Tenant eviction specialists have seized two luxury cars in a massive rent arrears case which saw a property owner recoup over £90,000.
Landlady Vanessa Headley originally let her luxurious penthouse apartment in Bristol five years ago – but didn’t receive a penny in rent from the day her tenant moved in until last week, when Landlord Action helped her recoup the £92,000 she was owed.
Prior to consulting the specialists, Headley had served her tenant notice and consulted a solicitor, who said they would be unable to help. She turned to Landlord Action in April and was advised that, while evicting the tenant would be possible, getting the money she was owed back was unlikely.
But fortunately for the until-then unlucky landlady, when her tenant was served bankruptcy papers in August, it was noted that he had both a Mercedes and an Aston Martin parked on the property’s drive. Paul Shamplina, founder of Landlord Action, said: “This gave us cause to rethink the situation and suggest to Ms Headley that she use a High Court Sheriff to escalate the case in an attempt to collect the monies owed.
“After several visits by the enforcement officers, the debtor eventually agreed to pay up, only to negate, leaving the officer with no alternative but to clamp the Aston Martin and seize both cars.”
Last week, Headley was delighted to learn that £92,000 worth of debt had been successfully recouped from her ex-tenant. David Carter, director of The Sheriffs Office, said: “We find that Sheriffs High Court enforcement is frequently the most effective option for the recovery of rent arrears, as was proven in this case.”
However, despite the positive results, Shamplina also issued a word of warning, saying: “Although this case has ended well, this problem has become increasingly common throughout the recession, as more ‘armchair’ landlords, who may not have much knowledge of buy-to-let, enter the market. We hope this will be a stark warning to others of the crucial need for sufficient tenant referencing.”
This was the largest case Landlord Action has been instructed on in its 11-year history.
