A fed-up who landlord who has decided to sell her portfolio wants the government to legislate for more stringent referencing after being hit by rent dodging and criminal tenants.

Prafula Copp (main image) used a legitimate referencing firm which neglected to spot that a former tenant had provided false employment references and false payslips as proof of income. When he fell into rent arrears and tried to sub-let her flat before moving out, she discovered the error and took him to the small claims court to try and reclaim two months’ rent.

“He said I had been interfering in his life and had followed him, which wasn’t true as I could prove I was out of the country at that time,” she tells LandlordZONE.

Another of Copp’s tenants failed to pay rent, stole her belongings, took a loan on her property and fled overseas, wanted by the police.

As a member of the NRLA and Information Commissioner’s Office, she tells tenants they’re welcome to check up on her for peace of mind but says it doesn’t work the other way.

Tenant record

Copp believes that Labour’s plans to double rent repayment orders for landlords as part of the new Renters’ Rights Bill illustrates the government’s desire to protect tenants more than landlords.

“The government makes landlords do immigration checks, so why can’t tenants be made to do a more comprehensive reference process?” she asks.

“I would suggest a national record of tenants to list where they have been living, along with rent payments and employment record which can be checked with HMRC for proof of income or student record that could be checked with their college.”

The stress, exacerbated by being billed for thousands of pounds in charges on a leasehold flat which she is contesting, has affected Coppa’s health and she’s decided to sell her small London-based portfolio.

She adds: “So many landlords are selling, keeping properties empty while on the market or renting in fear that the tenants won’t leave. If the government won’t look at landlords’ problems, there will be big shortages of rental properties in the future.”