This is necessary because too many people are now suffering due to lazy louts who truly believe they are entitled to move into other people’s properties, trash them, stay as long as they want, and refuse to pay any money.
How can such a law exist?
The existing law, to the best of my knowledge, allows for tenants to remain in a property for two months after being informed that they have to leave. However, last year, I had a tenant overstay his welcome by almost six months. As my properties are run by a solicitor, I assume that she is better placed than I to understand the law. I understand, by reading various Internet articles that this problem is spreading. I have mortgages to pay and when these people refuse to pay their rent or, indeed, to leave the premises, I have to work harder to keep a roof over their heads. I feel that the problem is one of time. Solicitors should be empowered to provide eviction papers after rent hasn’t been paid.
Clear guidelines should be in place to ensure that landlords do not lose money. What these people do not realize (even if they did they probably wouldn’t care) is that I have children to feed and clothe. I worked hard to purchase the properties and I would like to keep them for my children. However, there are only so many hours in a day in which I can work. I fear that I may lose my properties due to the fact that people with a complete disregard for anything can live the good life.
Tenants sign a lease in good faith - usually a six month assured tenancy agreement. Why are they permitted to stay in another’s property without making payment? In my own particular case, the tenants have taken photographs of themselves sitting with friends in bars and clubs enjoying the high life while I am working longer hours to ensure that the banks doesn’t foreclose my mortgage. It really makes my blood boil! When asked to move they either refuse or leave the place in a mess, or stay until evicted. All three scenarios results with me losing money. As stated, one case went to court. However, the very same solicitors refused to take the previous tenants to court citing that I will never see any money. Am I simply supposed to shrug this off, forget about money owed? Each time a tenant leaves I invariably, am left to foot the bill for re-decorating the place and seeing to it that all the filth that was left behind is removed. As mentioned, other lawyers would accept the case of trying to retrieve money from ex-tenants, but they request money up front and inform me that the chances of seeing anything are slim.
Speedier evictions; a Scotland wide computer base of names of previously blacklisted tenants; more responsibility from guarantors and a letter of reference from previous landlords with the possibility of a star system (5 stars for excellence, etc.) might be a way to ensure more responsible behaviour from tenants. This might be instigated by a landlord association. Landlords are now required to register. Tenants should be afforded the same courtesy.
In addition, I’m sure most landlords would be willing to offer something in return for the assurances that monthly mortgages will be met and properties will not be trashed. This could take the form of a Christmas or end of lease refund of a certain amount of money. Tenants, in turn, would be forced to be more responsible. It does seem that they are being treated like kindergarten children. However, this is exactly the way they are behaving
Although I have been informed that laws are in place to protect landlords and tenants, I have been advised on several occasions that it would be pointless to try to retrieve any monies owed to me. Initially, the process of going to court is lengthy and expensive. Lawyers have to be paid. Finally, there is no guarantee that money will ever be returned, even if the tenants are found to be guilty.
I have been informed to forget about getting any money back as it is too costly. Some lawyers won’t even try.
When I read stories about people being sent to prison for retrieving golf balls from a pond, I naturally feel outraged when tenants (squatters) steal from me, stay in my flats, wreck the place and laugh at me, all whilst my own children have to do without!
I have been caused quite a considerable amount of stress over this, and I can prove this as my yearly health check-up confirms above average levels of stress indicators. I am normally without stress, but because this has now happened so often, combined with the fact that I live so far away and feel absolutely helpless, I now feel the time has come to fight back, or at least to try to stop this happening again.
I have had a large number of tenants now who have overstayed their welcome by a considerable period of time. When they do leave, they invariably move on to another property and cause stress to another person. They are no more than social parasites, and something seriously has to be done to put an end to this kind of behaviour.
I try to keep my properties clean and I replace carpets, kitchens, heaters, windows, etc., when need be. Tenants enter a flat under false pretences and within a month or so, they stop paying rent. By the time I can get them out, I am more in debt. I cannot afford to pay to keep layabouts in accommodation.