Help smelly lodgers deposit

azabella

Hi I have a smelly lodger moving out this weekend. Basically he hasnt washed himself or his clothes/beding regularly to the point i was mortified when friends staying asked what the stench was upstairs (thinkin my dog had had an accident). He has also spilt red wine on the carpet and left it, I only found out when making an inspection to see what was going on!!!.
He has been here for 10months, the carpet was 6mths old when he moved in and the room had been occupied for no more than 6 weeks prior to him moving in. All furniture and bedding were new and the room smelt new.
To cover up the lack of washing he has sprayed lots of air freshners and febreeze around which Ive requested he stop due to setting my asthma off. He has continued to do this..
He has offered to and ive agreed for him to clean the carpet teh day he moves out (he does this for a living?)
My question is how long is reasonable for me to withold the deposit to ensure the carpet is clean and the smell goes and doesnt require any proffesional cleansing??
The signed agreement states he should provide a forwarding address for me to post the deposit to him so he won`t be expecting cash but feel I should give him a time scale.

DVardysShadow

Frankly, you should have paid him to go months ago.

azabella

Thank you for that, and i would of but thought it was just me being a bit fussy...not until others noticed the smell did i relise i wasnt being mean.
He told me he was leaving when i raised the issue of his lack of cleanliness and how embarassed I was to have to tell him... at 29 you don`t need telling to wash...do you??

McKneff

Apparently, he does.

To be honest, I'd just have a look at the carpet on the day and give him his money as he goes out of the door. You need to have no more contact with him or be within smelling distance.

If it's still smelly just get a Rug Doctor for a day and wipe yor hands of the whole episode.

olly300

azabella wrote: »

He told me he was leaving when i raised the issue of his lack of cleanliness and how embarassed I was to have to tell him... at 29 you don`t need telling to wash...do you??

If you couldn't tell him I'm sure you have one or more plain speaking friends who would have visited you, got him alone and told him.

Just give him his deposit back to ensure he doesn't come back into your house.

If he has a hygiene problem and doesn't know how to clean himself do you really want him to attempt to clean your carpet?

G_M

I don't understand those advising returning his deposit.

If on the day he leaves there is dirt/stains/damage for which he is responsible, then his deposit should be used to clean it.

You will, of course, be changing the lock after he's gone. This is standard common sense with any lodger.

Explain when he leaves that you will have to get the carpet cleaned, and will forward his deposit once this is done, less the cost.

The smell is trickier? edding can just be put in the washing machine, so I wouldn't bother beyond that, but if you end up having to replace the mattress, frankly I'd charge for that.

Depends whether the smell remains after his room has had a good clean and airing....

olly300

G_M wrote: »

I don't understand those advising returning his deposit.

To ensure you never have to deal with him again in any way possible.

Do you really want someone who smells that bad to knock on your door to have an argument with you?

miss_hh

DId you not smell anything from him when you offered the tenancy? Or did he make a life changing decision and stop washing when he moved in?

Give him his deposit, and also the bill for the carpet cleaning. Though I dont understand why the carpet wasnt dealt with sooner.

azabella

Thanks for the views and yes first thing on my list are the locks!!!
no he didnt smell when he moved in and appeared normal lol, and we did have a chat about how I liked the house kept clean and tidy so he was aware when he moved in it was my home not just some house.... he said he also liked to be clean n tidy hahaha
As for the carpet I respected his privacy and never felt the need to enter his room to check up on him.I only wish i had been nosey and had a peek in his room earlier on maybe I could of bought a nice wash packfor him at xmas.
I intend to bin the bedding not even my dog will be made to sleep on it washed or not!! Its the carpet im most anoyed about and don`t see why I should be out of pocket due to his hygiene issues.

BitterAndTwisted

Red wine, once allowed to sink in and dry out, will not be removed from a carpet no matter how hard you try or what you use on it, so be prepared to replace it and charge your lodger appropriately. Same goes, I suspect for the mattress. *shudder*

Bicarb is a fantastic deodoriser so order in a couple of kilos of it and strew it about with abandon

VfM4meplse

azabella wrote: »

Thank you for that, and i would of but thought it was just me being a bit fussy...not until others noticed the smell did i relise i wasnt being mean.

Why shouldn't you be fussy? - your home, your rules. If you need a silver lining, it's that you've probably not used the water for expected for an additional person if your lodger gives showers and washing a miss?

Make sure you don't get left out of pocket - take what you need from the deposit.