Lodger Woes in the SmileyPigSty

smileypigface

Many many thanks for all your helpful replies and support.

Hopefully that's it now.

I sent a text this morning saying in view of continuing bad weather if he sends me his account details I will refund his deposit into his bank account(less the 2 days of Feb we had previously agreed - it's not his fault he couldn't get here yesterday to drop the keys off) - I didn't mention that the locks will be changed - just asked him to put the keys in the post.

He sent the bank details followed by some childish comments about getting to a post box .. which I'm happy to ignore. Sorted!

Thank you all for being the calm voice of reason when things got difficult - hopefully sorted now.

LovelyLadyLodger has said she would like to 'upgrade' to the en-suite bedroom now he's gone so now I just need to advertise her room .........

Here I go again .............................:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

spirit

that's brilliant smileypigface.

I hope he doesn't do what stupidfrenchtitlodger of mine did and put them in a flimsy envelope. Truthfully he is responsible for the room until such point as you receive the keys back. Has he moved very far away? will he be sensible enough to put the keys in a Jiffy bag?

barnaby-bear

spirit wrote: »

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!

Mine were £12 a barrel for the uber-lever PVC type door ones. They sell them in B&Q. I have a nice little stock of locks from various houses and friends that I've swapped around. The locks from the current house are on a friends rental at the moment.

smileypigface

Locks have just been changed - now the vey nice locksmith has shown me how to do it in future I will definitely take your advice and keep a stock so I can change them everytime a lodger moves out.

It doesn't really matter if the keys get lost in the post as I will be storing those barrells away and won't use them again for ages on change over of lodgers in the future.

Thanks again x

spirit

How much were you charged for it Smiley?

smileypigface

It was £100 in total - including the 2 x locks at £20 each and fixing both door handles (luckily they were fixable rather than needing replacement).

I was quite happy with that - and now I know how to do it I'll only ever have to pay for the barrels in future.

Feel like a weight has been lifted!

456789

Heh interesting thread - glad you got rid of him smiley

spirit

we await the arrival of the new lodger with bated breath! :j

sir_locksalot

smileypigface wrote: »

It was £100 in total - including the 2 x locks at £20 each and fixing both door handles (luckily they were fixable rather than needing replacement).

I was quite happy with that - and now I know how to do it I'll only ever have to pay for the barrels in future.

Feel like a weight has been lifted!

thats a good price too:D

Head-Out-Of-Sand

Wow, thank goodness you've got rid of that freak, he sounds awful!! Waving his willy about in the kitchen like some uncouth neanderthal, psyching out the pooch, leaving his filthy dishes for the lovely ladies!! What a horror! Some people just do not know how to behave!!! (I am officially indignant on your behalf :mad: )

Make sure you take ANY cleaning charges out of his deposit!! Horrid man.

In my experience, difficult lodgers who mouth off when trying to get deposit tend to be doing it because they're well aware that their behaviour at your house may result in them not getting it back so they try to bully and intimidate you into handing it over...DON'T BE BULLIED!! Don't get into a dialogue, just refer to your T&Cs and do it by the book. You don't owe this twerp any favours!

I hope you get someone nice and normal in next - two bits of advice for you - references and at least 1 months rent as deposit!! I've made this mistake myself and paid for it! People expect to pay one months rent as deposit, and you're setting yourself up for being screwed over if you don't - it's easy enough for some inconsiderate moron to do well over £100 worth of damage to your property.

It's good that you have one nice lodger though, good job he left or she may have felt the need to!