Meet Steve.
Steve recently attempted to evict his tenant from a flat in Silsoe due to unpaid rent.
Steve failed to plan, didn’t understand the process, and opted to go it alone.
The result: critical errors, entanglement in legal complexities, additional costs, and a delayed eviction.
Don’t be stressed like Steve…
Don’t rely on just any advice.
If you ask the wrong people and head to the wrong places, an eviction may not end well for you. Forums, Facebook groups, and your uncle’s mate who once had a buy-to-let aren’t ideal. There’s no recourse if they feed you facts that turn out to be fiction.
Don’t use out-of-date guidance.
Lettings regulations often change, almost constantly adjusting with the ever-evolving landscape. It’s possible to be one, two, even multiple steps behind, so make sure to research only the most recent information.
Don’t be non-compliant.
Depending on the type of notice you’ll be serving, there are certain elements that need to be compliant before you're able to proceed. Is the EICR in date? Are all the appliances tested and approved? Is the property gas safe? Are all outstanding maintenance works complete, and is the property above reproach of an HHSRS inspection? All these and more need to be a ‘yes’.
Don’t forget to read the contract.
Some of your answers sit within the pages of your contract… Search here for when the fixed term ends, if you have any break clauses, and if they comply with the Deregulation Act.
Don’t get personal.
Contacting a tenant directly can be difficult. It’s emotional, and can become confrontational. Remember your reasons for the eviction.
Don’t serve the wrong notice.
If you don’t know for certain which eviction notice to serve, you shouldn’t be the one serving it. Is it the right time to use a Section 8? Do you need a Section 21 or a prescribed 6a? What notice is required for each specific ground, and which grounds are mandatory/discretionary?
Don’t ignore the transition period.
Serving the notice is the start (sort of), but when does the eviction process end? If you get the keys back early, you’ve now got an empty property and no rent coming in. And what if you don’t get the keys back at all?
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Do use a lettings agent like Orchards:
01525 40 22 66
ampthill@orchards.co.uk
