Lodgers can be a pain!

Nolly_2

I have a lodger, or I should say I had one - a 19 year old girl.

I let her move in without a deposit to help her out. I explained to her that it required one month's notice to end the tenancy.

At the beginning of January she suddenly told me that she coudl only pay me weekly - this needed adjustments on my part but it went ok.

Last week (w/c 22nd Feb) she could not pay me on time, and paid me three days later

Last Monday (1st March) she could only give me a proportion and would pay the rest in the week.

On Thursday she texted me to tel me that she had no money and was moving out - which she did gradually (took the last bits yesterday). I informed her that, as I was goign to be reasonable, I wanted her to pay up to the end of the week. She maintained that she had no money, but I insisted that she pay the £30 and if necessary borrow it off of someone. She turned up and still had no money - I have given her a week.

I found that she has left some stuff - a few cases and a (I think) faulty tv, plus some books. I texted her to pick them up by 2pm, as I was showing a prospective new lodger round. No answer!

I think I have to keep the stuff for three months before I can sell it to make up for some recompense, but I have no forwarding address.

Now, I know I have been stupid and too trusting...

I have two questions...

AM I allowed to send a letter to her place of work, addressed to her if she does not get in touch?
Also, she is not a friend of mine on facebook, but I think I coudl send a message to her dad to explain the situation - is that ethical?

Fire_Fox

Do you have a lodger agreement in place? Do you have a damage deposit? Do you have the postal address of her next of kin? What are you going to say in the letter addressed to her workplace? There are rules about [STRIKE]harassing[/STRIKE] contacting people at work with regard to debt, so I would be very very very careful what you say especially if she has a job in any sort of financial arena. Doesn't seem very professional to via text or contact a relative through a social networking site - firstly it's Facebook and secondly her dad is not party to her tenancy, think data protection. I'd be a lot more concerned about what is legal than what is ethical.

simpywimpy

Put it down to experience. Dont contact her dad as its not legal as far as I know, neither is contacting her place of work.

Nolly_2

Thanks.

In the letter to the workplace I was merely going to say that I will keep the stuff she has left for 3 months from the date of her leaving before I dispose of it.

I am prepared to bite the bullet on the missing rent.

G_M

Just put the stuff she's left in the attic/wherever and keep for 3 months.
Write off the rent and move on.
Always change the locks between lodgers (keep the old barrel and rotate next time).

Nolly_2

She has given me her key, but thanks

Fire_Fox

Nolly wrote: »

She has given me her key, but thanks

And you are 100% confident she hasn't taken a copy? Change the lock as advised by GM.

bristol_pilot

Change the locks. Keep her stuff safe in case she comes back for it. Don't attempt to chase her for any money - it is very easy to fall foul of the criminal law. Next time (if there is a next time) rent to someone older, 19/20 year old females make the worst lodgers in my experience.