A tenant whose father died (for the third time), a phobia of chequebooks and the need for cash to buy a season ticket have all been reasons advanced by tenants for not paying rent.
A survey of 150 Scottish agents (by tenancy deposit scheme the Letting Protection Service Scotland) came up with these, and other reasons.
But are Scottish tenants more, or less inventive, than their counterparts south of the border?
Ten reasons for late payment of rent in Scotland were:
I have a phobia about touching my chequebook
My father has died (again – this was the third time that excuse had been used by that particular tenant)
A visiting dog ate my rent money
My pet died and I have to pay the funeral costs
I need the cash for my Rangers season ticket
It’s Christmas and I’ve had to buy presents, so give me a break
I had to pay a bank tax
I spent the money at the bookies
I’m saving to go on holiday
The money fell out of my pocket on the way to the bank.
Let us know if you can do better.
Comments
The one I remember most was the guy who, when called about his late rent , told me he his TV had broken and he had to replace it.
When I questioned what his TV had to do with the landlord's rent not being paid he spoke to me in that voice some people put on when dealing with someone who is particularly slow - "Duh, I've just said my TV is broken; how do you think its going to get replaced, by the TV fairies?"
Even when I pointed out that having a telly was no good to him if he had to live in a tent or on the street, he still didn't see how spending £800 on a new plasma instead of his rent was wrong.
Christmas is always a hard time for collecting rent. Landlords obviously have to forfeit their own Christmas cheer for the tenant's benefit.
One tenant said they had to buy both their kids iPads last year, because there friends all had them and they would argue if they only had one! I'd love an iPad, but the roof over my kids head is slightly more important.
It’s Christmas and I’ve had to buy presents, so give me a break
Had this last year, basically the landlord paid for their Christmas..... was in arrears then ran away
Generous