Tenant’s actions have made flat a Health and Safety danger

Reply to the comment left by "Neil Patterson" at "17/07/2014 - 19:04":

Well ok - just to show that I have not been put off I will ask a question of Stacey. (I think a bit of conflict makes for interesting reading and usually allows an insight into the commenter..by the way Neil, though we appreciate your soothing influence 🙂 )

Where on earth do you live? In this part of the world it appears that there is no way that a tenant could be out within 4 weeks even with good reason via a Section 8 - as the court date waiting times are so long ( 6- 8 weeks minimum last time I asked). I just wish we could all unite and alter these archaic laws a little. When will governments and councils realise that we are all quite happy to have our tenants in place as long as possible (normally) but if and when they turn out to be bad tenants there must be a procedure in place to get rid of them before it starts costing a landlord silly money and in this case huge concern.

This man needs professional help I suggest, which should not be up to an unqualified landlord and he has to want it. Ghastly situation.

I have just avoided a Section 8 procedure by somewhat unorthodox methods - it's called asking them politely to leave, but in the case of a drunk that is less likely to work. Having said that I had one who saw reason...... i.e. I pointed out that no one else wanted to live with him like that and he went. I guess I was lucky.

Sounds as though the child is in danger...Serious...A swift call or letter to the local council/child protection team , even the police...as said above, your tenant is sick, and needs professional help. Your flat is now not suitable for human occupation, and certainly not fit place for children.
There are housing associations that work with substance abusers, they are experienced.....there may be some local organisations that help alcoholics...The man needs to be out from your flat.
The formalities of eviction and such, would suggest the employment of a good legal advisor.
Unenviable tasks, but good luck.

I have to say I agree with Jamie! Offer him a few hundred quid, & he'll take it, as it will buy him a few more bottles of Jack Frost or whatever it is they drink? I have a similar situation to Jamie, have gone through the courts to evict a tenant in rent arrears, who has been advised by the council all the way, however I glad to say I have not lost as much as Jamie, & I am now meeting with the bailiffs on the 7th August at 10am at the property to throw her out into the gutter where she belongs, the law is a complete arse!

Reply to the comment left by "Jamie Moodie" at "17/07/2014 - 16:48":

Jamie, you lost over £7000 in rent, so that tenant wasn't claiming housing beneift then?
My 'tenant from hell' was on HB, so all the rent was fully paid up to the departure date, no loss of rent, but i guess if they don't keep claiming, then the rent stops.

Giving him the amount you suggest will probably be a good incentive for him to shuffle off his mortal coil a bit quicker than he would have done and relieve others of his suffering !!

MY nightmare tenant would go down the local pub telling all the riff-raff down there how evil his landlord was to evict him, so I subsequently had visits from them with threats just to compound my headache !!

Good luck, if he leaves without anywhere to go, he will have made himself homeless and the council will then not rehouse him, he obviously has enough "nowse" to jump through some hoops to get custody of his kid, so he may realise he shouldn't be leaving of his own free will.

I wouldnt pay him or any other tenant a penny to leave! He owes you money, sort the electrics out (for the sake of the baby) as ive said. Dont return his deposit,Get a solicitor and get him out as quick as you legally can. He must have an income of some sort to get custudy of the child, if so you can recover what he owes you in court.

I also agree with rob, don't pay him or any other tenant a penny to move out as it sticks in your throat to give someone money to vacate your own property especially if they owe you money, but & this is a big but, if you can sallow it, it is far cheaper & a quicker process to offer a scum tenant a few hundred quid to vacate then to go through the legal system, because as we all know the legal system does not favour us the landlord, it favours the tenant all the way! So you have to ask yourself a few hundred quid to get rid & move on versus thousands in lost rent ( due to the fact they may stop paying the rent as a result of notice being served on them)
legals & more potential damage to property due to the length of time it actually takes to get them through the court process, so I think I know which route I would take?

Oh, The Joys of Being A Landlord! :
Snippet in Daily Telegraph this morning's paper:

"fighting spider with fire burns down the house"
"An American burnt down a house by trying to kill a spider with a lighter and a can of spray paint.
The man, who was renting the house in Seattle, sprayed flame on the wall when the saw the spider scutlling across.
"There are safer, more effective ways to kill a spider," said Kyle Moore of the Seattle fire department"
Hi Guys, did you pick up the word 'renting'?!!

We got it juliet !!
It WAS our house, before the spider got in and annoyed the tenant !

Or, use the alsation!

Hi

As much as it pains me to say this keep yourself on the right side of the law. If you do this it will take longer and yes will cost money but you wont end up convicted or sued as you have assets to be pursued by a solicitors would be lining up to help the tenant no matter how bad they are because they will no doubt qualify for legal aid or shelter or some other organisation will be supporting them.

With Landlord registration coming in all over the place if you are deemed not a fit in proper person to let property you wont be able to let your property legally.

I dread the day I have to deal with this type of problem although I have had a few issues my tenants they have left on there own accord owing me money but at least my property was now safe.

Only you will know if you can talk to your tenant, done the right way he may want to change and accept help to fix the property. Be straight with him and put in writing your concerns,

I hope it is all sorted out for you sooner than later.