT, please give me your thoughts, could be long.

[DelGirl]

posting here as well as property as more traffic

ok, I moved abroad 18 months ago and let my house to a friend. I have kept some stuff there and she has 3 of the 4 bedrooms, well she uses 2 but could use 3. This seems to have worked well though I am out of pocket really as the rent is so low, well not out of pocket literally but if it was on the open market rent wise I would make a lot more.

she knew it wouldn't be long term, I said a year. I went back to the UK and put the house on the market. It is a good house which should have sold fairly easily but since I have reduced substantially. House market drop obv and going with local prices it is a good buy.

I said to her at the time that when I received an offer i would give 2 months notice from accepting, I was even willing to help her a bit financially.

The photos aren't as great as they could have been and it has since come to light from the agent (chose badly there ) it was because the house was cluttered. They have since been back to re-do, though they haven't put them up. Feedback from agent is on viewings that place is untidy, not sure how as she doesn't that much stuff but she has a 6 year old boy with lots of toys. I understand this having a 6 year old myself and as a viewer think I would be capable of looking past it.

I heard through a friend that their friend was viewing last Saturday, cash buyer no chain, I'm not in a chain either. I rang the agent today to get feedback and ask about the pics and he said they couldn't view as the tenant had rung on Friday to say no viewings possiible as son sick. Now I know for a fact that she went away as its plastered all over good old facebook. I am really pissed off as I felt she was one of the goodun's. I know it is a hassle for her but she knows i need to sell and she knows she's been lucky having my house for really next to nothing.

So, I have tried to call her, no answer so sent a text. I can't imagine if her son was ill she'd be living it up elsewhere for the weekend.

I'm sure I have to give her 2 months notice, need to check that but to be honest i'm inclined to give her 2 months rent to move out. I am returning to the UK in 2 weeks time so it would be an ideal opportunity to sort the house out, get it cleaned and stuff put in storage. I know she can move in with her mum just around the corner and though i feel annoyed to maybe give her money to go, in the scheme of house selling it may be worth it. HELP, the money would give her the month in advance and months rent so i'd be doing her a massive favour. Can't believe it's been reduced so much possibly due in part at least to this . Sorry its so long

with regard to make more money, I don't make anything and I do believe I am subsidising a fair bit. Was ok with this because it suited me to leave stuff as was in the uk

property been on market since Mid jan and really should have sold by now.

She has always appeared very grateful for having the house and she knew it wasn't long term. She pays less than half the market value, which amounts to several hundred pounds and then some and pays toward bills but not all. I'd rather not tot up what it adds up to, I didn't intend for it to be so long i'd just rather tot up to experience now. But yes she was also doing me a favour and I feel making it hard to sell is a bit of a kick in the teeth really.

I have never gone in the property uninvited or unannounced and I don't intend to start now. I do think the property should/would have had at least an offer yes, it's a good house in a good area very close to an outstanding school but I suppose I am biased.

What did you decide to do in the end?

i have yet to get hold of her I hope to speak to her later and try and gently persuade her to move out asap and give her a rent rebate incentive. Not a popular view but she can move in with her mum where she was before and who is literally 2 minute walk from mine. Hopefully she will be willing, obviously I can't force her and she is within her rights to stay another 2 months.

If all goes to plan then I can get the house cleaned and staged for sale as I still have all my furniture there. Then when it sells I can get it all put in storage or brought over here without needing to make a trip to the uk. So all in all, although she doesn't deserve to be paid off, it will be easier all round I think.

Do you think she will approach her local authority for housing as she's on HB? If so and if there is a shortage of social housing in your area I'm afraid the council will advise her to stay put for as long as she is legally entitled to remain. This would be when you secure an eviction notice.

Sorry, used to work in housing and it is what we would advise private sector tenants to relieve the pressure on social housing stock.

also whatever the rent is, wont be of any issue to her as its paid by HB, so unless you go over the capped amount it wont act as any incentive for her to get out.
AND not wishing to be a scaremonger, it can be bloody difficult to get someone out if they dont want to go, and if they feel that they are being treated unfairly they could cause damage, and I doubt that she paid a deposit. In which case a cash incentive might work, but dont give her a penny til she is out and you have the keys!

I had a long chat with her today and basically said she is entitled to 2 months and I wouldn't push her out but that it would help if she could move asap and I will help her if she moves in the next 3 weeks with her finances. It will cost me a fair bit to come back and sort the house anyway if she doesn't move now. She is reluctant to move in with her mum which I can understand would unsettle her ds but she got straight on to some agents and is viewing some places this week. She is trying to hold on for a house she knows will be coming up for rent as soon as the sale goes through and i'd hope not to jeopardise that. I did say though I was unhappy about the viewings and asked her to try and do as much to keep the place up together and if it sells soon then she can stay until completion.