Account

The Actual News

Just the Facts, from multiple news sources.

My tenant owes £15,000 in rent, but I can't get them out of the property

My tenant owes £15,000 in rent, but I can't get them out of the property

Summary

Rongmala, a landlord in south London, is owed about £15,000 in rent by her tenant who refuses to leave the property. Court delays are causing problems for landlords like her, especially with a new law starting May 1 in England that gives renters more protection and limits when landlords can evict tenants.

Key Facts

  • Rongmala rented out her home but her tenant stopped paying rent last year, owing about £15,000.
  • She started an eviction process, but the court system is slow, and eviction could take up to 11 months.
  • She has to cover costs like £2,500 for boiler repairs, estate service charges, and a mortgage, despite no rent income.
  • A new law coming May 1 restricts landlords from evicting tenants without a valid legal reason.
  • Under old rules, landlords could evict with just eight weeks’ notice and no reason (Section 21 notice).
  • The new law aims to protect renters by limiting evictions to reasons like rent arrears or anti-social behavior.
  • Landlords currently wait about 26 weeks on average to repossess a property after starting court claims.
  • Many renters report frequent moves and high rent costs, with some paying up to 70% of their income on rent.
Read the Full Article

This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.