From dealing with landlord and tenant cases from the age of 18, while working for a firm of solicitors, I’ve seen a lot with regard to bad tenants and rent collection. But I must say since I started Landlord Action in 1999, in the last 6 months our Rent Recovery Department has never busier in respect of ex-tenant tracing to a new address and rent recovery, like issuing small claims summons, attachment of earnings, third party orders, information hearings, charging orders and bankruptcy demands, which we offer for fixed fees and is carried out by a qualified solicitor.
I believe now landlords are less tolerant with tenant owing rent arrears and want to chase tenants down to new address and try and get a money judgement against them and enforce it at court, even on some cases when they know it will be very hard to collect, but want a county court judgement to be registered against their former tenant, so it affects their credit rating, when applying for future credit.
The key to try to locate your ex-tenant is having up to date information from referencing and change of job status, or speaking to neighbours of your rented property, so that they can be traced through the system to their new address. It is wise to wait at least 3-6 months sometimes, for them to re-surface in the financial systems, as most probably they have moved to another property and have had to be credit checked.
Remember even if you have gone to court and obtained a possession and money order, it does not show up as a county court judgement, until it is enforced by the court.
We have had landlords that come back to us 2-3 years later to trace and chase the ex-tenant’s debt, as they believe the tenant’s circumstances have changed. Remember a debt lasts for six years to enforce.
If you know your ex-tenant has a string of debts or was claiming housing benefit it most probably will be a waste of time, so do not start throwing good money after bad.
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