This is a question to the blog clinic from Richard (not his real name), who is a landlord in England.
I am selling my flat. The sale fell through. I got a tenant for 6 months who agreed to rent it on an AST for 6 months without a deposit. He paid rent and was paid up for 3 months. After making the last 3rd payment, he decided to leave suddenly and return to Albania.
He is now claiming deposit liability twice the 3 months and wants 6 months’ rent in compensation.
He has realised he didn’t pay a deposit, so none was registered, but has engaged a vicious debt collection agency to hound me with demands. Do I have to pay?
Answer
If the tenant did not pay a deposit, then no, you should not pay.
It may be difficult to get the debt collectors off your case though. I assume that you have already written to them, telling them that no deposit was paid by the tenant.
If they continue to be difficult, then write to them saying that if they do not leave you alone, you will be instructing solicitors to apply for an injunction and compensation under the Protection from Harassment Act, plus an order that they pay your legal costs.
If they continue, then instruct solicitors to write to them.
Have any readers had this problem?