Lodger underpaying by 31p, would you make a fuss?

RobertoMoir

carolt wrote: »

No - if I heard of a tenant demanding a 31p reduction in rent I'd PMSL too. :rotfl:

Well this tenant isn't even "demanding" it, they're just taking it. That's really something to "LMAO" over, eh?

scubaangel

1echidna wrote: »

I must admit I hesitate to describe it definitively as p1ss taking. Could be it is just a dig at the OP perhaps in part for the oddly precise to the penny rent or perhaps as a minor tit for tat for something else. However in general I would expect a lodger to have a degree of respect for the person who lets out or home for her to share and if this is indicative of her trying to gain some kind of dominant position over the OP, she is not a lodger that I feel the OP should tolerate.

I think the OP said elsewhere in the thread that the odd amount comes from £x for rent +£y.31 for the lodgers share of the bills. Which as it sounds that it was agreed up front makes a concious decision not to pay it seem strange - personally I would have discussed it with my ll and asked to round it down to the full £.

I can understand the OP's point its ''only'' 31p but depending on how long the lodger stays for it could end up a fairly large amount of money.

whitewing

If she's paying by standing order the bank staff may have keyed it in incorrectly. So the effort of writing to the bank is probably too much for 31p. Get her to buy you a book of stamps instead.

Gorgeous_George

I wouldn't want someone like that in my home. Get her out at the first opportunity.

And accidentally drop her mug on the floor just before she leaves - or ditch one her undies.

For those who think it doesn't matter, try going into a supermarket and paying £50 for something that is priced at £50.31. It's theft and I hate thieves.

GG

KiKi

Hi OP

31p might not be much, but the issue for me is that she's not underpaying you as an oversight or a mistake.

Your lodger, who lives in your house and accepted the terms under which to share with you, has *chosen* to underpay you. She has *chosen* to ignore what she owes, and she has *chosen* to undermine your request for the correct payment. 31p, £5, £50 - she's *choosing* this.

I think you have to make a decision: she either pays up or is out OR you decide that she's good enough a lodger to ignore the issue, but keep an eye on her attitude and approach to sharing.

If you decide the latter, I would tell her that. Tell her that you are aware she's chosen to underpay you on the last few occasions, and you're letting it go because she's a good lodger. But if she oversteps the mark in any other way you won't be offering your room anymore.

31p might sound petty, but her choosing to behave in that way, suggesting someone else stay in the house (YOUR house, that you've chosen to only share with one other) would give me huge warning bells. Giant ones. Big Ben sized.

Cheers.
KiKi

brownsauce

i completely see where the OP is coming from. Im not generally a person who quibbles over money, but that tennant is ripping the !!!!! out of it.
She is delibrately trying to provoke.
I would forgo the cleanliness for someone who isnt such a tight a**.
what is annoying more about this woman is her turning around and saying to rent out the other room so she can have a reduction in her bills. She is a chancer and seems just a devious sneak.

31p is a laughable amount but its symbolic of a lack of respect that the tennant has.

Id get rid of her as quick as possible. Then lease out her room and the other room and split the bills three ways. might be better with three people in the house as it breaks up the tension.

pizzagirl

athina, send me a PM, I'll post you a cheque for 31 pence. It'd be a small price to pay to save a fellow human being such anguish

looby-loo_2

Take what she owes off her deposite at the end

Toto

I think she's taking the pee too, the small amount of money makes it more irritating.

It can work the other way though. My husband used to house share with his boss. One day they had a fry up on a sunday morning. Hubby was out of ketchup, so the boss passed him his. A few days later there was a post it note on the fridge asking for 17p for the ketchup hubby had used.

barnaby-bear

looby-loo wrote: »

Take what she owes off her deposite at the end

Very sensible idea... :T