Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for landlords to be left unpaid when they are owed rent from both current and evicted tenants. Therefore, it is important that landlords choose the most appropriate approach to recover any money they are owed to ensure that further disputes do not occur.
Within the initial steps of taking on a tenant, it is important to take appropriate precautions such as obtain references where possible to ensure that the potential tenant is suitable for your property. Good references will help reduce the chances of arrears and will secure the chances that the tenant will pay on time and pay the correct amount which will maintain cash flow. This can also be achieved by the following three factors which landlords should consider when taking on a new tenant:
- Vetting prospective tenants thoroughly.
- Considering Landlord Insurance Cover.
- Considering insisting upon a Guarantor.
If you suspect that rent arrears may occur you should try to resolve the problems at the earliest time possible by simply reminding the tenant. When you have exhausted all the obvious options you should instruct a Solicitor to take things to the next step. Our team can liaise with the tenant and discuss any short term or long-term repayment plans. If the dispute worsens, your Solicitor will get a County Court Judgement which will allow enforcement proceedings. They will then instruct the Courts to grant possession and where necessary instruct bailiffs to recover your losses.
Unfortunately, landlords are unable to end a contract if the tenant has not made a payment. It is the Courts who decide whether to end a tenancy agreement on the basis of rent being left paid. If there is a tenant in your property who does not have any assets, has a bad credit score, are constantly moving, are late with rent or pay different amounts each time, it would be in your best interests to evict the tenant as soon as you can. As a landlord it is in good practice to prepare yourself for any lost income to ensure that costs can still be paid even when arrears occurs.
Here at Hodgkinsons Solicitors Skegness our Dispute Resolution team can represent either Landlords or Tenants when a dispute arises. To discuss such a dispute, whether you live locally in Skegness, rural Lincolnshire or further afield, call us on 01754 897150 or fill out a contact form and we will call you.