UK Landlord Forum / Life

Hello Forum,

My thanks in advance for any feedback/info.

I've a flat in Scotland. Had 'problem' tenants to cut a veeeeeeeeery long story short. (Serious stress, wife's tears, costs, etc - horrendous) Can't afford a solicitor, as, unlike the tenants, can't get legal aid as flat is an 'asset'.... (in my opinion, been more unpalatable than even the tenants).

Served Notice on them which came to term at the end of January this year. The local council gave them (2 adults and 5 children) alternative accommodation at public expense for which they got the keys approx 2 weeks ago.

It looks like they have finally moved into their new accom, though they have left piles of bags of clothes, looks like they've stolen our cooker, trashed units etc etc.

My question is this:

What next?

1./ Can I send the tenants a text (only comm that gets through to them, as won't accept letters etc) to state that they should collect their bags, bed etc by (say) the end of this week or it will be chucked (telling them I'll be changing the locks) - or would I end up in trouble for this (I know....probably I'd be the bad un.....!)

2./ On the small chance they haven't moved out, do I have to go to Court to do this?

Many thanks

I think if you have provided notice and they are not there, move in change locks, send text.

Cheers Boboff. I went to the CAB today and they stated the same. Text and dumping ahoy - just not sure where to put their guff. Special uplift by local authority...

Many thanks


P.S: Went to the flat at the weekend (it's 125 miles distant from us) - A LOT worse than we thought - piles and piles of bags and loose rubbish, clothes, toys (even electronic goods - eg: Nintendo DS etc left behind. One room literally a couple of feet deep...

Looks like they are out, despite all of the mountains of stuff left behind.. I've texted them again to say locks changed and that they should contact me to arrange picking up their items - but predictably - nothing.  So I'm losing money every day with all of their rubbish there, no response from them, can't do up flat to re-rent etc..

My concern is that if I dump the stuff, I could be held liable for replacing anything these 'people' lost....

The local Council who gave them alternative accom aren't interested. Maybe I should just bag everything up and dump all of the bags with the Council at one of their depots - after all, they're their tenants now..

A more unscrupulous man than you might empty the flat quietly, dump their stuff, and if they complain, point out that they left a window open and someone might have broken in before you managed to change the locks and make the place secure.

So you are to be congratulated for not doing that.

Hi there,

With a 4th floor flat, it's tricky....lol

Chuck all the shit in one room, decorate and clean the rest, if they still have not turned up, you will have to take it to the tip, or see if the council will do a bulk collection, they did for me recently and it was 1/10 of the price of a skip.

Given the distance though, I think you may be putting this off!

Marigolds at the ready.........

Barrach, good luck sorting out the mess 

I notice that you had seven people in your flat, you might want to check the terms of your mortgage and insurance before you next let, to see what the maximum number of people allowed in the flat is (for my 3 bed flat my limit is 5). 

And if you're nervous about your next let you could always try getting some rent guarantee insurance (I forget if this covers damage, and it might be difficult getting DSS tenants to pass referencing...)