Local authority tells tenants not to leave the property?

Local authority tells tenants not to leave the property?

0:03 AM, 7th July 2023, About A year ago 182

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Hello, tenants were due to vacate the property this weekend. However, the tenants have told the management agency that they have been advised by the local authority to stay put as they are a couple with a young child.

Where do I stand on this? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you,

Sheila

Editors Note: You can check out Property118’s investigation on councils telling tenants to stay put here


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Happy housing

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17:13 PM, 14th July 2023, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by DSR at 14/07/2023 - 16:50
So you never had a hb tenant not pay?

Hitesh

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17:16 PM, 14th July 2023, About A year ago

Sound like they’re on the waiting list and now you’ll have to serve the usual notices and eventually a court order.

They’re in priority need so council will help them be rehoused etc …?

Happy housing

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17:26 PM, 14th July 2023, About A year ago

So I'm hoping not to go down this route. Tenant always giving me issues hoping to use breaking tenancy rules

Happy housing

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17:35 PM, 14th July 2023, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by DSR at 14/07/2023 - 16:50
I don't think that works in the real world for most LLs, your a special case. What advice would you give to a ll with just one hb tenant not paying.

Reluctant Landlord

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18:10 PM, 14th July 2023, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by Nikki Palmer at 14/07/2023 - 16:53
I was told by the Council the tenant had a support worker and they support worker would ask the tenant if they were happy that the case worker could contact me about resolving the issue. The council advised if the tenant refused to give permission for the SW to do this then nothing they could do.

This to me is a glaring omission on behalf of the council. I was not asking to get involved in any way directly with the tenant or the SW. I was asking that the council request the SW to make a judgement call on what best to do for their client and offer a solution. Otherwise who is acting on behalf of the tenant to ensure they keep security of their accommodation?

The SW and Council CAN take action and should take appropriate action where an act of the tenant/omission by default of their vulnerability of the tenant puts their tenancy at risk. There are a number of options and if the LL is willing these should be discussed at least.

Reluctant Landlord

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18:18 PM, 14th July 2023, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by Happy housing at 14/07/2023 - 17:13
1. A lot of my lets used to match the LHA rate and with direct payments there is no possibility to run up rent arrears (direct payments established as tenants are vulnerable)
2. Having no choice than to now increase the rents (Not excessively and still well under market rate), there are now some vulnerable tenants that are not paying the top ups. This is where arrears have now accrued.

I have tried to explain to the council that I dont believe not paying is the issue, just they dont have the ability to organise themselves to apply for a DHP, work out who to see, what to do in the first instance. Some dont do email and some have MH issues which is why I'm loath to then send a serious piece of paper with Notice seeking possession on it. I dont see the need to make it more stressful - I just need to Council to act to help before it gets to this point. Ultimately the Council will have a duty of care to these tenants so why not help them now before the issue festers and they have a worse potentially evicted tenant who is further mentally unstable to then try and house in temp accommodation (which they will have even more difficulty in finding!)

There's me daring to be a caring LL....

Reluctant Landlord

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18:19 PM, 14th July 2023, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by Hitesh at 14/07/2023 - 17:16
they dont need to be rehoused - that;s the point. If the council step in now.

Reluctant Landlord

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18:31 PM, 14th July 2023, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by Happy housing at 14/07/2023 - 17:35
a letter explaining the issue as it is and the implications for them. Dont bother explaining it from your perspective you are the evil LL!

Just explain that if rent is not paid then you will progress with possession. Rent arrears will be the specific reason and this will be explained to the next potential LL or the council/Housing Association as they all ask for a tenant reference. The detail of the amount of the rent arrears will also be given. Send them a link to the council website which explains what 'intentially homeless' means and how the council treats housing applications accordingly. Also provide a link to the DHP application and suggest they apply as it is open to all to do so.

Explain that you will allow then a few days thought after this letter arrives at any any point you are open to mediation in regard to addressing the arrears, so that this need not blight their rental record going forward. You wish to work with them and will consider any reasonable approached by themselves towards resolution. If after X date they have not contacted you to this end then possession proceedings will commence. Get the S21 out so it arrives the day after. The inform the council that the tenant has been given a S21 and inform the tenant you have also informed the council too.

You might find tenant suddenly comes up with the rent arrears or plan to pay them off.

Jacqueline Matlock

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19:33 PM, 25th July 2023, About 12 months ago

Hello everyone I have read all your messages about different aspects to your problems, here is one from me l have lived in this property for over ten years l have been an extremely good tenant never missed the rent had to do our own repairs because they.never made any effort to do anything.. They nearly killed us from carbonoxcid poison.Hear is the thing when we first moved in turned the tap on in the kitchen sink water leaking from underneath the sink had filler everywhere there was pin holes in the sink and do you know what ten years later it's still the same sink and now they want us to leave because of interest rates.So if anyone has a one bedroom house for rent near the sea for elderly couple clean, tidy and respectful l am so glad if you would consider me.

Jacqueline Matlock

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21:39 PM, 25th July 2023, About 12 months ago

I think it's disgusting what the local council is saying to people about their awful circumstances is beyond belief, it's bad enough for your landlord wants you out let alone having to go through court then eviction to end up in a hostel especially if you were a model tenant.
The council should have property's for no fault tenants and should help landlords who have been exploited by bad tenants who don't pay their rent and trash the place.

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