As per topic, just want to share the problem I am facing currently with my tenant. He has currently rented from me for almost 4 years (Apr'17 will mark the 4th year). At present, he is owing me December rental & it seems, January too (has to pay by the 10th of the month).

The problem is, he also has a TNB outstanding of RM2.7k, a constant source of headache for me for the entire 4-year period. I track his bills monthly online, and he uses 300-400+. And the bill has been steadily growing till today with very sporadic payments here and there. Despite this I have always been a nice guy (MISTAKE) since he is a family man and has 4 children to feed. His last payment was made in August 2016.

Anyway, fast forward to recent times and I realize I cannot let this situation go on any longer. The last straw was when he slammed the phone on me when I politely reminded him to pay the arrears. I have always tried not to bug him and only send whatsapp reminder once a month. I must have called him a total of 3 times in 2016 all in the name of "trusting" him that he will come through.

I have been asking TNB to disconnect the supply but he must have also anticipated and locked up the fuse box outside, which TNB is not allowed to break. The grill was initially installed by me due to it being a new area with sparce occupants and repeated thefts of the fuse. I had recently removed the lock (another mistake) anticipating TNB to come and disconnect (which they never did, or maybe was settled by the tenant).

I am now asking him to shift out within 1 month, and he has not been responded since. The original tenancy agreement has expired and was not renewed (another mistake). From all my research the only way for me to evict him is via a long and expensive legal process which will easily take another 6 months, in which he will continue to enjoy a rent-free and utilities-free stay at my home.

So many mistakes I made and now paying the price...
- Never assume family man = good tenant. "Self-employed" "Businessman" = avoid. This guy drives a 5 series BMW and has a wife & 4 kids. Well spoken and very polite during interview.
- Have a tenancy agreement and stamp it AND renew the process after it has expired
- COT (asking tenant to register their own TNB account) is by and far useless as the onus of the payment will still fall on the landlord
- Be strict about cutting utilities rather than buying in to excuses and delays because chances are if they don't pay then, they won't pay now.

I bought this property as my marriage home but since it's too far, I decided to let it and rent a cheap room closer to workplace myself. What a predicament I have gotten myself in! :'(

To all new owners looking to rent out your property, hopefully my painful experience will help you avoid pain on your part.

/end rant

EDIT: some pictures for your entertainment

EDIT 2: my next order of action would be making a police report, but since this is not a criminal case I don't know if they will entertain. At the same time I am contacting my SPA lawyer (same one who handled this house purchase) to initiate the process. See what the lawyer advises, I guess.



This post has been edited by throwawayacc: Jan 9 2017, 03:00 PM

make a police report to cover yourself

apply for eviction order now as time (6 monthd) will pass by quickly

optionally: remove the lock to the fuse box, replace a broken fuse in place. lock with your own lock. call police if he tries to remove your lock

try tell him you want to take back the house because you are going to sell it so they have to move out?

- just close the TNB account..however you have to settle the amount first. Better cut the loss now then end up accumulating more.
Cut Syabas as well..however, the tenant may turn around and sue you but this is a calculated risk you have to take.. ya, if have to , cut the lock
you are the owner, how come you are not allowed to access the fuse box..

TNB now allow tenants to open their own utilities account and will NOT hold owner responsible - p reviously not but now this is all on their
website - cannot be disputed anymore..

This post has been edited by nookie188: Jan 9 2017, 03:02 PM

Actually, this was exactly what I told him. He then told me his wife has operation and he cannot move out and will "try his best" (god I hate this sentence from him). I told him to move out in December, btw. Maybe I need to be patient and wait longer? I'm just afraid he will latch on like a parasite, knowing full well I can't really do much.

Ya, maybe paying up the 2.7k is better since he can't apply for a new account without the SPA right? I have also called Syabas, and they said I can apply for a temporary disconnection (pay RM37) and then pay the same amount again to reconnect whenever I want. His water bill is ok. RM10 outstanding. I might do this too as a last resort.

