Tenant Defaulting on Rent

Google for uk.legal - this comes up regularly

There`s an ongoing thread on there now where the landlord has served a notice on the tenant that might be of use.

In message , Colin Wilson writes

What type of tenancy?

length of fixed term?

date tenancy commenced?

rent payable? ? dates rent due and not paid

If it is an AST with rent due monthly in advance, you can serve a Section 8 notice if 2 months rent is unpaid.

You can then issue a summons if tenant does not pay or vacate within 14 days.

However, clever tenants can make up reasons for not paying the rent, e.g. repairs, and a judge may not agree to grant possession.

A better way is to issue a section 21 notice which gives 2 months notice, (must expire on the last day of a fixed term, or the last day of a payment period if the fixed term has ended - so it could end up being almost 3 months notice).

If you dont get possession after expiry, issue an accelerated procedure summons and you are reasonably sure to be granted possession, probably without a hearing. If they dont vacate by the date granted, apply for the bailiffs to grant a warrant of execution for possession.

Job Done!

Good Luck

Alternatively, according to the BBC R2 yesterday go down to your local boozer and pay Reggie the bare knuckle fighter 100 quid to explain to your tenant why staying on in the flat is causing you a lot of stress and how it might be better for all concerned if they left. According to R2 if the right person has a word in your tenants shell-like it is very effective.

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