UK Landlord Forum / Life

Hi, just wondering if i could have some further advice please.

Our tenant moved into the house a year ago and she notified us in September of the problems she was having with the neighbour.  The house in question belonged to a housing association so we supported our tenant in contacting the association.  Our tenant was on housing benefit and as a goodwill gesture we told her not to top up the rent and the housing benefits we received would suffice.  Anyway things got progressively worse for her and after signing another 12 month contract, she felt she couldnt live there anymore and moved into homeless housing.  We have supported her and she was advised to apply for dual housing which she kept saying she had but it was only when her personal belongings were being moved into storage, 9 weeks later, that she told us the day before that we wouldn't be getting it. 

We have rent arrears of £1,090.35 and feel a little aggrieved to let it go.  We did get an accusing, insulting and grossly unprofessional letter from her support worker, we have since received an apology, saying we should let this go as a goodwill gesture but realistically what are the chances of getting the money owed to us.  She did take a bond scheme out and she had a guarantor. 

Any advice, whether to let it drop or pursue it would be greatly appreciated and even any recommendation on solicitors who dont cost the earth.

Thanks again

Tracy

Pursue the Guarantor. Being a Guarantor is not a trivial thing... people are liable for the debts of the people they are being Guarantor for. They may try to shrug their shoulders and say they're not responsible but, actually, they are. Have you made contact with the Guarantor and made them aware of the situation?

Hi, no I haven't as we had been trying to support our tenant.  I sent a letter stating that if we do not have payment or an agreed payment plan within the next 14 days We will contact the guarantor.  Also the unit my tenant was staying at, the letter was tracked but I've just checked to see if it was delivered and the response is to return to sender as addressee is no longer at the address. So now I wonder shall I wait the 14 days or pursue the guarantor now?

You have to go after it, calmly and without emotion, whilst reletting your place.

Appreciate it is not your tenant who will pay, but either the guarantor the bond people or the unprofessional social worker.

Fire out letters to all, and calls, see where it gets you.

Quote from: Pljandtc on August 09, 2014, 08:14:31 PMI sent a letter stating that if we do not have payment or an agreed payment plan within the next 14 days We will contact the guarantor.

Quote from: PljandtcSo now I wonder shall I wait the 14 days or pursue the guarantor now?

I think you have your answer in what you wrote.