two lodgers now asked to leave as refuse to pay rent

lindalou1

Saga continues but nearly there... they are not moving out tonight but out tomorrow while Im at work, so getting my father to house sit while they move.

They have asked me to sign a document saying I owe them the remainder of deposit less bills....

Any comments welcome.

I am still out this months rent in a sense as they will not be able to get anyone else in this month to rent room!!

G_M

lindalou1 wrote: »

Saga continues but nearly there... they are not moving out tonight but out tomorrow while Im at work, so getting my father to house sit while they move. Good move!

They have asked me to sign a document saying I owe them the remainder of deposit less bills.... Sign nothing. Did you give them a receipt for the deposit when they moved in? That's all they need. What if you find damage? Do not put in writing anything that commits you to returning the deposit.

Any comments welcome.

I am still out this months rent in a sense as they will not be able to get anyone else in this month to rent room!!

As for the rent, I'd be tempted to deduct this from the deposit (but don't tell them this before they move, though you may decide for peace of mind to let it go. Your call.

lindalou1

Didn't give them a receipt when they moved in...
They want it signed before they leave but I will be at work, have told them to leave their keys but call back to the house tomorrow evening to discuss... ...
Think to keep things good and to stop any possible trashing of my car to just give them deposit less bills...they think they are entitled to this anyway but they are not??? is this right??

gorgeouslatinrose

just a note - maybe consider getting the locks changed in case they decide to copy a key or something in revenge. That way as well if they refuse to move tomorrow, you can put there stuff outside and leave it there.
On the deposit , am pretty sure you can use it for unpaid rent up till the leaving date , but someone more knowledgable will probably have a better answer.

G_M

They want it signed before they leave but I will be at work, Give them a receipt for the deposit. "Received the amount of £X as deposit against rental of a room at (address). from (date they moved) in till (tomorrow's date)" Date it today and sign it. Don't try to complicate it with detail of what it is/is not for.
call back to the house tomorrow evening to discuss... I wouldn't have them back in the house. Tell them you'll post the deposit on.
they think they are entitled to this anyway but they are not??? is this right?? Read through this thread again!
told them to leave their keys Don't worry too much about the keys if they don't want to return them yet - you're going to change the locks anyway aren't you!!!!
Sorry - that was a rhetorical question: aren't you?

Tell them you'll post the deposit on. to clarify: you'll post it on once all bills have been received and their share calculated. ie NOT tomorrow evening!

BitterAndTwisted

You can make any deductions you think are fair. In this instance I would take what rent is owed up until tomorrow, less whatever money for bills is owed and return the balance to them. Of course, the difficulty is that until all of the bills up to and including tomorrow are in your hands you won't know how much to deduct.

I'd be quite happy to give them a note acknowledging that you have indeed received a deposit of £250 from each of them but reserve the right to make deductions for unpaid rent pro rata and bills not yet received and leave it at that.

lindalou1

yes defo changing locks!

lindalou1

Thanks everyone for advice been a long couple of days... have to say new to this forum and found it very helpful and supportive...needed that

Cheers

spirit

Lindalou,

G_M has given you some fantastic advice, I would advise you to take it.

I have had lodgers for years, 99% of them have been fine rent wise, just the odd 1 or 2 who've been slightly dodgy towards the end. They are not tenants and don't have any rights over your property, you can get them out any time you want.

I would also be very non-commital about what the deposit is for and definitely do not put in writing that they will be getting it all back less bills. If they owe rent, then you can take it from that since they are not tenants.

Be strong, I know it's hard, I hate confrontation too, just get them out..

missile

lindalou1 wrote: »

I am still out this months rent in a sense as they will not be able to get anyone else in this month to rent room!!

You are going to take in more lodgers :eek: ????????????