Getting a property is a capital demanding affair. This is more so if you are getting a land and hiring a contractor to build it for you. Even though it is more expensive getting a finished property, it is more tasking and stressful to supervise your contractors. You will also need to get a good insurance policy for your home after reading UK landlord insurance companies reviews on BritainReviews to know the right company to patronize.
As a landlord, you should know how to deal with tenants who are late in paying their rent. Before your tenants’ rents are due, you should send them reminders so that they remember if they have forgotten. If they refuse to pay, here are some steps you can take:
Send your tenant a notice
Once the rent is past due and your tenant has yet to pay up, send them an informal notice. You can send it to them by mail or hand it over to them directly. Even though this is not required legally, it is a graceful way to remind your tenants to pay up their rent as it’s long overdue. Tenants who are conscientious enough will be sorry for their actions and send you a reply, expressing remorse and stating why they have yet to pay. Ensure the notice contains what will happen if they refuse to pay. This will serve as a record when you need it in future. Even if the tenant is a chronic defaulter, still send them a notice.
Put a call through to them
If your tenant still refuses to pay after the notice, you can put a call through to them. However, ensure that you don’t bombard them with calls as that will be perceived as harassment from you. You should not call more than once, and twice if you couldn’t get through in the first instance. Talking with your tenants on the phone is a more effective way to get replies to your questions immediately, and possibly see how you can help them to pay you faster.
Reach out to the guarantor
After calling the tenant and yet nothing happened, it is time to get in touch with their guarantors. Before you rent out your house to anyone, you should demand to see their guarantors and have their contact, either mail address or phone number. This way, you can easily report any misconduct of your tenants to their guarantors. The guarantor might help your tenant with their rent or spur them to pay you.
Send them an eviction notice
This is one of the last steps you take. If the tenant refuses to pay, you should send them an eviction notice. The eviction notice should contain your intention to evict them since they have refused to pay, on what date you expect them to move out, and what they can do to avoid the eviction process if they are still interested in living in your property. Ensure the notice contains the specific guidelines of the law that covers your state. Also, you should give your tenants some days to do the needful.
Take them to court
If your tenant still refuses to pay after the eviction notice, it is time to evict them. However, it is unlawful for you to evict your tenant forcefully especially when the court has not decided in your favour. With the help of a lawyer, you can file a landlord-tenant complaint and fill the necessary paperwork for you to go to court. If you win the case, you can then evict your tenant.
