Flat mate taking the P...

tabskitten

Just move out as soon as possible if I were you!

Fire_Fox

Lish wrote: »

I spoke to the letting agent and told her of my concerns and the fact that my ensuite is leaking and I hold my flat mate responsible because I have never had this problem before I went away and I also grassed her up for not reporting the leak to maintenance!
LA suggested talking to her and sorting the 'issues' out. I have already told her that she is not prepared to take any sort of responsibility and although I would be willing to get it all out in the open, there is no point if she wont acknowledge a problem!

One question I have though, considering this leak wasnt reported sooner- my carpet in my bedroom looks as though it might be a right-off. Can I do anything to hold her responsible? Would be good to know even if I dont do it but scare her with something anyway?.... Do let me know you helpful lot! :-)

I don't know why you did that, you'd have been far better off simply saying the leak occurred whilst you were away hence not reported earlier. The landlord/ letting agents are now within their rights to charge you for the damage. You being the tenants plural as you are in a joint tenancy. That means her failings are your failings and vice versa. If she stops paying rent as a result of that you really will be in trouble.

She won't acknowledge anything if she is a coke-head, you are taking risks winding her up before you have a lock on your door. This is not the time to pay points scoring, get out of there first and then consider whether you take her to the small claims court for any lost deposit or unpaid bills. You can attach several of the locks that I recommended as they will not damage the door in any way - don't wait for consent.

Mischa8

AbbieCadabra wrote: »

as i've already said, what does it matter? it has nothing to do with the current problems.

leave it there shall we.

Well it does really matter because if she was engaged and living with her fiance then there would be no flatmate who's being nasty.

and as OP pointed out afterwards, she's working on getting back together with fiance and living with him maybe in the flat she's sharing with flatmate now... so

Mischa8

Fire_Fox wrote: »

I don't know why you did that, you'd have been far better off simply saying the leak occurred whilst you were away hence not reported earlier. The landlord/ letting agents are now within their rights to charge you for the damage. You being the tenants plural as you are in a joint tenancy. That means her failings are your failings and vice versa. If she stops paying rent as a result of that you really will be in trouble.

She won't acknowledge anything if she is a coke-head, you are taking risks winding her up before you have a lock on your door. This is not the time to pay points scoring, get out of there first and then consider whether you take her to the small claims court for any lost deposit or unpaid bills. You can attach several of the locks that I recommended as they will not damage the door in any way - don't wait for consent.

I totally agree with you re: saying leak happened whilst you're away. LA etc do NOT want to get involved with squabbling tenants and like you say, yeah, LA etc will see it as joint tenancy and charge accordingly and same with rent.

ITA about the 2nd para too and no points scoring. Small claims court may not succeed in getting anything from flatmate. And ITA about getting out of there first, paramount is safety etc.

Before, when I was sharing with a troublesome flatmate in the end what I did was get out - not early (the flatmate was being funny about that and landlord preferred me not to break contract) but I stayed as often as I could with friends/family. I had the additional problem of vermin in the house and in my bedroom. I didn't trust my flatmate to get rid of the vermin (as they were in the flat when I moved in and she only informed me *oh we've got mice but aren't dealing with them* after I'd signed the contract and moved in. I dealt with it by calling the council, waiting in for the pest control, I actually told them to put poison everywhere (including her bedroom) and then I told her what had happened (I'd told her about PC before who I'd called). I then had problems with bills, council tax etc and had to go the council to ensure my share of council tax was paid (there were arrears, it turned out council people had undercharged us for ages and then wanted to claw it back). But I ensured I paid any other bills before I left, that I owed for.

I think what saved my sanity was luckily staying with other people (I did stay in my flat too on the odd day/weekend. I just felt very uneasy sleeping there with not only a live, large mouse being there but also an unfriendly, unhelpful and obtrusive flatmate living there!

