Problem tenants are a nightmare for any landlord.
They can be a problem for a range of reasons.
Either way, there are set steps to take to deal with them.
1. Remind yourself of the contract in-place
Your first port of call should be to check any written contract. Usually, this is a tenancy agreement.
This document explains what is and isn’t allowed in your house. And you mustn’t deviate from this because it’s binding.
Double-check that your tenant’s problematic behaviour is against your agreement. Then get clarity on what the contract says you can do about this.
2. Speak to a solicitor
If you don’t have a written contract in place, you should speak to a solicitor.
They can advise you on common housing law in this scenario. Getting a contract written before you let out a house is always in your interest.
3. Stay calm and professional
Don’t allow your emotions to get the better of you. No matter what happens, you must stay calm and professional.
You may need to justify anything you do in a court of law further down the line.
And if you’re respectful and follow the correct procedure, this can work in your favour. A judge is more likely to view you positively. And the tenants could cooperate.
4. Keep a record of everything that occurs
You need to get as much as evidence as you can. Keep a record of conversations between you and your tenant.
And if damage is done to the house, take photos of it. This ensures that you aren’t relying on subjective opinions.
Any other documents that you can gather, will be helpful. This includes:
- Your tenancy agreement
- Details about your tenant, including references (which they gave during the application process)
- Any financial transactions (or lack thereof) should be shown on printed bank statements.
If you suspect that your tenant may become problematic, then regular inspections could be a smart idea.
This allows you to stay ‘on top’ of the situation before it gets out of control.
5. Get support from a qualified professional
It’s always a good idea to surround yourself with an experienced professional. This is especially useful if you’ve never faced this difficulty before.
The solicitor or lawyer can guide you on the best steps forward. With many of the suggestions we’ve listed above, they’ll tell you to do it, as well.
This professional can also take some of the workload off you. This might include gathering documents or filing for eviction.
6. Don’t rush into court if you can avoid it
Taking your tenant to court shouldn’t be your first choice. As mentioned above, you need to be respectful.
And this includes trying to negotiate with your tenant, if possible. It may be worth bringing in a mediator.
Try to understand your tenant’s perspective. And then offer solutions that work for everyone involved.
It can save you money and time to do this. And your tenant is more likely to be amenable if you treat them respectfully.
7. Talk through all your options
Your solicitor or lawyer can advise you on the different options.
The three main ones are:
- Allowing your tenant to continue living there
- Filing for eviction
- Selling the house with the tenant in situ.
There are several other scenarios under each category.
If you want your tenant to pay for damage, then it may involve taking them to court.
But if everything gets smoothed out, you could allow them to continue living there afterwards. Or the situation might’ve become untenable.
Likewise, you should be wary of costs associated with steps like eviction.
You’ll need to pay your solicitor, for example. And gathering evidence may incur costs as well.
A cash buyer or auction company can sell your house with the tenant in situ.
But the selling price will be dramatically lower. If you can tolerate the bad behaviour, you may also let your tenant keep living there.
8. Initiate proceedings for an eviction (if necessary)
The final step to dealing with a problem tenant is filing for eviction. You should get a solicitor or lawyer to help you with this.
You’ll need to complete paperwork and go through the court system. There’ll be a court date where you can present your case.
This can result in your tenant being forced to leave, if you’re successful. You’ll thus have control back over your home.
Talk through all your options and prepare for the costs associated with any route you take.
