Serious decisions to be made here folks !!!

So we currently rent our house out whilst Im posted up in Scotland, all going swimmingly although our tenant is a bit erratic.

When i get back from the Falklands I am posted back down to Benson, not ideal as its a little to far away from our house to commute to so we had decided to move into another married quarter at the camp… cool.

However … our erratic tenant has now decided that as we wont let her have pets in the house(quite common in rentals) that she wants out at the end of her tenancy agreement in September.

The house is about 100 miles away from the camp Im posted to so its to far away for commuting everyday. So our options are as follows….

1, My family live in the house whilst I live in the block at the camp and only get to see my wife and kids at weekends for the next 4 years.

2, Sell house and come off housing ladder and live in a quarter at camp for next 4 years then buy when I leave.

Ive tried living in the block before and hated it, especially not seeing my family. However Im a bit worried about coming off housing ladder and seeing house prices soar( if they do ?)

We dont really want to rent again as we have 3 lots of tenants now and each time they have given us nothing but trouble(non payment of rent and smashing the house up to name a couple)

My wife and I are going round in circles over the decision going one way then the other !!

What would you do ??

HELP!!

Let the tenant have a pet but ask for extra deposit or something legal to say they will be responsible for any mess etc.

We had a cat when we rented and the landlord was fine, even though the contract said no pets. Considering how expensive housing is to buy letting pets in rented accommodation should become more acceptable imo.

I’d do what orangewinger says but if you are tenantless you could ask your bank about switching to interest only for the remaining 4 years to see if you can live frugally enough to leave it unrented and have all of the family at camp.

or just get another tenant?

get another tenant or join the very few other nice people around and let someone rent with a pet. For one of the nice pet owners its a nightmare when we need to rent and cant find anything decent at all!

We’ve let her have pets before but then we had complaints from the neighbours as she wasn’t cleaning up after them etc.

3 lots of tenants , one lot didn’t pay rent , one lot smashed the house up and this one although a relative of the wife is noisy, dirty and lets her kids draw all over the walls and doors etc, denied that her boyfriend had driven into the outside wall and smashed it up ext !!

So we don’t want the hassle of more tenants.

Sell and buy much nearer to camp?

House prices are seriously expensive in the camp area. Circa 300k for a 3 bed semi

How long have you got left in RAF? This must be a huge factor.

Another tenant with positive references. Don’t sell.

1, My family live in the house whilst I live in the block at the camp and only get to see my wife and kids at weekends for the next 4 years.

No.

Just rent it out again.

I rented out through a agency. Yes cost @15% but it was always let out and never any hassle. Doing it yourself? You take all the risk.

Pick a 4th tenant, with the benefit of the knowledge that you’ve gained with the first 3.

That keeps your investment going in the house and keeps your options open for the future.

Think a few on here would be surprised how cheap RAF married quarters are, and no council tax! I’d go for that option and just ask for more rental deposit. We had a similar situation and pleased didn’t break the family up during the week. Pity the house is not closer as you’d get the commuting allowance?

It sounds like your problems have been with people rather than pets.

Scamper you do pay a charge in lieu of council tax. My married quarter is around 250 plus 30 for a garage and then 110 for the council tax thing.

Our first two lots of tenants were through a letting agent. It used to take me phoning them to say we hadn’t had the rent for them to get their arse in gear.

No beer…… I’ve got 4 years left. We may end up moving anyway then depending on where I find work.

Rent but with Northwood.
They are your tenants and you get the full rental in advance.
Any hassles, any issues, empty periods, etc you still have your money.

In that case I’d suggest this is the time to look forward and plan a bit. You must have half an idea what you want to get into?.

What’s Northwood?

Not yet nobeer.

Still undecided between health and safety or something else.

Pick your own tenants from now on as letting agents are often rubbish and don’t just go with friends or family because it seems easier. Meet them, get references and use your gut instinct about them. If they are sound also allow a pet.

Northwood are an estate agent who specialise in working in that way.
You seen slightly less because of the security they put into the chain BUT its guaranteed rent as part of the contract.
The agent is YOUR tenant and they pay you.
http://www.northwooduk.com/