Local council advising tennants how to legally stay in flats
Local council advising tennants how to legally stay in flats
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stigmundfreud

Original Poster:

22,454 posts

231 months

Wednesday 13th May 2009
quotequote all
without paying

Namely Swindon Borough Council and namely my tennants and my flat. I'm in half a mind to just let myself in, change the locks and chuck the fkers out considering their tennancy agreement lapsed last week.

They cannot then break in and its not my fking problem she's just droped a sprog 2 months ago

JJCW

2,449 posts

207 months

Wednesday 13th May 2009
quotequote all
That is so very very wrong.

The first bit, not your bit.

Eric Mc

124,561 posts

286 months

Wednesday 13th May 2009
quotequote all
Can't they give you free legal advice on how to chuck 'em out?

B17NNS

18,506 posts

268 months

Wednesday 13th May 2009
quotequote all
Go in, change the locks, move their stuff onto the pavement and politely ask that they leave as they are in breach of contract by not paying.

Deal with the inevitable st storm later, at least you have your property back (hopefully in good condition).

What's the other option? £££'s in legals, they sit there rent free for months and then trash the place when they have to go.

The law is indeed an arse. I'd take my chances with the former option personally.

Garlick

40,601 posts

261 months

Wednesday 13th May 2009
quotequote all
Hang on, the council have sent a letter to YOUR tennants advsing them that they don't need to pay rent? FFS, I bet they don't do that for the properties they own. Incredible.

davidjpowell

18,556 posts

205 months

Wednesday 13th May 2009
quotequote all
B17NNS said:
Go in, change the locks, move their stuff onto the pavement and politely ask that they leave as they are in breach of contract by not paying.

Deal with the inevitable st storm later, at least you have your property back (hopefully in good condition).

What's the other option? £££'s in legals, they sit there rent free for months and then trash the place when they have to go.

The law is indeed an arse. I'd take my chances with the former option personally.
Be warned - do this and no doubt you will soon be sporting a criminal conviction, with a heathy fine or even prison sentance. Make sure you do it right.

stigmundfreud

Original Poster:

22,454 posts

231 months

Wednesday 13th May 2009
quotequote all
to be fair, the tennants are not the type to damage the place. I am confident of that, however, they have been deceitful through the tennancy despite my leniency. They are upto date in full with rent and I've said we'll need to come to an agreement to sort out rent in the interim before they find somewhere. Council has told me they have found them a property to view tomorrow and hope to move them into next week but to say my throat is sore from the screaming I did (off the phone) is an understatement.

Fortunately I had not advertised the flat for new tennants so no one has been put out by this but if I had advertised and signed contracts I'd be right up the creek now.

Lets just hope they move them into the new house as I either want to sell as the markets picked up. Its just frustrating, thanks to a fk up at the letting agency they delivered the 2 months notice 2 days too late = 3 months notice and yet in that time the tennants have found nowhere

stigmundfreud

Original Poster:

22,454 posts

231 months

Wednesday 13th May 2009
quotequote all
Garlick said:
Hang on, the council have sent a letter to YOUR tennants advsing them that they don't need to pay rent? FFS, I bet they don't do that for the properties they own. Incredible.
Basically they have told them they have a legal right to stay in the property and that I have to go via the courts to chase an eviction. With a 2 month old nipper what chances do you reckon

patchst

185 posts

221 months

Wednesday 13th May 2009
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Get a mate to move in when they are out and get them to claim squatters right.

princeperch

8,177 posts

268 months

Wednesday 13th May 2009
quotequote all
B17NNS said:
Go in, change the locks, move their stuff onto the pavement and politely ask that they leave as they are in breach of contract by not paying.

Deal with the inevitable st storm later, at least you have your property back (hopefully in good condition).

What's the other option? £££'s in legals, they sit there rent free for months and then trash the place when they have to go.

The law is indeed an arse. I'd take my chances with the former option personally.
It's a criminal offence to do that and they will be entitled to seek anb injunction to allow them to go back into the property.

If you have a formal tenancy agreement the only way to "force" them out is with a court order.

princeperch

8,177 posts

268 months

Wednesday 13th May 2009
quotequote all
stigmundfreud said:
without paying

Namely Swindon Borough Council and namely my tennants and my flat. I'm in half a mind to just let myself in, change the locks and chuck the fkers out considering their tennancy agreement lapsed last week.

They cannot then break in and its not my fking problem she's just droped a sprog 2 months ago
and I'm not sure what you mean by lapse? If they were on an AST for 6 months and they are still in the property they have a periodic tenancy which still gives them legally enforcable rights. Unless you served a S21 notice to sever the tenancy they still have a right to be there.

If they aint paying their rent you should serve a S8 notice. I would also serve a S21 notice as well in case they pay up on the arrears, so you can still get them out one way or another.

ETA: if they have a child things can be a bit more difficult even if you get your court order. They can apply to the court to suspend the warrant of execution under S89 of the Housing Act citing exceptional hardship. This means that the court can give them an extra few weeks to get out.

