The news that makes every house owner's heart skip a beat reached me in New Delhi last August. The e-mail from my letting agent in London said: 'I'm afraid to say that the tenants are refusing to leave your flat. They have denied us access. You must start legal proceedings for repossession.'
The nightmare began when I realised from my bank statements that no rent had been paid for several months and the agent had not bothered to explain why. After several insistent e-mails, he told me that the tenant was experiencing financial difficulties but would pay the arrears soon.
I was not overly concerned and assumed the matter would be sorted out. When the tenant refused to pay, it became clear I had to ask him to leave my flat.
He refused. Nor was the agent able to lock him out of the flat by changing the locks. The police refused to do anything when the agent contacted them. The matter went to a solicitor in Northampton, who reassured me that it was an open-and-shut case.
He was right. In early November, Willesden County Court ordered the tenant's eviction. In court for the 2pm hearing, the tenant was drunk.
I was looking forward to having the flat repossessed in time for Christmas because I was planning to visit London with my young son.