I just don't understand why people like this have no money but still don't want to reduce their consumption, according to my neighbour they have air conditioning on the whole day and worse still he still can afford to maintain that expensive luxury car!!!

yes, without spa he cant apply for a new meter.

your main goal now is to get him out of your place as fast as possible so that you can take it back (hopefully
without toomuch damage)...recovering arrears is now secondary..



This post has been edited by nookie188: Jan 9 2017, 03:17 PM

I'm only worried if they can't disconnect now directly, how will they be able to disconnect when I pay up and close the account? Maybe I'll check with them. There should be a way to do it or else I'll install a padlock on my electrical box now and enjoy free electricity for a lifetime!

Agree with nookie188

If the TNB account on your name, cut ur loss, pay the utility bill and close the account. Any further charges TNB bear themselves. Meanwhile, do a police report and just wait until they cut the power and move out.

U don't need to worry how TNB is going to cut it, it's not your problem after you close the account. There is no account for TNB to charge anymore. It's TNB's problem after that.

Tenant from hell!!!

horror story. is renting out to a company better?

I had this situatuon b4. I just went over one evening when no one was home . Padlocked the front door and gate .
Then ignored the phone. Went over the next morning to find tenant sleeping outside. Opened up and told them to leave. I could not make a police report because they were police officers. In conclusion. I dont rent to a particular race anymore . Regardless of occupation . Whether residential or commercial. I suppose i was lucky nothing happened. But 4 months rental. What else can i do.

go to FB - "Blacklisted tenant" - many cases of bad tenants being discussed there so plenty of info
for owners..

+1 especially the particular race..

Wait... I may be mistaken but just have a quick run through with your lawyer (most decent SPA lawyers will know and be able to advise you what to do)

There is NO current valid tenancy agreement and since he did not renew means he may be trespassing illegally. If im not mistaken I read in another post last time that you can actually walk in and straight away open the door and ask him to move out immediately (and change the lock) as he is basically squatting

Important - do check with you lawyer first but also do a police report to say this person is staying illegally from the date of last tenancy expiry until now - thi is to cover yourself and also in case he damages anything you have something legal to claim if you can or want to

Another way is call up tnb and demand them to cut off tnb supply as it is not paid and ask them why they havent disconnected. they will usually disconnect it within one day. If they dont, then go down to the main office (usually the one near brickfields for klang valley) and make some noise and demand them to disconnect it or that you will also make a police report against the tnb staff or outlet who failed to carry out your instructions

And if syabas is ok with cutting the water supply, I would do it immediately

hope this may help

sell the bad debt to ah long. (joke)

good luck... i think one way to avoid utilities issue in future is to collect the bill yourself and force tenant to pay an estimated sum in advance. make sure this is clear to them and in the agreement..

Thanks all for your comments.

Ruben7389, tnb refuse to break his padlock on the electric box grill. This grill was installed by me when I first bought because of the high frequency of theft. As advised by neighbours. Majority of them also installed grills.

When I asked if any other way the person said if they cut from other line then other houses might be affected. So I asked her how... and she got no solution... and just created another report.

I'm a bit confused which locks I can break and cannot... breaking into the house probably not and I can get sued, not so sure about the electric box lock ...

Anyway... decided to use my main account to post. I was so ashamed of my error that I created a new account earlier today. Have calmed down a bit now.

This post has been edited by phoenixxx: Jan 9 2017, 11:20 PM

This is my first rental ever so I'm not sure. If big companies the risk would probably be minimal.

Respect your courage!

But you're right, you're probably very lucky that nothing happened. (They could have easily trashed your house)
I find it hilarious that you found the tenant sleeping outside......!

I'm confused why the electricity cannot be disconnected just because the electrical box is locked.
That means anyone can just lock their own electrical box and enjoy free electricity for life? Lame excuse from TNB.
I could think of several ways to handle this situation......but none of them legal, if you know what I mean......
Your best bet seems to be the suggestion on putting your own locks on the gate and main entrance grille and prevent them from going home (but make sure you do it when they are outside, not inside the house, otherwise it could be dangerous if a fire broke out or something and they could not escape).

Another method is the "name and shame" method......i.e. post them on social media and let it go viral.
But again, I'm not entirely sure this is legal.

I feel very sorry for your predicament.