I'm a landlord who's been shafted. Help

[crocodiles]

Irented out my flat for just under 3 years.I used a letting agency called 'Yes Mortgage & let'.
They failed miserably to manage my tennant and when I finally gained access, the property had been trashed. I have had to replace every item of furniture, ceilings,walls, floors, plumbing, electrics doors. Nothing was left undamaged. Even light switches, windows, fireplace. Totally trashed.
I met my lawyer who said that I had a good case. I contacted letting agent only to find that they had stopped trading. They went out of business on a Friday and began trading under a new name on the following Monday.
I contacted the new owner and he visited the flat, he offered to buy it for a pittance and was shown the door. I have been rebuilding for 3 years now at great cost, both financial and personal.
I have 2 mortgages, 2 council tax bills, have learned several new trades-can't afford to employ tradesmen, have been harrased by tennants creditors, have paid for tools, materials & replacement furniture.
Stress of time and financial burdens has put my marriage under enormous strain.
I have a list of bank charges that will keep me on this site for a few years thanks to the hole it put me in.
I'd better stop now before this turns into a country & western song (my dog didn't die!).
Anyway I didn't start out as a slum landlord, it just ended that way.
The psychobitch tennant actually got rehoused because she got social services to free her from her self imposed squalour.
I met her once and very loudly and publicly offered to return the fecies that she left on my walls and in the g-strings she left behind but for some reason she had to leave.
Oh well. Do I sound bitter?
Actually, no I'm not. All I want is for her and her brood of fatherless spawn to suffer for eternity, and for me to sit by and watch their slow descent into destitution.
Oh, and I'd love to get some form of recompence from the so called property management company that re-cast the term incompitence in an altogether grander, apocolyptic context.
Anyway, I'll get off this manic rant but if anyone can pass on their experience or advice, I would really appreciate it.
Thanks in advance.

[dori2o]

Sorry but have no advise towards the former tennant, but as she's under Social Services, they will probably prevent any action against her.

What I will say is, don't forget to claim all expenses for the repairs to the flat on your tax returns, also, why are you paying council tax on the property, if the property is empty it should be exempt as i understand it.

[blacksheep1979]

If the damage was so obviously done on purpose I'd contact the police regarding criminal damage. Also regardless of wether you will see the money or not take the ex tennant to the small claims court and she will have a ccj hanging over her head for however long it takes to pay off + 6 years. Also if she misses a payment you can send the baliffs in.

[crocodiles]

Thanks blacksheep, I'm not normaly the eye for an eye type but in this case I really would like my pound of flesh

[blacksheep1979]

Well also irrelevant of the eye for an eye you should hopefully get your money back - all be it in probably many years time and hopefully it will stop her from doing it to others.

[Joa]

crocodiles; although this forum is full of very helpful, often experienced and smart people, your situation is quite complex and you should seek proper legl advice. This is because, IMHO, you have a claim against the agents, whom you probably paid for looking after your property. They are out of business however and that's where it gets complicated. I know that there is a way to pursue matters in such circumstances but as I a writing from home and my resources are at work, I am not going to be a fool and advice you from top of my head. I could get back to you on Monday if you PM me to remind me.

[cheddar]

I would also suggest some legal advice you should have gone to the police as soon as it had been noticed as this is criminal damage and taken tenant to small claims. I also see you mentioned you are paying Council Tax, shouldn't an empty property be exempt?

[Joa]

croc, I have sent you PM with some info.

