Lodger Woes in the SmileyPigSty

spirit

I changed the barrel of my front door lock when stupidfrenchtitlodger bliggered off back home taking my key with her. she then 'posted' it in a flimsy envelope not padded just a front door key in a DL envelope and surprise surprise there was a slit in the bottom of the envelope and no key when I got it! Lesson learned no. 2, no French people. It doesn't cost much to replace the barrell and you get 2 or 3 keys with it I think - you may have to get another one copied at the time,

TBH, you hold the trump card, you have his deposit, he wants it back. If he continues to behave like a kid and not give your keys back then replace the barrell and take from deposit. the weather is rubbish though so I would leave doing that til Wednesday. Play it cool, you've repeated the Ts & Cs often enough. Now maintain a dignified silence.

I think he has figured out that you have been a soft touch so please don't bow to pressure.

Penny-Pincher!!

You NEED to change the locks and give your nice lodger a new set of keys.

You will not be covered by insurance if anyone breaks into your home now!!

HTH

PP
xx

smileypigface

Locksmith is coming tomorrow afternoon - will change barrells and check out handles - which both front and back seem to be mysteriously loose all of a sudden. Will cost about £100.

Now just need to decide if I tell lodger it's his deposit paying for it - or if that is being unreasonable.:mad:

spirit

I didn't call out a locksmith (and i'm a useless female - well ok not THAT useless). you can get the old barrell out dead easy with a screwdriver, take that to your nearest locksmiths and say you want one of these the same size and you'll get it for about £40. Keep the receipt. this way you avoid the extortionate call out fees for the locksmith.

5 minute job to put the new barrell in - even for a dumb blonde like me!

poppysarah

As spirit said - but don't go out and leave the house unattended if it's got no lock in!

joanneinwonderland

Ah house sharing!! I shared with 3 chums once 2 of whom I'm still very good friends with. but one girl was just dirty dirty yuck. She never did her dishes just rinsed them in cold water or left them in the sink. The worst was she used to make tuna mayo and leave it in a bowl in the fridge covered in foil. That I didn't mind as I wasn't expecting her to eat the whole tin at once. However when it's been sitting there a month that's pretty gross and the worst thing was by that time she would have made another bowl of it!! We used to swap them over and put the mouldy one on top. She still didn't get the hint!!

In saying that I wouldn't swap the time I spent living with others. I think it taught me a lot of tolerance!!

Jo xxx

Zelie

This guy has been looking for an argument since the day he moved in. You told him he had one room so he took two. You told him to tidy so he left a mess. You told him this so he did that. He left windows open and junk all over so that you would clean up his mess. He walked half-naked around your house to show you that he can. He was basically looking to intimidate you and unfortunately you let him trample all over you.

So end it. When he tries to argue the toss do not engage because that's what he's wanting. He enjoys trying to provoke you, he enjoys the drama and the arguments, he enjoys being passive-aggressive and he enjoys trying to belittle you.

Two phrases 'I'm afraid that won't be possible' and 'That won't be convenient'. Repeat ad finitum if necessary but otherwise do not engage and do not back down.

Oh and change your locks and bill him for it. He was ordered to quit the property and by retaining your keys he has failed to do so. Every day that he keeps your keys is an extra day's rent he owes. Very simple.

Penny-Pincher!!

smileypigface wrote: »

Locksmith is coming tomorrow afternoon - will change barrells and check out handles - which both front and back seem to be mysteriously loose all of a sudden. Will cost about £100.

Now just need to decide if I tell lodger it's his deposit paying for it - or if that is being unreasonable.:mad:

You are not being unreasonable!!! He has put you in this predicament, so he must pay for it. He is being unreasonable asking for his deposit back when he has done all this. This would come under reasonable reductions from a deposit. I would also put professional cleaning charges down if his room was a mess when he left.....but thats me:D

Keep strong and don't back down. I would do a reciept with the relevant reductions for locksmith/keys/spares, then attach a cheque for the remaining balance. Put in a covering letter...short and to the point stating the reasons why you have deducted costs and the breakdown. You also state that any further correpsondance from him should be directed to your solicitor and by writing only.

I wouldnt even allow him back in the house as he may refuse to leave once he is in. When he knocks on the door, hand him the above (letter/recipt/cheque for remaining amount) in an envelope addressed to him and shut the door. Then go in another room and ignore the door. If he continues to harrass you, then call the police and have him removed.

HTH

PP
xx

smileypigface

m1ntie wrote: »

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.

I previously had the same lodger for 8 years in my old house - shame she couldn't move her job when mine moved !!

smileypigface

Zelie wrote: »

This guy has been looking for an argument since the day he moved in. You told him he had one room so he took two. You told him to tidy so he left a mess. You told him this so he did that. He left windows open and junk all over so that you would clean up his mess. He walked half-naked around your house to show you that he can. He was basically looking to intimidate you and unfortunately you let him trample all over you.

Yes, I can see you are exactly right in that summing up ... sometimes it takes someone unconnected to point out what is staring you in the face doesn't it.

He is indeed a strange character.