sue161 Posted July 18, 2006 Report Share Posted July 18, 2006 could anybody help me we had a women from the dhss as a tenant in our property.for about 2 weeks we have been trying to contact her her phone is always switched off. we recently went down to the property and found entry to the house and to our shock all the carpets and wallpaper have been pulled up and ripped the place stank and there were plates of leftover food and the place was buzzing with flies.we are distraught at the damage and we still have not heard from this women and we have been unable to contact her.by the state of the place it looked unliveable and the neighbours say there has been noone there for about 2 weeks.we think she has left but are not sure on what action to take as she nor the dhss have said she has left the property.can anybody help and what legal action can we take? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melboy Posted July 19, 2006 Report Share Posted July 19, 2006 You have to be careful on this situation. It is a normal reaction to change the locks and clean the place up and want to kick the hell out of the Tenant for leaving your property in such a disgusting state BUT if the person has only gone on holiday and is due to return you will be in trouble if the person reports you for harassment and eviction. You will end up as the loser in the eyes of the law and you could be fined. Such is the stupidity of English Law these days when Landlords have to take desperate action against very bad Tenants. Check for evidence to see if any clothes, personal belongings etc. remain in the property. Report the situation to the DSS. telephone in the first instance and then back it up with a letter outlining everything that has happened. If nothing happens after say 3 weeks get in there under an "emergency entry" notice. Tell the DSS you plan to do this on Health and Safety grounds for entry and re-possession. If you have a Solicitor, then tell him of your plan of action. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-Prop Posted July 19, 2006 Report Share Posted July 19, 2006 Remember to take LOTS of photographs as evidence. A picture paints a thousand words as they say and it certaintly does in court! Trevor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tony_ mort Posted July 20, 2006 Report Share Posted July 20, 2006 Inform the police. Tell them there is a possibility the place has been vacated, and may be at risk of unauthorised occupation. Change the locks, but tell the neighbours and leave a note (unobtrusively) in the window that the new key is available from yourself should she wish to call you. Do the minimum necessary to tidy the place up. Serve a section 21. If you don't hear in another couple of weeks then inform DSS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lparsons1964 Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 Photographs seem to be the only thing saving us at the moment after a tenant left giving no notice and leaving damage to carpets and doors. Take loads of photos and keep them, we kept hold of ours for nearly a year before she decided to take legal action to try and get her deposit back, thankfully the photos help to tell the true story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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