When times get hard the instances of tenants leaving without notice before a tenancy comes to an end increases.
"Doing a runner", "skipping" "moonlight flitting" "Walking" or "return to sender" all indicate what in strict legal terms is known as abandonment of a tenancy.
Often the landlord or agent does not know the property is vacant until rent payments stop, and if that is not monitored closely or regular checks carried out on the property, several weeks can go by before anyone is alerted to a vacant let, which in winter cost be suffering frost damage or even squatters.
When tenants leave like this they often leave possessions behind. When belongings are left behind the landlord owes a legal duty of care to the tenant to protect them (Torts (Interference with Goods) Act 1977). This is the case even if the tenant is in rent arrears or has damaged the property. Many Landlords do not know the law and tenants can therefore bring a claim against them for damages.
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