Perhent
28-03-2005, 08:38 AM
I have a tenant who is proving to be difficult. Can anyone tell me what I should do next?
He moved in 6 weeks ago and almost immediately I had complaints form the neighbours about noise. He had brought 5 dogs with him and they were barking day and night! This was a breach of his tenancy agreement and obviously not going to work out in a flat.
So I pacified the neighbours as best I could and eventually after 4 weeks of hassle managed to persuade him to move out - still on reasonably good terms. He planned to move after one month as he had paid up until then. He moved a few days after this time but left lots of stuff in the flat - not just junk but sofas, wardrobes etc. He had said the new place he was moving to had less room so maybe he doesn't need them any more. Who knows. He did say when I last spoke to him he would take the stuff out and wanted to clean the flat before handing back the keys.
Now he's moved out he is not answering his phone or responding to my messages. I don't know where he has moved to and I still have a flat full of his stuff. Rent was due for month 2 ten days ago and was not paid.
We have an agreement for 12 months with a 6 month break clause and the chances of me receiving any money from him are close to zero. However I do have 6 weeks deposit - he doesn't seem too bothered about this money.
I want to get his stuff out of the flat, end the agreement I have with him and get new tenants in as soon as possible.
Do I have to go the legal route and if so how do I serve notices on him if he's not there? Is there another route I could take as de facto the tenancy is over?
Can I keep all or some of the deposit in lieu of rent not paid?
Any thoughts gratefully appreciated.
He moved in 6 weeks ago and almost immediately I had complaints form the neighbours about noise. He had brought 5 dogs with him and they were barking day and night! This was a breach of his tenancy agreement and obviously not going to work out in a flat.
So I pacified the neighbours as best I could and eventually after 4 weeks of hassle managed to persuade him to move out - still on reasonably good terms. He planned to move after one month as he had paid up until then. He moved a few days after this time but left lots of stuff in the flat - not just junk but sofas, wardrobes etc. He had said the new place he was moving to had less room so maybe he doesn't need them any more. Who knows. He did say when I last spoke to him he would take the stuff out and wanted to clean the flat before handing back the keys.
Now he's moved out he is not answering his phone or responding to my messages. I don't know where he has moved to and I still have a flat full of his stuff. Rent was due for month 2 ten days ago and was not paid.
We have an agreement for 12 months with a 6 month break clause and the chances of me receiving any money from him are close to zero. However I do have 6 weeks deposit - he doesn't seem too bothered about this money.
I want to get his stuff out of the flat, end the agreement I have with him and get new tenants in as soon as possible.
Do I have to go the legal route and if so how do I serve notices on him if he's not there? Is there another route I could take as de facto the tenancy is over?
Can I keep all or some of the deposit in lieu of rent not paid?
Any thoughts gratefully appreciated.