Lodger Woes in the SmileyPigSty

spirit

smileypigface wrote: »

It appears he has left me a set of his saucepans (not particularly nice ones!); about 8 air freshners in his room; a box of washing powder and a jar of olives! But in return I have a bedside table missing!

The other lodger might have nabbed it for her room - I'll be able to find out tomorrow .. if not then he's not going to have much deposit left to collect!

Deep joy!:rolleyes:

blimey, do you not take the equivalent of one month's rent as deposit smiley?

when my dirtyroadmendinglodger left and I found the odd thing or two he'd left behind, I text him to say that he'd left these items and I was sure he'd want them and that they would be in a bag outside for his collection. He might say he doesn't want them in which case you bin them, but at least he can't say that you took them.

t1gger

So glad he's gone and the ball is now back in your court re. deposit. It must be terrible to have someone like that living in your own home.

We have had REALLY bad experiences living with strangers in rented accommodation. I totally related to your question "Where do these people come from". We have lived with people so insensitive that it borders on evilness! Manners cost nothing, it is so simple to be kind and considerate.

I have no patience for this now, we just avoid all conflict and move when someone annoys us!!!

SmallEnglish

I have been lodging with a friend since summer and am moving out soon due to not being able to bear the dirtiness anymore! My friend has never cleaned the flat once since I have moved in, puts the greasy baking tray straight back in the oven without washing it, doesn't rinse the bath out after use (leaving soap scum and leg shavings for me to find!!)

I conducted a little experiment to see how long it would take her to clean the bathroom or run the hoover round if I didnt do it - I got to a month before I gave in and cleaned the place!

I'm moving in with another friend who is just like me i.e. a clean freak.

Just goes to show that it's not only lodgers that can be dodgy :-)

smileypigface

Well, the biggest laugh of all so far ..... just had a call from a company who LazyLodger1 has gone to hoping to rent a property. Apparently they had been given my name as a referee .... call me old fasioned .. but isn't it courtesy to ask someone if they would be willing to be a referee BEFORE putting their name forward.

I answered their questions truthfully (and very concisely, tempted though I was to have a rant!) -

Did he pay his rent on time .. no
Did he look after the property .. no, left fire-escape sized window open and unsecured for 4 days; also turned off extractor fan in windowless shower room allowing the potential for mould to develop
Would you recommend him as a tenant .. no most definitely not

The company thanked me for my time and said they would not pass on the comments I had made (to him anyway).

10 minutes later and I have a text from him asking me to ring him to discuss my reference to the letting agency!

I most certainly won't be ringing him!

Found missing bedside table - LovelyLadyLodger is using it in her room, which is fine!

Deposit .... hmmmmm, get your ruler out to slap the back of my hand with - I only took £100 - rent is £500 ..... I know, I know .. I need to harden up!

Thanks for all your responses - really helps to have someone other than the dog to talk it all out with!!

spirit

don't beat yourself up about not taking enough deposit Smiley, you sound an old (or not so old) softie like me. I'm a sucker for helping people out and by doing so you often get slapped back in the face don't you.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing and you just have to learn lessons from the past and then move forward.

I also would have answered the letting agents questions honestly too - and yes it is courtesy to have asked you if that was ok first. at least then you might have been able to say to him that he might want to choose someone else which would have avoided his embarrassment with the agent.

smileypigface

Grrrrr this is just so tedious now ..

I sent him a letter setting out the notice arrangements and he spent all last night trying to argue the toss that I should make myself available when I've told him I'm not etc etc. He ended up arguing himself back around to exactly what I had put in the letter! And I expect in his little world he probably feels that he'd achieved something :rolleyes:

Now he's arguing that I should ring the letting company back and explain that he might have paid his rent late but it wasn't his fault that his bank are rubbish - when I pointed out that actually it was his fault - it's his responsibility to pay on time by whatever means, not mine to chase - he now says I'm to blame for being too nice about it ..... I pointed out he signed the agreement to pay on time! His final flourish was to say that he wouldn't be dropping my keys off tonight after all as road conditions are worsening .. unless I want him to endanger his life .........:eek: I'm afraid I lost patience at that point and said for goodness sake grow up - it's worse than the tripe I get from my sulky teenagers!

Soooooo, can I just call a halt here and now and spend his deposit on changing the locks - or should I honour my word when I said that he should return my keys and I'll refund his remaining deposit (he was suppposed to be here today so I was going to deduct 2 days apportioned rent).

Should I just be hard now and say I am not prepared to engage in this P-ing contest any longer and I am now using his deposit to change the locks and the matter is finished?

Or should I make allowances that the bad weather isn't his fault and allow a delay until the weather improves at no further detriment to his remaining deposit?

What to do, what to do????????????

I didn't sleep at all last night knowing that he could come into my house at any time - but I don't want to prolong things any longer.

m1ntie

I think you need to change the locks anyway as he may have copied them!

Deep_In_Debt

I don't do lodgers any more. Although people say it's a good way to earn extra money ...really? when your bills increase and your house is trashed...!

smileypigface

m1ntie wrote: »

I think you need to change the locks anyway as he may have copied them!

Yes, I know you are right .... grrrrrrrrrrr!

m1ntie

Deep_In_Debt wrote: »

I don't do lodgers any more. Although people say it's a good way to earn extra money ...really? when your bills increase and your house is trashed...!

I have let 2-3 rooms for over 4 years now and had very few problems. One of my current lodgers has been here for over 3 years and another for almost 2 years. I have been very lucky though.