UK Landlord Forum / Life

The tenants are living in my property since 10 months ago and they haven't paid me since 3 months ago. I had so many problems with them since the beginning. they told me that they're living on the 7th of January but it's not the first time that they say that.
If they leave and don't pay, how can I claim them the money? (I don't know where they're going to live and they won't give me their address).
What can I do??

Many thanks in advance

What steps have you taken so far? Assume you have served notice on them (21 or 8?) If so,when were they due to vacate? You will need to keep records of all communication and your costs,in order to claim the deposit as part payment against the rent arrears.If they refuse to give a forwarding address this will cause delays,but you should at least get the deposit given back.Any other costs would require you to go to the small claims court.If they refuse to move out,you have a whole new problem,and may be better off using an eviction agent to deal with it.You may well end up not getting back what is owed,but getting them out so that you can relet and cut your losses should be your main focus.Good Luck. 

Hi Heavy karma,
Thank you for your reply.
I have served notice 21. He is due to vacate on the 11st February but he said he will leave on the 7th January (fingers crossed!). He changed the date already.
I think he isn't going to give me his new address. How can I have his new address? If he leaves the property, how I will be able to contact him?
Of course I would like to have the outstanding money but also I would like to do something (like to include them in a black list) to prevent people from them because they're going to do this to the next one's as well. What can I do? Do I need to start this before they leave? How can I start a small claims court?
Many thanks

There are numerous companies that find people for a modest fee such as findermonkey, they need to bed in to their new location first though.  Do you know where they work? Do you have their car registration?  All useful info.

Thank you for your reply Reptide.

I know where they work. Thank you for the advice for the card registration.

If I'd like to start something against them, do I need to start it before they leave? I'd like to do something for preventing other landlords/ people in general. What can I do? Is there something like that? Thanks

Quote from: Newlandlord on January 03, 2018, 12:28:21 AMI'd like to do something for preventing other landlords/ people in general. What can I do? Is there something like that?

You could be an absolutely terrible Landlord. You could be letting a slum property and charging extortionate rent and the Tenant could be legally withholding rent from you as a last resort, but entirely justifiably. This is why you can't really just go around black-listing Tenants on behalf of others. It's just your opinion, you see? What you need to do is to get a judgement against them, and - likely - a CCJ. This will be what warns other Landlords. You don't need some Tenant blacklisting website that I can only see as being a bit illegal. Just think... they could want to tarnish your name, as Landlord, on some opposite-but-equivalent Tenant-friendly website... whether it is true, or not. I mean, the burden of proof is kinda important.

Does that make sense?

A CCJ is the way to go. Findermonkey will help.

You can go online to make a claim in the court.It is not complicated,and the fees are reasonable (and added to the arrears if judgement goes your way) I have never actually had to go that far,just a letter explaining that I will do so ,unless paid in full within 14 days, has done the trick.Even the flakiest tenants seem to realise the longterm implications for them of a CCJ.I do feel for you,it is infuriating when they do this.

Thank you both.
Do I need to start the CcJ before they leave?

Thanks

If you think you are going to find damage to the property when they vacate,you would want to add this to the rent arrears.Possibly best to wait until they go.

Thanks.

I was asking if I have to start something before they leave just in case is like that for legal reasons.
Now, the only thing is to wait until they leave.
I served 21 notice with date of service 10 February.
They said they'll leave before that date. Fingers crossed!