Lawns ruined and tenant is refusing to pay?

Just a thought (and this is not specifically aimed at you Emma), but if let's say a relative left you an jet airliner in their Will...

Would you attempt to set up an airline company and go into the business of selling flights? Why is it that with an industry such as property (where lots of money is potentially at stake) do many inexperienced individuals feel they can become a landlord overnight? Is it because they watched an episode of a programme once with Sarah Beeny in it???

More of a rhetorical question but I have often wondered...

Reply to the comment left by "Luke P" at "21/08/2015 - 11:30":

I think it is because property is (historically) an appreciating asset, so they see keeping it as a 'safe' option, but realise that they need to make some money from it.

I think its the lure of making what is often presented as easy money. In this era of low interest rates there seems few options for making money from your capital. I did it because I bought the house at the height of the boom and when I wanted to sell, found it wasn't worth anything like what I paid. I had seen another property to potentially make a profit from if I got in there quickly so I split the capital, bought the other property and have kept the rental house making an excellent profit until it returned to its 2008 value. My mistake has been not having any experience and not treating it as a business as you aluded to!! I think quite a few people have done the same after house prices dropped and they found themselves with a property worth less than they paid. I'm selling now before I get myself any more worked up or make any more mistakes!!! Thank you all so much for the advice. Going round while she's away this week with the rotivator!!! Hoping to even squeeze in a couple of viewings!!

The cat is probably the biggest worry for your sale. I hope you realize that, but cat piss not only smells bad IT SETS in everything. Furniture, floor, carpet, upholstery, even the walls might smell of cat.

Normally, I'd just offer you an end of tenancy cleaning from my company. But I think you might need a bit more than that.

The carpets and upholstery need to be steam cleaned, the wooden floors might need a sanding and refinishing and the walls will most likely need repainting.

It's beyond what any cleaning will achieve.

You might have a way harder time fixing this than the garden.

It's unfortunate you weren't better prepared to handle tenants and rented properties. But all odds are against you as you stand right now.

If it said overgrown and you don't have photos, you can forget about the garden. Actually, you can only hope on her good will and morals to give you a dime, as you can't force it out of her.

Also, if you allowed pets, I guess any damage the pet has done is also non-refutable.

I'm sorry for you, but it is what it is. Best of luck.

Regards,
Audrey Wright
http://friendlytenancyhelpers.co.uk/

Reply to the comment left by "Audrey Wright" at "25/08/2015 - 13:45":

Thanks Audrey. I'm thinking I'll have to wait until Jan when my circumstances mean I can afford to be without the rent and then sell it empty. I'm pretty confident that the smell was only from the litter tray as when I went round the cat had been in all day with the windows closed. I guess I'll only know that when I go round later as she's now on hols and the cats in a cattery!! Fingers crossed its not weed everywhere!!

Reply to the comment left by "Audrey Wright" at "25/08/2015 - 13:45":

Thanks Audrey. I'm thinking I'll have to wait until Jan when my circumstances mean I can afford to be without the rent and then sell it empty. I'm pretty confident that the smell was only from the litter tray as when I went round the cat had been in all day with the windows closed. I guess I'll only know that when I go round later as she's now on hols and the cats in a cattery!! Fingers crossed its not weed everywhere!!

Do you live far away? If not, and you need some money coming in, and depending where you are, then once she moves out you could rent it out using AirBNB. It would bring some money in Most areas have people come there temporarily - whether holiday, work, visiting friends or whatever.

Generally speaking they say that spring is the best time to sell.

We all started somewhere and however a person became a Landlord (accidental or otherwise), it is a learning curve.There is some good advice here and even the most seasoned landlords made mistakes when they first started out, despite their confidence now. It isn't just procuring and renting out property that is the difficulty, but often working round the people whom you rent to. I have always used expert advice, namely letting agents about the types of properties needed for rental in the areas, legislation, etc, etc, even though advice and management and inventories cost. I prefer to do it that way and use the contractors on their books for whatever problems crop up. I am also an hour and a half away by train (higher rental area and higher yield than my own back yard) and want to keep my job for the moment, whilst I'm still learning. Some Landlords may scorn at that, but tough; that's how things are.

One of my properties has a garden. There are two mowers there, but a previous tenant left one outside and it rusted. I have instructed that this be removed next week, and if the other mower does not work (she hasn't tried it yet), then she can have my almost new mower (I have rabbits, so my grass and weeds are kept very well trimmed). This is also the only tenancy that I have agreed regarding pets as there is a garden; the tenant has a cat and was willing to pay a higher deposit.

As the market is at the moment (housing shortage, house price rises), I am sure that you will be able to find a buyer who can overlook a manky carpet and an area of weeds, and can see the potential of the house. Most likely they will replace carpets themselves and negotiate money off anyway.

The best of luck, Emma. Let us know how you get on, even though some people may seem as though your problem is minor and a no brainer, I know how worrying things can get.

I have retreived one lawn which was almost 100% dandelions lawns through feeding and seedinf over 12 months.

Over the years I have found tenants professing a love of gardening but good intentions are not enough. I have always been concerned about supplying an electrical lawnmower ( I can ensure a PAT test is done ) but I cannot be sure the safety plug will be used so if the electric flex is accidentally cut the electric supply is cut off immediately.Such accidents are more likely wit h novices.
I find having a groundsperson who ensures the gardens are done , paths swept , bins put away etc and sends photos of before and after helps greatly and is appreciated by my neighbours who are always very helpful and have alerted me to a few things in the past.