Drawing the line under nightmare lodger experience.

loops87

Frosti wrote: »

is there an organisation that holds a lodger/tenant blacklist? I'd like to help prevent anyone else being taken in by this madam.

Certainly not - that'd be illegal.
I know it must be hard from your point of view, but that would lead to innocent tenants being blacklisted by bad landlords just as often as it'd lead to the kind of protection you're talking about.

BitterAndTwisted

Actually, there was a hugely controversial thread about just this subject quite recently. Apparently one particular landlord's association are either planning to set up precisely this kind of database or have already done so. Data-protection, mis-identification of innocent tenants and revenge by dodgy, disgruntled landlords were some of the issues that had folk frothing at the mouth.

Trollfever

The solicitor who is dealing with the CCJ against ex-lodger did offer to add me to his client list of people she owes money too - for a fee, of course.

This suggests that she has other debt issues.
A CCJ search at The Registry Trust may reveal more information:

http://www.trustonline.org.uk/

Jowo_2

zzzLazyDaisy wrote: »

Do you have a link for the 90 day rule? I ask, because I have never heard of it (though I don't pretend to be an expert in these things).

http://www.landlordzone.co.uk/uncollected_goods.htm

Jowo_2

Frosti wrote: »

..
It's still too soon to act on Jowo's suggestion to employ a tracing agent to find her

Since the letters you have opened indicate that she's still using your address for the purchase of goods and services, she's still associated with your address for credit purposes, so the trace will probably lead back to you...

I can't remember the specific wording of the Royal Mail act that relates to intercepting other people's mail but essentially it's okay to open up other people's post at your own address so long as you don't intend to do anything fraudulent with it.

The CCJs and shameless continuing use of your address indicate a person who is adept at side-stepping the enforcement of them and I think paying any money to a solicitor, court or tracing agent is throwing good money after bad. Many claimants who receive a CCJ in their favour never see a penny.

So you might only get some joy by following her to her new address after work and then notify all her creditors where she now lives and where she works, knowing that they have the time and resources to pursue it but might be better if you forget all this secret squirrel stuff, as this is still going to take quite a long time and effort...

Frosti

Trollfever wrote: »

This suggests that she has other debt issues.
A CCJ search at The Registry Trust may reveal more information:

http://www.trustonline.org.uk/

Oh, I think the letters that I've seen [plus all the others I put back in the post RTS] do prove she's got plenty of debt issues!

There has been a development:
This afternoon someone 'phoned up, asking for ex-lodger. My reply was a bit guarded, and obviously suggested to the caller that there is a problem. Turns out he is a member of her church who is concerned about her. Under his gentle, sympathetic questioning the whole story came out.
He has asked me to go to the church tomorrow to talk to the Pastor, with the aim of getting ex-lodger the help she plainly needs to sort out her finances. I said I didn't expect the money I am owed to be repaid and didn't want any confrontation with her - she reacts with terrible verbal violence if anyone says something she perceives as a criticism, but he was very persuasive and has effectively given me an appointment for tomorrow.
I said I'd think about it, but didn't promise to go along - I don't know any members of this church apart from ex-lodger and am a bit nervous about how my revelations will be received (I know her Mum and Aunt are members, for example, and ex-lodger told me her Mum has a serious illness so I don't want to cause this lady grief at hearing what her daughter has been doing. Of course ex-lodger could have been lying to me; at one point she told me she couldn't pay her own rent as she had spent all her money paying her Mum's rent, because her Mum couldn't work as she is suffering from cancer.. I didn't ask the gentleman who 'phoned me if her Mum really is sick).

So, should I go? I'm already getting stressed about the idea, in case I am confronted by a large group of people who decide to make me out the villain in all this.

tbs624

If this bloke and the Pastor want to help your ex-lodger sort her finances out that's all well and good but, in your position, I would avoid such a meeting. It is not your role to discuss your experiences of how she handles her finances with third parties from her Church.

They don't actually need you there and the experience is unlikely to be personally beneficial to you. As a supportive group they can talk to your ex lodger about her financial issues without hauling in each of her creditors - what else will it be other than a form of confrontation?

You could however send a letter via the Pastor telling the ex lodger that her belongings need to be collected, by a third party if she prefers

Other than that keep it professional and keep your distance.

madnessofBruno

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spirit

Jowo wrote: »

http://www.landlordzone.co.uk/uncollected_goods.htm

Except that this rule applies to tenants and the OP has lodgers not tenants.

14 days and it would be in the bin if it were me. Surely if she wanted the stuff she'd have been back for it by now.

clutton_2

dont go to the church... move on... its no longer your business... dump her stuff and forget about her.....