Tenants have not paid and are not who they claim to be...

Tenancy Types and Management

I have a problem with tenants that have been in for 2 months and have not paid.

I have not taken any references and accepted a cash deposit. The tenant did show me a passport but I did not take a copy. He gave me a business card which has his employer details.

As the rent is 2 months in arrears, I thought i should call the employer to get a reference, it turns out he was never employed by the government as stated on his card - it was fake.

I am concerned that I will have lost out on my rent as it seems the tenants are not who they claim to be, and I have no records or history to validate his information. My concern is that they will leave without paying and I will be unable to trace them

I know I can serve section 8, but this is no good if they leave and I cannot track them to re-coup my losses.

Please advise what I can do?

- Can I access the property and perhaps cease some of their possessions until and hold these until i get payment?

- Can I inspect the property in their absence?

- I can really do with some help ?