WHEN YOUR TENANT ‘DOES A DUCK'

Tips for landlords when their tenant does a disappearing act

- MIKE SPENCER

EVERYONE WHO has let out property knows that sickening feeling when you find out that your tenant has disappeared. Most of the time there are signs—usually unpaid or late paid rental. Some tenants plan to go without paying, while others just cannot pay.

What should you do? Check on any municipal accounts, especially water and electricity accounts, if these are to be paid by the tenant. If the tenant does not pay, legally the landlord will have to. Also, check with the Body Corporate about their own accounts, because your tenant may owe them for services or (in some cases) for body corporate fines. Finally, don't forget to check the building for any damage that your tenant is responsible for.