Non-payment of rent can create a difficult situation for both the tenant and the landlord. The landlord will lose out on some of their rental income, which could put them into financial issues and the tenant may already be facing financial difficulties which make paying rent difficult.
It is very important to find the best solution for both parties so that the normality of rent can return.
Find out why they haven’t paid
Knowing why your tenant hasn’t paid is the first step to resolving the issue, so you should find out why they haven’t paid.
Everyone has different things going on in their lives, so it may just end up being a simple issue that can be resolved quickly, such as something changing with their bank, or maybe they are just a day or two behind with their wages and will pay as soon as they can.
However, sometimes tenants can misbehave and refuse to pay on time, or at all. Remember, the law is there to protect you from difficult tenants, so all you have to do is stay calm and seek the help of a solicitor!
Get in touch with us for expert legal advice on help for landlords. You can call our legal team on 0161 436 0006 now for a free no-obligation consultation or you can fill out our form and one of our experts will get back to you as soon as possible!
Cover your bases: Keep evidence!
Make sure to keep a record of all your correspondence in case you need to reference it later. This way, you can resolve any issues more smoothly.
What evidence can you keep?
- Letters
- Text messages
- Emails
- Log of phone calls
Having a record of your communication with your tenant will give you a major advantage when dealing with the legal side of things, After all, the law works best and most quickly when there is plenty of evidence, right?
Correct communication is key!
If your tenant hasn’t paid rent on time, try to find out why. Everyone has different things going on in their lives, so it may just end up being a simple issue that can be resolved quickly, such as something changing with the tenant’s bank, or maybe they are just a day or two behind with their wages and will pay as soon as they can.
If your tenant is having some issues over money, for example, wages coming in slowly or they have overspent, you may want to arrange a payment plan which suits both of you. This could be with housing benefits through universal credit.
Always be polite and understanding, even if your tenant was refusing to pay for selfish reasons, this could actually persuade them to pay you. But if it’s their first time, you want to give them enough time to sort out their problems, which can improve your relationship with them and could make your long-term letting to them much easier.
Remember, the law is there to help you resolve the situation, so if you are feeling frustrated with misbehaving tenants, don’t get angry, let the law deal with this as that will make it easier for you.
Never contact or visit your tenants outside of reasonable hours and do not enter the property without the tenant’s permission!
If you are ever rude or aggressive with your tenants, whether in person, on the phone or through written communication, you could actually land yourself in trouble and that will be much worse for you when you go to court to try and resolve the situation.
When do I contact my landlord insurance provider?
- When your tenant is facing arrears
- When the tenancy agreement comes to an end with unpaid rent (you may be able to claim from their tenancy deposit)
Can I evict a tenant not paying rent?
Evicting a tenant can be difficult because no landlord wants to change their tenant’s life for the worse, but the landlord has right to remove a tenant from their property if the tenant is causing problems for them.
Evicting a tenant should be considered a last resort and must be done properly by giving them notice.
Evicting a tenant incorrectly can actually cause severe consequences for the landlord. This is why it is important to work with a solicitor on this issue.
The tenant failing to pay for two months gives the landlord the right to start legal proceedings for eviction.
If your tenant has fallen two months behind on their payments, has refused to communicate with you in order to resolve the situation and refuses to leave the property, the landlord can serve a Section 8 Notice.
You will need to provide evidence to the court to justify your request, which is why it is very important to keep any records of your communication with the tenant.
Click here to read more about Tenant Evictions
Don’t worry, legal help is there to protect honest landlords
If you have tried to reason with your tenant without success, our housing law team will be happy to help you find a legal solution to your tenant issue. Get in touch with us for expert legal advice on help for landlords. You can call our legal team on 0161 436 0006 now for a free no-obligation consultation.
The law is always on the side of the right. Stay calm, seek legal advice and you have a very good chance of turning your situation around for the better!
