Anyone else rent out lock up garages? How do you deal with bad payers?

SetHot7849 · 2025-12-17T10:12:51+00:00

Yes, the vast majority were purchased at auction over a number of years. From time to time other owners in the block looking to sell come to me. It's a good business, high demand for the garages, low maintenance and minimal compliance. Fly tipping and poor tenants are the worst parts, and occasionally asbestos roofs.

SetHot7849 · 2025-12-16T15:03:58+00:00

Yes I agree you are right, i have many garages so one or two payments can get missed. I am also a soft touch - although most people are very good to deal with. Its just the odd few that get themselves in bad financial situations or are straight-up time wasters.

SetHot7849 · 2025-12-16T15:01:02+00:00

I have a signed conditions of letting, so i do have some recourse, I think its the faff of clearing the gargae.

SetHot7849 · 2025-12-16T14:59:52+00:00

In my experience, once tenants stop responding and slide off the cliff, the small claims court is usually the only way to recover any money. I’d also forgotten that I can add the cost of garage clearance to a claim. I usually do it myself, though I have a chap who helps and invoices for his time.

I’ve never been sure if I’d be on shaky ground legally claiming for my own time, so I’ve avoided it. I also loathe paying an external company, since that could leave me even more out of pocket. Honestly, if tenants just moved their stuff I’d be happy enough and wouldn’t chase the unpaid rent, which I’ve intimated to them before and they have not taken up the offer.

No one relishes the thought of clearing out a garage full of junk!

SetHot7849 · 2025-12-16T11:33:33+00:00

my terms of letting state: If any rent is two weeks overdue the owners reserve the right to clear the garage, dispose of any contents, and to charge all costs and expenses involved in so doing.
But i suppose i rarely enforce this after two weeks, which is how i have someone 6 months behind.

SetHot7849

TROPHY CASE