General (main property discussion here) - Repossessing from a bad tenant

I have a bad tenant, 2 month's rent outstanding, internal rooms have had locks fitted without permission (and rooms were locked on last visit) and we were refused access for a recent inspection visit (notice given). I appreciate the legal procedures but it has recently been put to me that I can turn the law in my favour. So long as no violence is used to regain possession the police will not be interested in any complaint from the evicted tenant as it is a matter of civil law. The tenant would then have to use the same law we usually have to endure. It is important that no force/violence is used and that the tenant's possessions are handled carefully perhaps with a witness who maybe evens videos the whole process.

Does anyone have any experience of such tactics? My "adviser" said that when he used this approach there was no comeback of court action probably because they will have to pay for it and they know how weak the law is!

I evicted a tenant in this way a few years back, they were a young couple (heroin addicts) who left after the usual slanging match, but no complaints to the authorities. I guess it is down to the person being evicted how they react, but be warned, the law is heavily weighted in favour of the tenant. Landlords get litle or no assistance from the law.

More recently, on trying to evict yet another non rent paying, heroin addict (where do I find them !!!), I decided to do it by the book and issue a Notice to Quit, giving 2 full calendar months notice. Oncce the notice had ended, the tenant remained at the property but before I had to get a Court Order (would have cost about £120) he must have sought advice from the CAB who told him to get out or he may face paying my court costs. he left a week later, even had the face to thank me for letting him stay so long without paying rent, I had to laugh.

Both methods worked for me, but the loss in rent in the 2nd scenario was painful, so next time I might well go down the route of putting their stuff on the street and changing the locks again.

J.Davies