debts for last tenant .

[dazzza30]

Been getter bailiff letters for the last tenant and had been sending most of the mail back, this time I had a bailiff at the door saying he had a letter from court saying he can get access to the house and take items, now I have only been in the property for about a months at the time and this was very unexpected it was actually my gf that answered the door to him, she then explain to him she was a new tenant and had just moved in, he asked her for ID to prove who she was my gf refused to give him ID as she felt she did not need to give out her personal information to just anyone more to the point she only had her bank details for id at the time, so I can understand why she didn’t want to show the bailiff them , also my gf has been ill and I was at work at the time this happened and she was very upset by all the stress of it . So he ended up calling the police where they came out and said she would have to prove to them who she was or the bailiff would be allowed access to the house, so she showed the police her id and they left . This was a very big inconvenience by the bailiffs and the police who seemed to be on the side of the bailiff .

Well now a month on we have had another letter that was posted by hand saying "bailiff removal" the letter is very threatening saying they have a warrant from court again and if I don’t ring in 24 hours they will get access by any means any time night or day to remove anything of value out of our home , I am thinking I will ring them up and tell them I am a new tenant but I know they will not believe me and I am getting sick and tired of all this i also work away most of the time and my gf is scraed they will come when i am at work . any ideas what I should do ?

[mrwardee]

Re: debts for last tenant .

I'm not an expert, but as I understand it the debt is at the liability of the named debtor not the property. If you can prove to the bailiff company that both you and your girlfriend are not the named debtor and that he no longer lives at the property then they will have no reason to pursue the matter at that address. If it is a rental property your landlord should be able to contact the bailiffs directly to confirm that the previous tennant is no longer at the address. Failing that a copy of your current Council Tax bill with your names and the property address on and/or your current letting contract for that property should be enough proof. If it is a mortgaged/owned property then the soliciter that you used within the purchase should be able to do the same as a private landlord and contact the bailiff company on your behalf. I would personally contact the bailiff company (not the bailiff themself), explain the situation and take it from there. It's a massive inconvienience but it should swiftly resolve the matter and stop you both feeling under threat.

[WendyB]

Re: debts for last tenant .

Who are the bailiff company? Is the alleged debt for Council Tax? If so, get in touch with the council immediately and inform them of the situation and tell them to call off the bailiffs. Remember, bailiffs lie. All the time. You will know when this is happening because their lips will be moving.