two lodgers now asked to leave as refuse to pay rent

lindalou1

"hear, hear"!

spirit

That's good Linda, it very much sounds to me like you are over the worst of this - phew! Open a bottle of wine and relax.

They tried very hard with the intimidation card and I'm glad you stood firm - well done. I would not be sending any communications to their employers or reference addresses. You cannot be sure they will get it. Just because someone at reception or wherever signs for a letter or parcel does not mean that the intended recipents will get it.

Trust me, they will end up giving you an address because as they keep mentioning, they want some money.

Make the letter very formal and as I say, make sure you head it with that Without Prejudice line. Lay out the costs, gas, leccie, tv licence, phone, broadband connection or whatever your agreement was with them. plus x amount of days rent each lodger @ £x per day = £x. don't forget the copy receipt for the locksmith too.

Did they leave their rooms clean and tidy?

Don't angst too much about one of them not staying the 6 months, it's non-enforcable anyway.

Badger_Lady's thread is brilliant, if you have about 3 days to spare (and some Tena lady as you are bound to wee yourself laughing at times) then sit back with your glass and enjoy!

clutton_2

if you head the letter Without Prejudice then it means you could not show it to a court if that were to happen in the future.

lindalou1

ok yes, great...never knew about the "Without Prejuice part" or what it meant...I hope this thread will be of use to all those who rent to lodgers in the future as a good case study!!

Vomityspice

Please don't bother writing 'Without Prejudice' on any letters. Despite what you might be advised it isn't a 'get out of jail' card.

This would only work if the letter you wrote make some form of offer in a dispute to settle and therefore would be privileged. If there is no offer to settle, then any letter would / could be used in court.

If anyone is really interested there is a procedure rule that cover this (I can't remember which one! Google it!)

I realise many people 'think' that these are 'magic words' but unless used in the right context, they are meaningless.

Free legal advice over.....

BitterAndTwisted

Fair enough Vomity. It's all rather academic as I suspect those two girls won't be able to find a basis to dispute the deductions from their rent if they are truthful and accurate. Plus, they're too skint at the moment to take it to the small clams court even if they knew how.

Vomityspice

Just wanted to correct the misapprehension that writing 'Without Prejudice' on a letter meant any written document couldn't be used in court.

I believe it is Civil Procedure Rule (CPR) 31.

clutton_2

thanks vomity..... now you mention it, i have only ever seen it on "offer to settle" type letters....

lindalou1

Texts of the day from my ex lodger...

"Could I come round and collect money that way I can return the key"
(ha, I dont think sooooo) Told them t leave forwarding address and that is all the comuniction I want with them.

"will speak to my family, not happy about giving my personal details to you-I think you are being unnecessarily difficult"
( Me being difficult!!!! hmmm think these girls have still not got this, this was not my doing)

ariarnia

Text back that you have been advised *cough* not to continue communicating via text and will now not respond to or knowledge any further communication in this manner. Your email address is X or your postal address is X please send forwarding details to one of these contact methods, thank you X