Tenants From HELL!!

[Fritz the Cat]

"All tennants are scum"

I had a mate who did some building work for him years ago. He said he was fine. If you do work for him and do a good job there's no problem.. similarly if you are a tenant and pay your rent -- no problem. Only a problem if you give him grief.

 

[Official Old Man]

If the tenant has stopped paying then yes, the rental guarantee still stands while they live there and aren't paying rent. The best thing your friend can do is get a section 21 ASAP. Judging by your post I think your friend has got the agreement confused. There should be a tenancy agreement between your friend and the tenants - the letting agent doesn't own the property and so can't be part of the contract between owner (your friend) and the tenant. There should then be another contract between your friend and the letting agency which covers what they are responsible for doing - could be just finding a tenant all the way up to full management of the tenancy agreement BUT the tenancy agreement will always be between your friend and the tenant.

It needs to be your friend that applies for the section 21 and then, if necessary, instructing eviction via bailiffs. It's unusual for a letting agent agree to pay the legal costs. Your friend should be paying these and get them deducted from the deposit.

Company in question are Northwoods and I have to say they have been pretty good.
They say they will cover all the costs regarding getting the tennants out and also paid this months rent despite the tennant not paying any rent.
It was just the rent, which pays the mortgage, they are worried about in the future, knowing this could go on for some time.

 

[Chicken Run]

NEW PROBLEM
Asking for a friend, honest. They have a tenant but the tenancy is with one of these companies that guarantee a rental income. So the actual tenant is not on the agreement. Friend is selling property so gave the legal 6 month notice, which expired last week, but the tenant is still there. Usual thing, council say wait for legal papers before they will rehouse them.
But as the agreement is with the letting agent and not the tenant, do the agents have to continue paying the rent?
Agents have agreed that they have to cover court and eviction costs.
Obviously with the tenants still in situ they are unable to sell the property.