Illegal sublet? Stolen Property?

jodenice

My sister has been staying with one of her friends sisters. She paid the first months rent and deposit and furnished the entire flat, whereupon less than a month later they locked all the deadlock bolts (my sister only has the main doorkey), said she couldn't stay there anymore and won't give her stuff back.

This girl is a council tenant and my sister is not on the rent book (although she has the deposit slip). We are more worried, at the moment, about all her items in the flat - my sister has all the receipts to prove these items are hers - how do we get them back? if she is not showing on the rentbook are we legally entitled to get them back ourselves (breaking door down if necessary). Or should i call police?

The reason she has kicked my sister out is because her Algerian boyfriend 'comes off his tag ' next week and wants to move in.

Also, I am not happy that my sister has been paying and not even showing on the rentbook. Is this girl illegally subletting her apartment? Can we do anything?

jodenice

Erm... yep.. thanks for that .. just how i want to envision my little sister..

RabbitMad

Your sister or a friend should introduce their boot / shoulder to the locked door. Should give way easily enough. She can then recover her stuff and look for somewhere else to live.

poppysarah

You can ring the police and explain to them. They may send someone out to help her get her stuff back. It's worth a try..

jodenice

We are happy to smash the door down but I don't want my dad getting into trouble - I wasn't sure of the legalities or whether I should instead call the police.

PasturesNew

I'd wait a bit more for more conclusive advice. It doesn't sound all too good to me so far. I've no idea of the legal situation, but suspect there is a proper/legal way to go about things.

Piece of advice for your sister after this is over: stop mixing with scum!!

jodenice

PasturesNew wrote: »

Piece of advice for your sister after this is over: stop mixing with scum!!

Totally. They are horrible people and I hope she has learned her lesson.

brightonman123

make anon call to crimestoppers (0800 555 111)

claim 'suspicisous' characters seen visiting, often late at night, possible fence for stolen property, causing noice disturbance, or whatever..

if goods are identifiable, may get get via the police?

RabbitMad

Of course its ok to break the door down. She lives there and its not opening. Its obviously just stiff and needs a nudge. At least thats what she'd tell the Police if they turned up.

poppysarah

IF she's got a key she can show the police that if the doors been kicked in - it's simple enough to say that she's moving out and in the process left her key inside whilst carrying stuff out.

She will have to pay for the door to be sorted out though - but the girl can't complain to the council about her without explaining why she was subletting anyway.


If she wants in via the open door - a call to the florist and an order for flowers does the trick. There's no-one who won't accept flowers at the door. Will involve lurking though and some big mates to help carry things.

Incisor

brightonman123 wrote: »

make anon call to crimestoppers (0800 555 111)

claim 'suspicisous' characters seen visiting, often late at night, possible fence for stolen property, causing noice disturbance, or whatever..

... and then sister's goods become evidence for Plod, who are never the brightest or most cooperative.