Comments on: Day 19 – How should you deal with problem lodgers?

By: Tessa

Tessa — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 06:41:56 +0000

Its not the police who have to live with a thief is it? If you notify them of the date the lodger will be leaving then I can’t see how you can be blamed if they fail to act.

By: ash

ash — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 06:26:56 +0000

Our lodger has been found stealing from us (we found two reciets for CEX stating she sold our stuff to them). We contacted the police who told us not to evict her until they came around and this was over 2 weeks ago. She took a lot! We feel we should evict her and our contract stated any stealing would be an immediate vacation of the property. How do we go about this as the police don’t seem bothered to help?

By: Tom

Tom — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 12:24:46 +0000

Thanks for your prompt reply. I shall break it all down in a letter clarifying all the costs incurred and just hope he takes the lesson to all ways pay your rent. Thanks

By: Tessa

Tessa — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 21:02:57 +0000

I don’t see why not, so long as you can justify it. Make sure you keep records of everything.

By: Tom

Tom — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 17:59:29 +0000

My lodger recently lost his job and that he coundn’t afford his rent but didn’t tell me until the day the rent was due. He was trying to sort it (borrow off parents) so I gave him a few days but he came back and informed me that he was unsuccessful but it wasn’t a problem because I had his deposit which he wanted to use as rent ie live in my house with no deposit ! This was unacceptable so I asked him to leave and as he had been staying at his girlfriends for the last two weeks he had a place to go. The following 2 weeks were a bit fraught with him sending me threatening texts so I changed the locks. We now have a new lodger but I have had a void period of nearly a month. Can I keep some or all of his deposit due to this void period, cost of changing locks and readvertising the room. I also stored his stuff for 11 days before he was willing to collect it. Thanks.

Tom

By: Tessa

Tessa — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 13:54:12 +0000

You need to be a bit careful. Suggest you go into his room for a perfectly legitimate reason (eg to check its condition or something) but have a very good look around while you are there.

If you find he has been stealing things, this would be justification for kicking him out, but perhaps give him at least 24 hours to find somewhere else to go.

By: Ed

Ed — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 21:00:17 +0000

I have noticed things have been going missing, a couple of small cameras and some change from my desk. I did see my lodger leaving my room (through the window) when I returned home today and some more change has gone missing. (a lock is now on the door)

Do I have rights to go and search his room ? Also if I search it without him present can I wait until he gets home with any items I find and kick him out ?

If I call the Police and my suspicions are unfounded would that be counted as waisting Police time ?

Thanks

By: Tessa

Tessa — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 15:01:24 +0000

I am sure that if you explain that you are at risk of prosecution if you allow them to continue, they will understand and respect this. If they don’t, well, do you really want them in your house anymore anyway?

By: Paul

Paul — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 14:57:55 +0000

Thanks Tessa, all of a sudden I feel like an uncool dad! Should make for an interesting conversation.

By: Tessa

Tessa — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 14:55:05 +0000

I would suggest you ask them to stop and say that if they don’t you will have to ask them to leave.

If you then find that they are still doing it, serve them formal notice to go, and evict them if necessary.

As you are liable as the householder, this is not something you can allow to continue. That is my view anyway.