Can’t gain access for Gas Safety Certificate or EIRC and tenant £5k in arrears?

Can’t gain access for Gas Safety Certificate or EIRC and tenant £5k in arrears?

by Readers Question

Guest Author

0:00 AM, 20th June 2024, About A week ago 6

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Hi Fellow Members/Readers, I have a long-term tenant (Approx 12 yrs in situ) on an A.S.T. who has always paid rent £650pcm late and some months nothing.

I served a rent increase notice last year of £75pcm, this being the first and only throughout 12 years.

The response I received was “I can’t afford/Why poor me/On Reduced hours/Car mot etc etc. “My daughters just had a baby and Lots 2 buy etc and it ain’t fair etc etc.”

The tenant is now in arrears by over £5k and unfortunately, I cannot gain access to carry out CP12 gas safety certificate OR E.I.R.C.

Would the appropriate notice fail in court as I do not have these docs and can’t get them?

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Karen


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Comments

Surrey Landlord

11:59 AM, 20th June 2024, About A week ago

Don't waste time with this. Issue them with a smalllclaims court for the money. Have a look below.

Write to them and tell them they owe you the money. Get a proof of posting certificate from The Post Office. Tell them they have 14 days to respond. Repeat this again in 14 days and this time, tell them you will take legal action.

Then issue them with the summons below.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/money-claim-online-user-guide

If they ignore it, you can apply for a CCJ against them automatically once 28 days have passed if they ignore it. This will then mess up their credit rating etc. Its significant. This, I think is the best way forward for you,

Reluctant Landlord

12:13 PM, 20th June 2024, About A week ago

Also issue a S8 with grounds of breach in tenancy by not allowing you to carry out the legal checks. Also you can state rent arrears too.

Hit hard.

Cider Drinker

16:22 PM, 20th June 2024, About A week ago

Contact an Eviction Specialist.

Keep evidence of your continued attempts to gain access for safety checks.

Section 8. Just do it. Sometimes, we need to rip the plaster off.

Jason

19:45 PM, 20th June 2024, About 7 days ago

Reply to the comment left by Reluctant Landlord at 20/06/2024 - 12:13
Your biggest mistake was to never increase the rent for 12 years this is a major oversight. You should alway review rent annually and increase inline with the market rises.

Why would you issue a S8 on a Discretionary Ground 12 when you have a Mandatory Ground 8? Never ever should you add a discretionary ground as it can be argued and cause major delays.

Sounds like you need an eviction specialist.

CCJ + S21 + S8G8 can all be deployed simultaneously.

Kat Scott

22:45 PM, 21st June 2024, About 6 days ago

Karen,

Keep a record of all the attends to gain access with follow-up letters. Then apply to the courts for access to have the two inspections carried out. all costs can be charged back to the tenant. I would also apply for S8. The courts are very backed up so each will take ages to be heard but its shows you are taking your responsible seriouly.
Also if you have not alined you rent with te market your losing out on double the rental income by now. Once you have them out look at putting in a third party order on their bank account and or empolyer. You will need to funds to refurbish the property to let out, of you continue on this route.

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