Mould, rent arrears

[allzone]

I have a tenant who I would describe as problematic, difficult. Generally raising minor plumbing, electrical, maintenance issues which most DIYers could easily rectify, I try to resolve these in a reasonable timeframe but often have issues as tenant makes it difficult for me to gain access.

There has been a problem with mould, no previous tenants have had this, I have had the managing agents surveyor visit property, he put this purely down to condensation, ventilation. I have provided tenant with a dehumidifier and points on how to prevent condensation. The mould persists, but I have no confidence in tenants actions, tenant is now saying it is effecting her health and is now withholding rent. I have tried my best, not much more I can do. Does anyone have some advice?

[ash72]

Serve notice on the T. Poor ventilation of the property is down to the T, make sure you get a copy of the report in case the Council is involved.

[allzone]

Thanks ash72

As this is likely to drag on I intend serving a S8, I'm happy to cut my losses. Should I serve S8 myself or should I engage a legal representative to serve S8, I don't want to get it wrong?

[jpkeates]

There are professional companies who specialise in evicting tenants (see the directory section of this site).
Legal professionals who are not specialists don't have the best reputation.

[mokka]

For your sake I hope it is just the tenant playing games because the next tenant will complain too if it’s anything like penetrating damp, poor state of the structure of the walls roof tiles missing etx.

The tenant should get a report done by a surveyor to prove it really as hard evidence before complaining as it’s always the blame game.

[Hudson01]

Given what you say about her reluctance in granting access for jobs to be done (that she has complained about !!!) then i suspect she knows exactly what she is doing, be prepared for a long slog, if you do not understand everything about the route you are about to take then as said above....... i would look to employ a specialist company who can get her out asap. All the best.

[WebLand]

allzone, only you will know, from what you know about the tenant, whether this is a serious problem. But when tenants complain about maintenance issues and then don't allow access to fix them, that's a bad sign. Is the tenant linking these issues to withholding some rent or all rent? If withholding all rent, and this looks like carrying on, that becomes grounds to evict.

If that's the case, consider issuing, or better still getting a specialist eviction company to issue, a S21. First check your paperwork is all in order. If it is, go ahead, before the Council get involved with what may be (again, only you know this, from what you know about the property) spurious maintenance issues.

[allzone]

Thanks to those who have responded. There is only one eviction specialist in LLZ directory based in north London. Would it be recommended to get a eviction specialist more local? Property in Sussex. Any recommendations welcome via direct message