Handling Problem Tenants

Each year, more than 100,000 people become landlords, offering potential tenants a huge choice of accommodation.

Landlords are having to compete for business in an increasingly aggressive market and are being forced to be less discerning about whom they let their properties to. This is leading to a rise in difficult tenants.

Every year, around 30,000 people are evicted from rented properties in the UK, and nearly half of all landlords have asked a tenant to leave on at least one occasion, after having faced difficulties including vandalism, ignoring a ban on pets and anti-social behaviour. However, withholding rent is by far the most common problem.

Ten per cent of all renters are a nuisance, according to Landlord Action, a firm that helps landlords regain control of their properties. It claims that some landlords are taking “silly risks” in the renters they take on because the private letting market is so competitive.

The best way to avoid having to evict tenants is to carefully vet your renters. This might mean you lose a couple of months of rent by not accepting the first would-be tenants, but it could save you a lot of stress and expense down the line.

Ask for references from the person’s bank, previous landlords and employer, and run a credit check through a company such as Tenant Verify or Rent Checks. Landlord Action suggests you ask to see potential tenants’ bank statements, too. But don’t be surprised if they flatly refuse.

Get a deposit of at least one month’s rent. Draw up a detailed inventory of the property’s contents.

Evictions can be expensive and long-winded. The average cost of taking a tenant to court is £800 plus the loss of five months’ rent – and the whole process lasts about six months because court proceedings for these matters are notoriously inefficient.

It is for this reason that a growing number of private landlords prefer to rely on their powers of diplomacy when dealing with nightmare tenants, only resorting to legal measures as a last resort.

The trick is to move fast. As soon as the rent becomes overdue, confront your tenants and politely demand the money. Be prepared to make several visits or phone calls in a single day. It that doesn’t work, then threaten legal action. If you do not receive any rent for eight weeks or more, you are entitled to take proceedings against your tenants.

Don’t attempt to expel your tenants yourself. It is unlawful to change the property’s locks or physically remove your renters and their possessions.

The National Landlords Association can offer guidance on other steps you can take before resorting to legal action.

A copy of a Notice to Quit is available from your local magistrates court or can be downloaded at www.clickdocs.co.uk.

If you choose to take the legal route, check all your paperwork carefully because a small slip can delay any eviction. A judge can throw out a case on the basis of a minor detail, such as the wrong time on a Notice to Quit.

It may be safer to employ the services of your letting agency (if you have one) or an organisation such as Landlord Action, who are practiced and efficient in such matters.

Further information

See www.rla.org.uk, www.landlords.org.uk and www.landlordaction.co.uk.