Tracking down a bad tenant – advice sought please

Tracking down a bad tenant – advice sought please

15:46 PM, 29th January 2013, About 12 years ago 41

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Tracking down a bad tenant - advice sought pleaseI have a single rental property which I bought in 2009. I refurbished it to a good standard and rented it to a young couple using an agent on a tenant find basis. The agent took the deposit. I allowed them to have dogs at the property.

The young lady and dogs left, and a new young lady arrived, as did chinchillas.

In October last year they gave me notice and when I spoke to him on the phone he said they would need to move to her mother’s for two weeks before moving on to their new home. I rather nicely said that they could stay on until it was convenient and pay rent accordingly, they agreed and left the property 8th December 2012. They left a disgraceful mess and didn’t pay the extra rent.

They now owe me £1,200 for damage and unpaid rent, but I only have £550 deposit.

I have no forwarding address, and only an e-mail and mobile phone number. I have sent a full report with photos etc. and a breakdown of the costs to them by e-mail, giving them 28 days to pay. This 28 days is up now.

I want to pursue the outstanding amount and I’m looking for advice as to how to do so.

The deposit holder has apparently said that my case will be weakened if I take the deposit money now, so I have left the deposit with them.

Is there an easy way to track them down? I don’t think they have moved far. And do I need to track them down to start proceedings?

I think I know who his employer is. Can I try to contact him there, or does this move into harassment territory?

Should I go straight to the online small claims court? And if so how do I do this without an address.

Any advice gratefully received.

Kind regards,

 

David Adams


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Jan Martin

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19:42 PM, 31st January 2013, About 12 years ago

Hi Rob yes you can apply to the court for attachment of earnings but you have to know the tenants address to put on the paperwork.

Jan Martin

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20:47 PM, 31st January 2013, About 12 years ago

Yes I agree the data protection is ridiculous. We should be working together as far as the debtors are concerned.The utility companies water companies even councils should be able to share a little more.The ex tenant knows that they cant. I can tell many stories that make you want to cry.

Angela Scarlett-marshall

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23:50 PM, 31st January 2013, About 12 years ago

So sorry to hear, it's never nice when we happen upon dishonest people.

Who did you referencing when the tenants first took up occupancy, If you have details of the tenants employer(s) this may be a way of tracking them down. If they were students then you should have their guarantors details. Alternatively, you could use a private detective but the cost for this approach may outweigh the benefit.

It would be advisable to follow Ian's advice and register the tenant(s) with LandLordreferencing.

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3:01 AM, 1st February 2013, About 12 years ago

I have dealt with this situation before, I dealt with a private detective company. They were fantastic, found his address and lots and lots of information which was never made clear on his application. As far as I can remember it only cost me circa £200 (put it on the bill owed) and they found him in two weeks. Just get as much info on him as you can, a National Insurance number would be a simple find for them.
Hope it helps.
Kev

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7:22 AM, 1st February 2013, About 12 years ago

How about going on his Facebook page and asking for your money? Maybe he will be embarrassed enough to pay up. I would suggest you keep it a sort of free and easy request (to start with). You can always get angry later if no reply.

Sam Wong

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11:35 AM, 1st February 2013, About 12 years ago

David

Unless you want to send the boys around, the only thing you can do to your ex-tenants is to take them to court and get a judgement. The rest, bailiffs, garnishee order, 3rd party collection etc will follow from there. BUT YOU HAVE TO FIND THEM FIRST. It never ceases to amaze me how difficult this can be - even with a NI no, employer details, car no plate etc etc. The parents' address is of no use legally.

Even if you do find them, getting a judgement is by no means a walk over or a painless exercise. When you finally get your judgement, getting money out of them could be another matter entirely.

I know it is very upsetting when it happens to you for the first time but unless you are into this 'principle' thing, you might find the path of least resistance is also the cheapest (in time, money and hassle) and the least painful.

In my 20 years as a landlord, I have had tenants walked away with my curtains, washing machine, furniture, doors etc etc. Nothing really major - just more irritating than anything else. A few didnt want to pay what they owed when they left - some were normal decent enough people who fell on hard times or felt they had other priorities. A few were simply taking advantage and not pay the final 1 or 2 months rent - knowing full well that the reward of getting them to pay up did not justify the cost of making them pay up. Part and parcel of being a landlord I am afraid.

However, I did have a tenant from hell - only once in 20 years. It took me more than 6 months to get rid of him through the court and I have judgement for £13k, 3rd party collection order and bailiffs. Now I cant find him. I knew him as James Walker but then I subsequently found out he was also called Simon Bland and Simon Lee (and probably a few more I dont know about). I also found out that he had done what he did to me several times over a period of more than 10 years. I spent a lot of time and money looking for him because of the amount involved but his guy is a real pro. I used a local PI, Legal For Landlords and The Sheriff's Office but this has gone on for more than 2 years now. I am even willing to share 50% of what I can get out of this guy but I think I am just wasting my time and throwing good money after bad.

On a wider context, I have also heard stories worse than mine. I think the law really needs to be changed so that it is easier to find defaulting tenants or any other type of defaulting debtors. As it is, it is simply encouraging and perpetuating a criminal culture. May be Mark has an answer.

BobG

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12:37 PM, 1st February 2013, About 12 years ago

Hi

I used a very good company run by a very capable guy who, if I remember correctly, is ex army intelligence and ex police. His name was Wayne Carson and his company is Legal 4 Landlords and they found the address quickly and charged £60 plus VAT. I then went for a CCJ against the tenant so that at least their record would be picked up during future credit checks.

As I have only had two bad debts in 30 years I put the lost money down to experience. I also felt there was little likelihood of getting a significant reduction in the debt. (£1700)

Happy hunting

Bob Grant

AnthonyJames

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14:40 PM, 1st February 2013, About 12 years ago

I have had a nightmare tenant too, who owes me around £6000 in rent. I used Paul Shamplina at Landlord Action to find his address - worked like a charm, but when I threatened to take him to court and bankrupt him, he wrote back and said cheekily that though this would be a certain inconvenience, bankruptcy would actually do him a favour because it would wipe out all his other debts after a year.
I can't get an attachment of earnings on him because he is self-employed; his Facebook page says he is now largely employed by Sky, but without his NI number, how can I prove this, sufficient to get an attachment order made? He may just be a self-employed subcontractor anyway. He earns a lot of money - he's putting two children through private school, yet appears to own no property or car, and always rents.
I regret I haven't yet applied for a CCJ against him because I've been advised I'd be unlikely to get any money back, in which case it's wasted money.

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15:42 PM, 1st February 2013, About 12 years ago

How about reporting him to HMRC; I'm sure they would be interested in him living beyond his means.
Being employed and stating you are self employed is not such an easy game to pull anymore.
I'm sure they would pull him in for an investigation and you would obviously assist them as much as you can wouldn't you.

Nat Patel

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17:45 PM, 1st February 2013, About 12 years ago

Hello, frankly it's not that easy to find rent dodgers and moved out tenants. It takes lots of time and efforts after all will get our money? Lucky ones get bit back.I have lost about £13000.00 rent from my income 2011/2012 year.and off set against tax.That's me.I have still one case pending about arrears.Tenants moved out by bailiff,but on housing benefit .what can we do? I asked my adviser and said least chance to get money out .so I am not taking any action.But same house I let with better rent with all checked paper work and giving me SECURE rental income for coming future.I think this is the way we should move on....I think Jonathan Clarke and others mentioned services may try in future .

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