Dodgy Lodger

Frosti

This lodger is £150 behind on August's rent and still hasn't paid her deposit three months after moving in. When asked [politely] for the arrears, she went off the deep end, verbally abusive, and gave notice.
Following advice given here, I asked her to clear her arrears in seven days (by Thursday). She's found somewhere to go, and said she'd settle up on Friday, when she will also move out.
However I overheard her talking on the 'phone, and from what she said I now believe she intends to flit on Thursday.
Am I legally allowed to change the locks on Thursday - or today as it's the 1st of the month; more rent due - and hold her possessions until she pays her arrears?
Or should I do nothing until she has gone and I know how far out of pocket she has left me - 'phone bill, possible damage, arrears, advertising - and then try and take her to the Small Claims Court?

What is my best option now, please? _pale_

shaven-monkey

probably best to ask here : - http://www.lodgerlandlord.co.uk/2010/02/19/day-19-how-should-you-deal-with-problem-lodgers/

I do not believe you can hold her posessions as security but I may be wrong.
Very important to get the deposit before you give a lodger access to the property no matter how convincing their sob story may be.

mostlycheerful

If you want to go head to head with her and try to recoup your loss and get redress, well, sure, go all out and go for it and do what you want. But what about repercussions? Do you really want to tangle any more with a wrong’un? What if she’s vindictive and or associates with crims and hard nuts and loonies? You don’t want a brick through your window or to be burgled while you’re out or to have a thug turn up to giving you a kicking, do you. Having experienced the rough end of a lot of really bad people over the years I tend to cut my losses, tone things down, avoid conflict and just close down bad situations as quickly and efficiently as possible with as little further come back as possible. Yeah, it’s only a few hundred quid so why not take it on the chin and put the time and effort and energy into making some fresh cash rather than chasing after a rotting corpse, so to speak. Good luck with whatever you decide, perhaps let us know if you do anything or anything happens, it might be helpful for other people faced with this kind of situation.

VfM4meplse

shaven-monkey wrote: »

Very important to get the deposit before you give a lodger access to the property no matter how convincing their sob story may be.

Wise words indeed.

C_Mababejive

She has no tenancy rights. She is simply a lodger. You could ask her to leave right now if you wanted. Make sure there is no risk of her nicking anything when she goes.

cantthinkofanickname

In financial dealings you cut your losses - emotions (e.g. hate!) must not enter into them. The world is full of low life and we have to bump into them now and again! The trick is to find the easiest route round them.

maninthestreet

booby-trap the front and back door tomorrow night.

spirit

C_Mababejive wrote: »

She has no tenancy rights. She is simply a lodger. You could ask her to leave right now if you wanted. Make sure there is no risk of her nicking anything when she goes.

Agree 100% with this. Make sure you are there when she goes.

As someone else said, cut your losses and learn from the experience. I wouldn't keep her belongings. What you might want to do is tell her that you want her out by say 6pm today or she will find her things on the front doorstep. Legally, she can do nothing, she is a lodger not a tenant and therefore has no rights. Then yes change the locks after that.

I only had the one lodger turn funny (only afterwards did I find out that the police were interested in him) so I just had a neighbour with me at the time. Do you have someone for moral support?

BitterAndTwisted

Be in the house on Thursday so she can't move her stuff out without you knowing. Then change the locks. I really wouldn't want a confrontation with someone like that for the sake of £150 so it might be better if you just cut your losses and be grateful that you've got rid of her at last.

Running_Horse

Been there, done that.

Write off the losses and get on with your life.

Frosti

Thanks for your advice. She's moving boxes out as I write - but I'm not inspecting them! Her mate is helping her. The only support I have is talking to my son on skype - and you lot!
I don't have a forwarding address for her - should I push it?
Wish it was only £150 loss - with my travel expenses etc it will be more like £1000 I'll be down - that's if she doesn't nik anything on her way out!