There was another problem - the small kitchen only had room for a fridge and no freezer, the freezer was instead in the hall, near where I slept. I have trouble sleeping sometimes anyway and this machine emitted a loud hum throughout the night which sometimes kept me awake. In the end I moved the freezer to the living room (no other space for it) and put a living room screen over it to hide it. I rarely used the freezer anyway (flatmate used it more than I did). But I was adamant I didn't want to wear earplugs or listen to this loud hum (even my friend said the noise was very loud AND close to my bedroom). But I'd had so many troubles with this flatmate that I almost felt like making a stand against so-called *petty* problems like the loud noise of the freezer which if she'd been nicer and more co-operative before I may have let pass and worn earplugs... so yes, all too easy for events to escalate and mudslinging to occur which is totally NO use to anyone.

kelda_shelton

re: the locks - the ones that firefox had posted don't disturb the door in any way & can be removed so the landlord wouldn't even know they had been installed... Id make an investment in this while you're waiting from an okay fom the landlord on a proper lock.

Lish_2

Hi Guys,
Just a little update for you.
SO...... I got home from work on Friday and happily parked my a*s on the sofa infront of the telly and after a couple of hours I had the munchies so I went to the cupboard and helped myself to a packet of crisps. Hmmm, I thought, somthing looks odd in here but I cant figure out what it is?...
I had a nosey in the fridge and the top two shelves (hers) were empty so I looked in her food cupboard- they were empty too?......
Then I walked into the hallway and checked her bathroom, that was empty! Then after knocking on her door with no answer I checked her room and that was completely and utterly empty too! She has done a runner whilst I was at work!!!! Can you believe it?!? :T

Obviously it being a Friday eve, I havent been able to get in touch with the LA so I have no idea what the hell is going on? I have sent the LA an email asking them to find out whats happening and call me today so waiting for a call as we speak....!

So I enjoyed a glorious weekend in my apartment, atmosphere-free and having the freedom of wandering around in not much on (hehe) as it has been the weather to do so!

My only concern is now, she still owes me for last months bills and I dont quite know how it's going to work from here on in??
We signed a joint tenancy with seperate contracts (identical) with her mum being her guarantor and my mum being mine, we have a break clause giving us a chance to hand our notice in at 4 months to leave at the 6th month, I assume she will still have to pay rent until this time?....
As for council tax, does she have to pay that too until the tenancy ends? What about the water rates? As these are billed quarterly?

Can anyone advise me what to do about her owing me money for last months' bills and how to get the money for this months' bills too which are due any moment?

Sorry for all the questions but I am clueless!!!

mr_fishbulb

Lish wrote: »

We signed a joint tenancy with seperate contracts (identical) with her mum being her guarantor and my mum being mine, we have a break clause giving us a chance to hand our notice in at 4 months to leave at the 6th month, I assume she will still have to pay rent until this time?....
....
Can anyone advise me what to do about her owing me money for last months' bills and how to get the money for this months' bills too which are due any moment?

I'm not sure about the tenancy agreement, but do you have any way in contacting her mum? This might be a good route to getting the money for the bills.

Try to keep it as nice a possible - don't mention any of the stuff she did to p you off. Personally I'd start along the route of saying you were worried that she had gone without any notice, and then mention about the bills later.

Lokolo

As for council tax, if she has definitely moved out, you should inform them ASAP. As you are single you get 25% discount as it is. But then you are liable for the full amount from then on.

Lish_2

But if she has moved out but the tenancy agreement doesnt end until 31st August cant she be held laible regardless? I mean, if she is registered at that address, how does she prove she doesnt live there? 25% single persons discount isnt as much of a reduction as someone else paying half - this is how much I budgeted for when I agreed to rent!
Does anyone else have any opinions on this?...

Another thing, she said she paid TV licence for a year (of which I gave her half) so can she take that with her or is it registered to our/my address only?

RAS

She can move the TV licence and I suspect that you are going to find it impossible to get the money for bills unless her mother is kind enough to pay.

Get hold of the council today.

have you spoken to the LL?

Did she at any time "pay" any of the household bills from her accounts, you giving her money and her paying for you both. if so, check that she has actually paid them, not run off with your money.

Your LL will be in a bind. Legally, even if she has moved out she is liable for the rent, but not any other bills. She can come back any time sahe wants at the moment. The LL cannot move anyone else in until she advises them that she has abandoned her tenancy. So you are stuck with half the rent and all the bills.

Speak to the Council today about the CT. Bear in mind that if she has not paid, you are liable for the whole amount.