Let a house to local council

[Hetjim]

Almost all the above replies re letting to council are negative but the one positive reason for letting to council is that after 3 year or 5 year contract with council expires you do get the property back with vacant possession which is unlikely with a private letting and the soon to be outlawed section 21 thus allowing tenants to stay infinitum with rent controls and hand down tenancy to next generation. .

[jpkeates]

You have to consider how the council is going to recover possession in order to return the property vacant.

[DPT57]

The Council has no more powers to evict a reluctant tenant than you do, so if their tenant doesnt want to leave, you won't get it back any quicker than if you let it yourself, and if you try to evict the Council as your tenant, then their tenant will just become your tenant.

[jpkeates]

...and if you try to evict the Council as your tenant, then their tenant will just become your tenant.

Something that I am sure is well highlighted in the council's literature!

[ram]

If you are in flats, with service charges, the buildings insurance for residential Landlords insurance ( the Landlord of the freehold, that insures the building ) The insurance company may well cease immediately the insurance coverage.

It happend to our block of flats ( I was the Co. Sec, ) and I had to inform the flat owner that if he went ahead with renting to the Council, our insurance would be instantly removed, and that the Leasholder would have to pay the increase costs, and put money in the pot- ( in the form of insurance, and sign a Deed to cover all costs of additional charges ) if no insurance was found by him upon sub-tenants movng in.
He soon dropped his idea.

[OhDearyMe]

I will never lease to a council, they house some real scum who cause massive property damage, yes the bill would be footed by the Council and perhaps the tenant is moved, but you could be out of the game for months due to repairs. Speaking from experience sadly.

[Berlingogirl]

no no no no no - Don't do it. I did it and will never, ever, do it again.
The council told me the family would be on the streets if I didn't help them. And do you know what? Living on the street was the right place for them. They were totally incapable of looking after a property.
I will never take the risk again or give somebody a chance.
This was years ago and I've learnt a lot since then.
The council have asked me again if I'd give a family a chance and I said I would if they, personally, would be a guarantor. Funnily enough, they declined.

[Flashback1966]

Old thread?

[gnvqsos]

What colour?

[OhDearyMe]

Old thread?

Still a good question today as this could happen to any LL.

[doobrey]

Rightly or wrongly I wouldn't trust my local council with very much at all. Particularly a six-figure asset.

[Sunshine newbie]

Hi, I have just come out of a very bad council let. Tenant clearly lied, however had guaranteed rent through Covid. Not all council tenants are bad you need to judge whether it is right for you.

[Another Fine Mess]

After getting Landlord Insurance with a rent guarantee I would contact a letting agent and let them advertise it. (and I am not a Letting Agent. I am charged £50 a month in fees for one house where the rent is £650 a month)