Providing a reference for the tenant you are looking to evict

[dominco]

Has anyone faced the dilemma of knowing a damning reference will make it harder to get rid of someone? Is it illegal to withhold the truth about a bad tenant?

[ash72]

There's no obligation to provide a reference, but it helps other LL's and hopefully makes the T aware that their actions have consequences. Is the T leaving without the assistance of Bailiffs?

[Hudson01]

immoral.... yes, the legal side of anything would be impossible to prove.

But why do you need too, you give the reference when he or she goes, if on a S21 they go anyway (reference or not). I certainly would not give a glowing reference to someone who i was evicting, not a chance.

[jpucng62]

Please don't give a reference that might lead another LL to take on a bad tenant.

[dominco]

I certainly feel a moral obligation to not stuff another LL. That said the tenant has been fine for 364 days. He just decided to set my property on fire, and get arrested for possession of drugs on the other day.

[Hudson01]

He just decided to set my property on fire, and get arrested for possession of drugs on the other day.

You owe him zero.

[theartfullodger]

No reference or a full, honest one. Please evict s8 rather than s21.

[dominco]

No reference or a full, honest one. Please evict s8 rather than s21.

Yes I am about to issue S8 with notice to leave in 5 days, although I will gamble on him leaving when he says he will on 13 Sep and not incur cost of application to court until I have to. He rang me yesterday begging me to let him stay, was willing to renew for a silly high rent and all upfront. I thought about it for 2 secs and I can certainly do with the cash but said no.

[OS7]

I was in this situation a few weeks ago, when i had to evict Ts from my property. Another prospective landlord rang me himself to ask for reference. I just gave a honest review verbally and wouldn't put anything down in writing.

One of the questions the prospective landlord asked was would i let my house to this tenant again? I had to answer this honestly - and i said " NO" .

[Hudson01]

One of the questions the prospective landlord asked was would i let my house to this tenant again? I had to answer this honestly - and i said " NO" .

The chickens will come home to roost for some errant tenants with the lack of supply and far more attention by future LL's on whom they are about to take on....... this will not be very pretty in the future for some.

[mokka]

I certainly feel a moral obligation to not stuff another LL. That said the tenant has been fine for 364 days. He just decided to set my property on fire, and get arrested for possession of drugs on the other day.

What!!

what’s wrong with people.

[hybrice]

Been in this situation, it's tough and morally not comfortable. But you have to look out for yourself, no-one else will...

Also, issue s8 with 5 days notice? That can't be right?

[Section20z]

The chickens will come home to roost for some errant tenants with the lack of supply and far more attention by future LL's on whom they are about to take on....... this will not be very pretty in the future for some.

Then they will just become a burden on the local authority and taxpayer.

For a reference I would stick to "I couldn't recommend Mr X more highly !"

[Perce]

My tenant did not ask me after the eviction for a reference. He knows I would not give it to him. He can ask his previous landlord who went out of his way to give him a very long glowing reference.

I wonder if I should contact the previous landlord and tell him what happened or best to forget this saga. I am selling now. The end.

[boletus]

Also, issue s8 with 5 days notice? That can't be right?

Ground 14, no minimum notice period.

In the real world, it's nigh on impossible to evict for anti social behaviour and section 21 is the only realistic option.