[Pen]

Hi sorry to hear your problems but your comments towards her children lost the sympathy vote with me in fact i stoped reading your post half way. For Social Services to be involved the situation for her kids must be really bad, Social Services don't involved themself for badly behaved kids the police do that, social workers are so overworked that they only take on immediate crises intervention work ,in other words child protection concerns. OK the mother is probably a bitch. Just think if that is the state she left your house in what conditions where the children living in. Instead of looking for ways of getting your rent maybe you should have been making a referral to the social services yourself, as you say it is your property so in 3 years you must have visited the house at some point maybe the kids wouldn't have suffered so much if you had intervened sooner. Just thank yourself lucky one of them wasn't found died whats money compered to the life those kids are living I wouldn't want their life would you.
Pen

[crocodiles]

Hi Pen,

I can understand your statements totally.
But.......
My opening post was a little naughty but meant to be a bit laconic, i.e. humorous. I know that irony & sarcasm don't translate too well in print, so let me assure you that I would never wish actual harm on anyone, let alone children.
My wife worked for the Reporter to the Childrens panel in Scotland for 10 years, so I have a great deal of knowledge regarding child poverty and much worse.
Also, I was chairman of a local charity for 5 years that was aimed at giving local underpriviliged kids an alternative to drugs, booze & crime by means of providing music tuition & concert facilities.
For those 5 years my wife became a charity widow as it consumed my life.

Regarding the mother, I know of her family (I didn't when I first met her) and the girl probably hasn't had a chance in life herself. Such is the way with life, history repeats itself.
As for her children, they were too young to be a matter for the police.
My understanding, from reports by neighbours, was that they were almost feral, having had no parental guidance of note.

I didn't visit the property until the end of the tennancy because I had hired a property agency to do this for me. In fact, I was advised not to have any contact with the property or tennant for professional reasons.
I may have been a little naive, but this was my first attempt to let a property.


I did not report them to social services because I was unaware of the information contained in my first post until after she had left my flat.
Obviously, she didn't leave a forwarding address.


Now, regarding looking at ways of getting my rent back....
This woman has put myself, my wife and my own son through years of hardship because of her actions. I have had to pay through the nose to rebuild my flat whilst paying double bills for the flat and my own home.
I have been to within 2 days of bankrupcy due to the incompetance of our local council tax department - exemptions only last for so long and only last whilst the property is uninhabitable as opposed to uninhabited - and suffered long term stress whilst fighting to survive financially.

I would suggest to you that my loyalty must lie with my own family before I can start considering the welfare of the person who almost ruined my life.
I am not by nature a vengfull man but you must surely agree that it is not ones first instinct to offer charity to the person who is putting your family in peril.

[Pen]

"The psychobitch tennant actually got rehoused because she got social services to free her from her self imposed squalour.
Oh well. Do I sound bitter?"

"Actually, no I'm not. All I want is for her and her brood of fatherless spawn to suffer for eternit"

I am afraid if you think that your above comments are in any way funny, an attempt at humor then I do wonder about the authenticity of your post as I am left wondering who is in fact the psycho.

I can guarantee that by the way you have described these children's living conditions this women would not have wanted the social services involved Social Services involvement must have been due to a kindly neighbour, School, Health Visitor in fact anyone who has concerns regarding a child's wellbeing.
I am at a loss as to how you became a chairmen of a charity involving children or you motives for such work as your philosophy on life seems to be one of I'm or right Jack, how sad is that.
Money seems to be the driving force for some people, you have 2 homes. the way you have described these children's home then I bet before long they won't have one they will probably end up in foster homes. Your financial problems will be sorted out eventually so well done you you can give yourself a pat on the back for being so clever but don't you think theres a bit more to life just be glad you don't have hers
I am happy to say i will not be reading any more of your posts and thank goodness the rest of the members of this site are a very caring bunch of people. The thought of your greed compared to these children's welfare is making me sick. My advice to you would be to sort it out with the council, its them you should be wishing to hell and back along with the mother not those poor kids
Pen

[crocodiles]

I take great offence at your comments Pen.
In case you decide not to read this, I have sent you a private message with roughly the same content as this post.


I am not motivated by greed.
I am not a 'proffesional' landlord.
I rented my property because I bought a larger house and the sale of my flat fell through.
I am not wealthy. I bought a larger house because I worked hard to be able to afford it. It was not inherited!
I rented this flat in pristine condition and the tennant destroyed it.
She has by her actions put myself, my wife and my own son through years of financial and phsycological distress.

I try to be a good husband and parent, and due to her actions, I have not provided for my family as I would have liked to.

If you were unfortunate enough to be put in this position by someone, your views may be slightly different.

