Right let me start (Apologies if this has been posted in the wrong section of this forum or you have heard of this query previously
I became a Landlord to further supplement my Pension one day in 2018. I bought a property with tenants in situ. (A few repairs needed to be done i.e. cutting down of weeds in the back garden a potential leaky window in the attic). I have attempted to get the repairs done however at times the tenants have been difficult and not given access.
Recently during the Pandemic I attempted to do a few of the repairs and they were not happy with one of the Jobs done in August 2020. I said I need to talk to them about Rent Arrears (the common problem I hear you say as Landlords!)
Prior to the pandemic since March the tenants have been more or less up to date with Rent Payments struggling a couple of times (They are partly funded by Housing Benefit I hear and have had reasons of not received payment from HB or their rabbits died so they had to get them removed and pay a Vet etc)
Currently they are in arrears of £1075. They require a Gas Certificate check which is done yearly and this includes the Boiler Check
I have done essential jobs at the beginning of the year they had Rats in the garden and coming into the house - they have a dog and this doesn't help I assume with the Dog feed left near the kitchen door. I got professionals into the property to resolve this and also had the gutters cleared out to resolve any future damp problems without their own knowledge.
They were given a new tenancy agreement 6 month AST in October 2019 this expired in May 2020 Unfortunately I have lost my copy and they are not communicating with me through phone messages or whatsapp.
We are currently at a difficult position. They pay occasionally the rent through bank transfer about 44% of the rent due each month has been paid 2 weeks ago. They are in £1,075 arrears. They are not replying to my messages even when I am offering a new Tenancy Agreement. I am doing this to cover myself in order to get a Section 21 on their (A**) and get possession.
My next question is how can I evict them without a tenancy agreement? I lost my copy as having recently moved house before March 2020 and as you know things get lost and misplaced
unfortunately that document set for the tenancy agreement is missing!
To summarise I have the following problem:-
They could complain to Council about lack of repairs and me harassing them for payment of rent
I have given them a goodwill gesture and knocked off £150 of rent for one month
The woman (Mother) works part time and the Son works in a warehouse occasionally they receive around 1/2 of the rent a month through Housing Benefit from my recollection
They are in £1,075 arrears as of the date of posting this
They require a Gas Check by Corgi Engineer in the next 2 weeks as per yearly checks they are not replying to my Whatsapp messages but are reading them as a I get a read receipt
There was no deposit given or taken
I think I have the original tenancy agreement from 2018 however not sure it includes the "Right to Rent Guide" or EPC Certificate with it I did give one but my copy does not have one I think.
My question is clearly how can I evict them without losing a case at Court? I am already down on the rent and paying out a monthly mortgage on the property from my own pocket
I understand we are in a pandemic but they are taking the P*** with Rent payments - these are still due are they not? We still have to pay the dear banks there flesh each month regardless why do tenants like these think they can get away with it? Do they think they can live free or pay below the expected rent and let arrears stack up and not worry?
What are the regulations no to evict them I am at my tethers end with these individuals - to the point its affecting my daily life thinking about it
I am not hear to whinge or moan just wanting advice from the experienced forum of landlords
Please advise
Thanks
SSD10
I became a Landlord to further supplement my Pension one day in 2018. I bought a property with tenants in situ. (A few repairs needed to be done i.e. cutting down of weeds in the back garden a potential leaky window in the attic). I have attempted to get the repairs done however at times the tenants have been difficult and not given access.
Recently during the Pandemic I attempted to do a few of the repairs and they were not happy with one of the Jobs done in August 2020. I said I need to talk to them about Rent Arrears (the common problem I hear you say as Landlords!)
Prior to the pandemic since March the tenants have been more or less up to date with Rent Payments struggling a couple of times (They are partly funded by Housing Benefit I hear and have had reasons of not received payment from HB or their rabbits died so they had to get them removed and pay a Vet etc)
Currently they are in arrears of £1075. They require a Gas Certificate check which is done yearly and this includes the Boiler Check
I have done essential jobs at the beginning of the year they had Rats in the garden and coming into the house - they have a dog and this doesn't help I assume with the Dog feed left near the kitchen door. I got professionals into the property to resolve this and also had the gutters cleared out to resolve any future damp problems without their own knowledge.
They were given a new tenancy agreement 6 month AST in October 2019 this expired in May 2020 Unfortunately I have lost my copy and they are not communicating with me through phone messages or whatsapp.
We are currently at a difficult position. They pay occasionally the rent through bank transfer about 44% of the rent due each month has been paid 2 weeks ago. They are in £1,075 arrears. They are not replying to my messages even when I am offering a new Tenancy Agreement. I am doing this to cover myself in order to get a Section 21 on their (A**) and get possession.
My next question is how can I evict them without a tenancy agreement? I lost my copy as having recently moved house before March 2020 and as you know things get lost and misplaced

To summarise I have the following problem:-
They could complain to Council about lack of repairs and me harassing them for payment of rent
I have given them a goodwill gesture and knocked off £150 of rent for one month
The woman (Mother) works part time and the Son works in a warehouse occasionally they receive around 1/2 of the rent a month through Housing Benefit from my recollection
They are in £1,075 arrears as of the date of posting this
They require a Gas Check by Corgi Engineer in the next 2 weeks as per yearly checks they are not replying to my Whatsapp messages but are reading them as a I get a read receipt
There was no deposit given or taken
I think I have the original tenancy agreement from 2018 however not sure it includes the "Right to Rent Guide" or EPC Certificate with it I did give one but my copy does not have one I think.
My question is clearly how can I evict them without losing a case at Court? I am already down on the rent and paying out a monthly mortgage on the property from my own pocket
I understand we are in a pandemic but they are taking the P*** with Rent payments - these are still due are they not? We still have to pay the dear banks there flesh each month regardless why do tenants like these think they can get away with it? Do they think they can live free or pay below the expected rent and let arrears stack up and not worry?
What are the regulations no to evict them I am at my tethers end with these individuals - to the point its affecting my daily life thinking about it

I am not hear to whinge or moan just wanting advice from the experienced forum of landlords
Please advise
Thanks
SSD10
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