UK Landlord Forum / Life

Hi Newbie here


Our tenant gave notice that she was leaving on 1st May 2018 when i went to house on the nite of the 1st she had still not moved all her items out but said would be done by next morning. I received a text the next morning at 7.15am saying they had been let down and the items would be removed by this weekend , i just asked if she had left keys with neighbour as arranged due to me working i could not collect from her she replied yes i went to house that night got keys and changed locks somehting i do evertime a tenant leaves. Having not heard from her i tried calling yestwerday  but would not answer  so wife text her, she said she was still waiting to sort out we informed her that we need items removed by today bit basically said cant and has now blocked us.

We have not yet returned her deposit what are the next steps can i remove tht items and put in storage and tell her she needs to collect from there within 15 days or destroyed and can we withhold some deposit to cover cost aslo she will not provide her new address


thanks

You can put the items into storage, yes. You can even charge for that... or deduct from the Deposit. However, if it's at all possible, it would be better to just arrange a date and time when she can collect... or even offer to provide that transport. I don't know how much stuff there is, but presumably it is wanted (?) and if the ex-Tenant was let down you could just engage someone who won't let you down. I know that will stick in the throat... but the hassle of your other course of action seems just as painful and time-consuming (to me) for you.

Basically, the end point you want to reach is where you have no further contact with the ex-Tenant - putting these things into storage will likely not get you there. I don't think you can go to a storage company as Mr. Plus91UK, but say Miss. ForgotThisStuff will collect it? Surely there must be checks performed that mean you have to remain involved at some level?

Does a landlord have a legal obligation to keep safe the items abandoned by a tenant,when promises to collect have been broken? Could one not put them out in the front garden,with a message attached,if not collected within say a week,will be donated to a charity shop (or the tip) ?
I did this with a road bike left in the hall of a block of flats.No one accepted ownership,after  months I put a notice on,and it disappeared the next day.The landlord here does not even have an address to leave them on her doorstep.

Unfortunately the landlord does have a duty of care in relation to the goods left behind: http://www.propertyinvestmentproject.co.uk/blog/my-tenant-left-belongings-in-the-property/

Leaving things at the mercy of the elements or passers-by would amount to negligence under the Act.

Quote from: Hippogriff on May 08, 2018, 08:10:55 AM
You can put the items into storage, yes. You can even charge for that... or deduct from the Deposit. However, if it's at all possible, it would be better to just arrange a date and time when she can collect... or even offer to provide that transport. I don't know how much stuff there is, but presumably it is wanted (?) and if the ex-Tenant was let down you could just engage someone who won't let you down. I know that will stick in the throat... but the hassle of your other course of action seems just as painful and time-consuming (to me) for you.

Basically, the end point you want to reach is where you have no further contact with the ex-Tenant - putting these things into storage will likely not get you there. I don't think you can go to a storage company as Mr. Plus91UK, but say Miss. ForgotThisStuff will collect it? Surely there must be checks performed that mean you have to remain involved at some level?

Unfortunately she is ignoring us not replying to emails phone calls etc so have given her 15 days to remove before we dispose off.  But thanks for the advice