I was involved in my charity work on a voluntary basis.
I found it incredibly fulfilling to have a positive impact upon those kids - who came from the same streets as I did.
The need to break the cycle of poverty, ignorance, cynisism and defeatism that is passed on from generation to generation in society is very urgent, for this imbalance in opportunity creates hatred, crime, oppression and continued ignorance.
I did not change the world but there are young people where I live who have been offered an alternative to their often inevitable fate.
Many passed through our project unchanged but some took their opportunity and are now musicians, lighting engineers, sound engineers, do their own voluntary work or have simply gained some self belief and confidence throught their achievements.
I do not broadcast this work or its consequences but you have questioned my character as a human being and I find your comments deeply offensive.
Who are you to judge my motivations or actions?

I may be wrong, and I hope I am, but you seem to be very quick to judge others and that smacks of self-righteousness.

I suggest that you have a look inwards before you launch your attacks on others.

Now, can we return this thread/site to it's original purpose?

[StudentInDebt]

I am afraid if you think that your above comments are in any way funny, an attempt at humor then I do wonder about the authenticity of your post as I am left wondering who is in fact the psycho.

I'm left wondering why some people in this country have become so politically correct that they can't recognise a bit of harmless invective when they see it.

[bathgatebuyer]

Sorry Crocodiles, reading Pen's post has confused me somewhat. Are you merely a property owner who hired an agent who failed to manage a property on your behalf, or are you a social worker? Were you the one raising your own children in a careless and cruel manner, or were you merely a property owner unaware that such things were happening in your property due to the poor performance of your agent?

Seems to me - as a Commercial Property Manager - that your only error of judgement was in using the agents that you did. Were they members of any professional body? If they were members of the RICS, you may be covered. It's only a slim chance given that it was a residential firm of agents, but may be worth checking.

Oh, and remember in future, if ever you let out a property, remember and look out your social work qualification, it looks like it's expected of you!

[Rich44]

Originally Posted by Pen

"The psychobitch tennant actually got rehoused because she got social services to free her from her self imposed squalour.
Oh well. Do I sound bitter?"

"Actually, no I'm not. All I want is for her and her brood of fatherless spawn to suffer for eternit"

I am afraid if you think that your above comments are in any way funny, an attempt at humor then I do wonder about the authenticity of your post as I am left wondering who is in fact the psycho.

I can guarantee that by the way you have described these children's living conditions this women would not have wanted the social services involved Social Services involvement must have been due to a kindly neighbour, School, Health Visitor in fact anyone who has concerns regarding a child's wellbeing.
I am at a loss as to how you became a chairmen of a charity involving children or you motives for such work as your philosophy on life seems to be one of I'm or right Jack, how sad is that.
Money seems to be the driving force for some people, you have 2 homes. the way you have described these children's home then I bet before long they won't have one they will probably end up in foster homes. Your financial problems will be sorted out eventually so well done you you can give yourself a pat on the back for being so clever but don't you think theres a bit more to life just be glad you don't have hers
I am happy to say i will not be reading any more of your posts and thank goodness the rest of the members of this site are a very caring bunch of people. The thought of your greed compared to these children's welfare is making me sick. My advice to you would be to sort it out with the council, its them you should be wishing to hell and back along with the mother not those poor kids
Pen

The phrase is "I'm all right jack" not or right.

As for the rest of your little tirade I suggest you get a life. By your logic when someone says i'm gonna kill you then they should be locked up for attempted murder? its paraphrasing/sarcasm/jokes etc perhaps if you cant understand such things even when they are pointed out to you then you should stay away from public forums such as this one before you really take offence at something innocuous and have a heart spasm

[meagain]

Originally Posted by Rich44

By your logic when someone says i'm gonna kill you then they should be locked up for attempted murder?

Precisely. When call centre staff say that their penalties are acceptable because "everyone else imposes them", I tell them "In that case, I'll just come around and kill you - after all, other people commit murder ...". This usually gets the point over quickly (and they couldn't prove malice on my part if they tried).