Double Ouch

[Roy]

I took repossession of one of my properties today.

 

 

I realise that it's a business. I understand that I make money but, for the love of God, why can't people respect other people's property?

I'll get over it. I have 2k put aside for refurb. But today, I wonder if it's worth it. :-(

[forgottenmemorie]

Any before pictures?

[Roy]

No, I don't have any but I'm sure the rental agent does. It was in first class condition.

[ApisMellifera]

Gosh. Some people just live like pigs.

I'm looking into BTL in the future, I guess it's not easy not an easy job to find the right tenant and ppl can change.

 

[Roy]

Yes Apis, they do.

I shouldn't complain, this property has been let for 13 years to the same disabled tenant.

No late payments and no defaults. (Disability/Housing Benefit).

I've had it decorated twice in that period, inside and out, 2 new immersion heaters and a new kitchen and carpets.

I just wonder why he let it all go to pot. I could have helped.

[SilverPirate]

My son became a landlord this year you see all these horror stories,he works hard, i do hope this do's not happen to him, but it looks like the law of averages over time it will happen at some level at some point.

The silver box on the table looks like it could make a good coin box on the plus side.

[Scuzzle]

Bad news, some people have no respect, I have a mate lets out a house and when they left they took everything including all his plug sockets and light switches.  Looking at that silver box I bought a hexacopter from China that came in a sliver box that looks exactly the same as that one.

[HelpingHands]

Did you get the High Court Sheriffs off the telly to go down?

It might not be that bad when all the rubbish is out of the way.

[Roy]

Always the optimist SP!

Just keep telling yourself it's a business and you'll be ok.

This was my 1st house and I still have fond memories of it. I need to man up!I

As for the box, it's all in the skip outside now 

Magpies, the lot of ya!

 

[Stu]

I let out my first house and it got trashed a lot worse than that. Found out they were drug dealers, went months into arrears, bred Staffordshire bull terrier pups and keeped the litter in the front hall, chopped down my 10meter fir tree in the garden so he could set up cctv facing the door. Ended up having to redo EVERYTHING in the house including replaster the walls. Needless to say I sold up after that. 

That was 14 years ago, you do (just about) get over it

[Pete]

When you rent out a property do you not have a contract that the tenant must vacate the property in the same condition as let ?

That means they have to pay for redecoration and damage other than fair wear & tear in addition to not leaving any clutter & mess - chargeable otherwise ?

I am not a landlord but having rented in the past my tenancy agreements were strict.
Students have to pay a deposit for such events.

[Roy]

Yes Pete, I do.

But the tenant is disabled, the rent is paid by the council. I'll try to put in a claim but I don't hold much hope.

The deposit won't cover it. 

I have a pragmatic outlook. 13 years tenanted: no arrears. Yes, the condition he left it in is shocking but there's money in the pot.

I still think property rental is a grand idea, but sometimes it can upset you.

It's the kitchen and bathroom that disgusted me the most. It's uninhabitable.

Anyway...an example for any BTL wannabes. 

 

[sovereignsteve]

It can be a rough ride. my parents always had rented houses when I was growing up, still do so it can't be all bad. I've seen some ups and downs over the years though: they have had good tenants who have been no trouble for years as well as the absolute scum of the earth. it's like most things; you can get good runs when it seems like a doddle, a license to print money and then get a series of bad'uns when you wonder if it's worth the bother.

[HighlandTiger]

I love the pizza and burger themed wallpaper...... classy

 

[Pete]

I have a friend who worked in a Building Society.
She approved a mortgage to someone buying a new house in London and as it was a new build, the developer offered a 6 month free period so the buyer didn't hand over any deposit or pay anything for 6 months. During this period the buyer rented it out on a multiple occupancy basis collecting a vast rent, then stripped the house of everything - kitchen, bathroom fittings, central heating radiators, electrical sockets - the lot !
It was a trashed property.
The buyer returned to his home country and cannot be traced.
The documents provided to the Building Society were fake.

As for your situation I would definitely pursue the council for costs of repair and redecoration or request them to put things right.
Don't feel guilt at taking tax payers money as council chiefs pocket obscene salaries with platinum edged pensions to follow - that is definitely a drain on limited resources.

[Roy]

Hi Pete, your story doesn't surprise me 

As for my case, it's a bit tricky. The contract I have with my ex-tenant is a personal one. The council are not involved in the tenancy agreement but they do agree to give housing benefit to cover the rent charge. They also pay/cover the council tax.

The tenant left my property mid-month and only offered to pay half a month's rent 'cos he said that's all 'ee owed innit'. That's half the deposit lost.

I spoke to the council and they said that the tenant had received the entire month's rent in advance. They were not helpful and somewhat uninterested.

I don't feel guilty taking tax payer's money. I offered a good service and it wasn't me that abused the system.

I shan't rent this house to people on benefits anymore. 

[Pipers]

I have rented houses out and am left with 2 only now.  First off you need to read the tenancy agreement ?You say the tenant is disabled did you get more money 13 years ago because the tenant was disabled? 

In the tenency agreement was it rented as furnished or part furnished? 

Now a Judge may decide the the walls are fair ware and tare for 13 years if the tenant was not to decorate and same with garden carpets etc. The kitchen the tenant and this is wrong as I had this can break a cupboard and claim the kitchen is not in order.  

As for sorting it out get a few man with a van around to quote on clearing the house, you will need to do this no matter what. 

Go and have a look at a few tenancy agreements this will give you pointers for the future.  One more thing disability benefits have been cut badly so the tenants may not have any money, taking them to court even if you win does not mean you will get your money and the clerk may decide to agree to repayments that low you will be having to go around for the money (the person is disabled,) not them coming to you for 10s of years. 

Hope this helps

 

 

 

 

[Roy]

Cheers Pipers.

I shan't pursue it any further. What is done is done.

I have the house back, the refurb is beginning but I estimate it will cost me 3x my maintenance fund 

Only professionals for me now, it's only a small house but town centre with off road parking and will suit a single or couple just fine.

I'm not against those on benefits, far from it, I signed up to the welfare state when I started work all those years ago. But to be abused this way?

It's a sore point right now but I'll recover.

Actually, I'm looking into HMOs right now 

 

 

[Pipers]

If you are going down the disabled way go to the council and get grants and all the extra help they give you they will put a suitable tenant in. 

I always inspect my houses 2 times a year it is in the agreement, this is a time when tenants can let you know about any little fault that are not there fault it's just easier to just fix them. One of my houses the tenants did not want to do the gardening they were to busy that's OK I send someone around and it was put onto the rent.

Depending on where your house is it may be better to rent out multiple occupation you will need to do the maths and if it is worth it.