You need to seek specific legal advice on this to stop them freeloading for as long as they can, which is essentially what the local housing trust will be telling them to do.

Further ETA: if your letting agent served the S21 notice I would get a solicitor to check it over, letting agents are notorious for fking these up. You also need to check the Lease to make sure rent is actually payable - did the letting agent provide your S47 address for service in the Lease? if not did they send a seperate letter with your address on. There is much you need to check before you start think about issuing possession proceedings...

Edited by princeperch on Wednesday 13th May 13:06

stigmundfreud

Original Poster:

22,454 posts

231 months

Wednesday 13th May 2009
quotequote all
princeperch said:
B17NNS said:
Go in, change the locks, move their stuff onto the pavement and politely ask that they leave as they are in breach of contract by not paying.

Deal with the inevitable st storm later, at least you have your property back (hopefully in good condition).

What's the other option? £££'s in legals, they sit there rent free for months and then trash the place when they have to go.

The law is indeed an arse. I'd take my chances with the former option personally.
It's a criminal offence to do that and they will be entitled to seek anb injunction to allow them to go back into the property.

If you have a formal tenancy agreement the only way to "force" them out is with a court order.
the agreement lapsed over a week ago so they technically have no binding contract any more

princeperch

8,177 posts

268 months

Wednesday 13th May 2009
quotequote all
stigmundfreud said:
princeperch said:
B17NNS said:
Go in, change the locks, move their stuff onto the pavement and politely ask that they leave as they are in breach of contract by not paying.

Deal with the inevitable st storm later, at least you have your property back (hopefully in good condition).

What's the other option? £££'s in legals, they sit there rent free for months and then trash the place when they have to go.

The law is indeed an arse. I'd take my chances with the former option personally.
It's a criminal offence to do that and they will be entitled to seek anb injunction to allow them to go back into the property.

If you have a formal tenancy agreement the only way to "force" them out is with a court order.
the agreement lapsed over a week ago so they technically have no binding contract any more
were they on an AST? if they are still there and you didnt serve them with a S21 notice in time they remain in occupation on a periodic tenancy

Teppic

7,857 posts

278 months

Wednesday 13th May 2009
quotequote all
Chase the council for the unpaid rent.

bull996

1,442 posts

230 months

Wednesday 13th May 2009
quotequote all
Take all the outside doors off, followed by the interior doors.

They will be gone by the morning, and all you have to do is pay a goon to sit in a van opposite to stop anyone else moving in.

The Tea Boy

4,129 posts

256 months

Wednesday 13th May 2009
quotequote all
stigmundfreud said:
Its just frustrating, thanks to a fk up at the letting agency they delivered the 2 months notice 2 days too late = 3 months notice and yet in that time the tennants have found nowhere
Even if you were late with the saection 21 (2 months notice to vacate) you still DO NOT need a court order to move them out. A section 21 is notice of intended posession. You have given them fair notice. If i were you i would now be serving a Section 8.

Failing all of the above resort to plan 'B'

HTH

Matt

princeperch

8,177 posts

268 months

Wednesday 13th May 2009
quotequote all
The Tea Boy said:
stigmundfreud said:
Its just frustrating, thanks to a fk up at the letting agency they delivered the 2 months notice 2 days too late = 3 months notice and yet in that time the tennants have found nowhere
Even if you were late with the saection 21 (2 months notice to vacate) you still DO NOT need a court order to move them out. A section 21 is notice of intended posession. You have given them fair notice. If i were you i would now be serving a Section 8.

Failing all of the above resort to plan 'B'

HTH

Matt
you will still need to issue fast track possession proceedings to get them out after the S21 expires as it is unlikely they will go of their own accord. The Council will advise them to stay put until the bailiff knocks on the door as it'll give themn a little extra time.

Mclovin

1,679 posts

219 months

Wednesday 13th May 2009
quotequote all
a friend of mine is scared of this happening because if they stop paying he cant pay the mortgage...someone should advise tax payers how to stop paying council tax....

The Tea Boy

4,129 posts

256 months

Wednesday 13th May 2009
quotequote all
princeperch said:
The Tea Boy said:
stigmundfreud said:
Its just frustrating, thanks to a fk up at the letting agency they delivered the 2 months notice 2 days too late = 3 months notice and yet in that time the tennants have found nowhere
Even if you were late with the saection 21 (2 months notice to vacate) you still DO NOT need a court order to move them out. A section 21 is notice of intended posession. You have given them fair notice. If i were you i would now be serving a Section 8.

Failing all of the above resort to plan 'B'

HTH

Matt
you will still need to issue fast track possession proceedings to get them out after the S21 expires as it is unlikely they will go of their own accord. The Council will advise them to stay put until the bailiff knocks on the door as it'll give themn a little extra time.
I dont mean this in a stupid manor but i did mention the fast track (section 8) in my post tongue out

fluffnik

20,156 posts

248 months

Wednesday 13th May 2009
quotequote all
princeperch said:
The Council will advise them to stay put until the bailiff knocks on the door as it'll give themn a little extra time.
Surely that would give a case for damages against the council?