Landlord Advice

Enforcing Possession

Having won the possession order in court, most tenants will vacate your property as instructed. However, if they do not, you must arrange for court bailiffs to remove your tenant.

Enforcing a Debt Order

If the problem tenant fails to fulfil a money judgment for rent arrears, you can ask the court to enforce it through any of the following methods:

A Warrant of Execution

The court bailiff is sent to collect the money. A warrant of execution will only help if the tenant has enough goods at the address you give which could be sold at auction to raise your money.

Attachment of Earning Order

Money is stopped from the tenant’s wages to pay the debt. As such, this method will only help if the tenant is in paid employment.

A Charging Order

A 'charge' is placed on the tenant’s property, such as a house or piece of land. This order will not normally get you your money immediately, but it will safeguard your money for the future (until, for example, the charged property is sold).

Landlord Advice on Problem Tenants

Part One: The Human Side of the Landlord Tenant Relationship
Part Two: The Relationship: Landlord and Tenant Law
Part Three: Obtaining an Accelerated Possession Order
Part Four: Obtaining a Possession Claim
Part Five: Enforcing Possession and Debt Orders