It can be incredibly stressful if you’re owed rent from your student tenant. If your tenants have fallen into rental arrears, and you are struggling to ensure the rent is being paid, these guidelines will explain the best way to recover the money you are owed.


1.   Keep records

It may seem time-consuming, but keeping detailed records about the tenancy is very important as they could clear up any issues, either during or at the end of the tenancy:


  • Landlords must keep copies of all documentation relating to the rental home during the student tenancy for at least 12 months after the tenancy ends.

  • Landlords must keep rent and bond records for seven years.


Whether you’re visiting the student property for maintenance checks, receiving emergency phone calls from the tenants or sending out emails chasing late rental payments, it should all be recorded in as much detail as possible.


    What to keep records of

  • The signed tenancy agreement and any variations of it

  • Bill receipts from previous and current tenants

  • Invoices and records for any work carried out at the property; including maintenance and cleaning

  • Records of communication with the tenants; telephone calls, emails and texts.


In the event that you require taking legal action against your student tenants, or the tenants are taking action against yourself, any record of contact will help build your case.


2. Write to the tenant

After several days, if the rent still has not been paid, you must send your student tenants a formal request for the rent to be paid.


In the letter, you should request for the outstanding rental arrears to be paid immediately and that future payments should be paid in full before the due date.


You should also mention that if the tenant does not pay the rent, court action will be taken to retrieve the money and that you might be forced to make an application to take possession of your rental property.


It is recommended to write individual letters addressed to every tenant living inside the property, explaining what is happening.  


3. Send a letter to the guarantor

If you still haven’t received outstanding rent payments 14 days after the due date, you should consider formally contacting the guarantor.


You should send a letter advising that the tenant has not paid the rent, and as a guarantor, they are legally expected to foot the bill if the tenant does not pay.


4. Possession of your property

If, after 21 days from the rent due date, you still have not received rent from your student tenant or the guarantor, you should send another letter to both parties.


Inside the letter, you should confirm your intention to take legal action if the rent is not paid by a set date. If the rent is not paid by this date, you should consider taking court action to reclaim the property.


If the tenant has gone a whole month without paying rent, and the following month is now due, you can consider you student tenant to be in two months of arrears. At this point, you have a right to take legal action to remove the tenant from your property.

Consider

No second chances

Strictly follow tenancy agreement and what is said on rental arrears regarding late payments. Keep on top of it to make students shy away from missing payments for prolonged amounts of time. Get in touch and mention this is what will happen and give them until the end of the day, and then mention that daily charges will be applied.


Landlords Insurance

Consider landlord insurance to guarantee an income at the end of each month. The insurance company will cover the cost of rent arrears and retrieve the money from the tenants.