I gave reference for friend who turned into tenant from hell - please advise!

Anarchist

Just a quick question. Im unsure how this hasn't been picked up.

You say it's seven months after you supplied the reference, so probably they were living there six months. And owe £10000 in rent.

What type of property costs about £1600 a month to rent?

Even if they were working out the rent owed on a 12 month contract, that's still a LOT of rent. Especially as I assume your ex friend doesn't have a large family?

pinkshoes

I'd just email the agency back saying:

"Dear <agent name>. On <date> you asked me to provide a reference for <name of person> describing their previous character. The reference that I wrote was a truthful reflection of their character up to and on that particular date. I am sorry to hear that they have since behaved so out of character, but this is nothing to do with me, and I cannot be held responsible for their actions. I do not appreciate being accused of writing a false reference, but should you wish to apologise, I will supply you with their new address/contact details as a gesture of good will."

BitterAndTwisted

In my opinion the agent did not accuse the OP of anything. They just gave a comment on how they thought the OP should act in future.

I wouldn't respond to them in writing at all as this just gives an opportunity for further discussion. There is no further discussion to be had.

Kittenonthekeys

Yes, that is a lot of rent - it's a big house with a lot of people!

The 'friend' situation is a more complicated, separate and personal issue that isn't quite so easy to resolve, unfortunately.

They have left me messages to which I have now responded, as I felt it was only fair, but they are not denying the allegations; neither have they apologised for putting me through all this or told me how/if they plan to put things right.
I hope I don't sound too hard-faced, but friendships are sometimes not so black and white and obviously, as InMyDreams rightly points out, I can't go into as many details as I would like on a public forum and in a way, the state of our friendship is not particularly relevant to my original question.
My concern/question was only whether I could be personally liable and your kind replies have put my mind at rest on that score at least.

I am upset mainly because this 'friend' has basically run away and left me to 'face the music' for something they have done.
If it gets to the point where I have no choice but to tell the agent their whereabouts, then I will, but I am reluctant to do so, not least because I really don't want to get further involved.
Neither has the agent acted professionally imo, and as someone said earlier on, they appear to be looking for an easy target.
I have prepared a response for when/if the agent should contact me again, as I am not prepared to put up with this.

Anarchist

Kittenonthekeys wrote: »

Yes, that is a lot of rent - it's a big house with a lot of people!

The 'friend' situation is a more complicated, separate and personal issue that isn't quite so easy to resolve, unfortunately.

They have left me messages to which I have now responded, as I felt it was only fair, but they are not denying the allegations; neither have they apologised for putting me through all this or told me how/if they plan to put things right.
I hope I don't sound too hard-faced, but friendships are sometimes not so black and white and obviously, as InMyDreams rightly points out, I can't go into as many details as I would like on a public forum and in a way, the state of our friendship is not particularly relevant to my original question.
My concern/question was only whether I could be personally liable and your kind replies have put my mind at rest on that score at least.

I am upset mainly because this 'friend' has basically run away and left me to 'face the music' for something they have done.
If it gets to the point where I have no choice but to tell the agent their whereabouts, then I will, but I am reluctant to do so, not least because I really don't want to get further involved.
Neither has the agent acted professionally imo, and as someone said earlier on, they appear to be looking for an easy target.
I have prepared a response for when/if the agent should contact me again, as I am not prepared to put up with this.

Ah, so basically you were his mistress? :rotfl:

Kittenonthekeys

Anarchist wrote: »

Ah, so basically you were his mistress? :rotfl:

OMG, no - wrong sex and deffo not that type of friendship!:eek:

tbs624

In your shoes, I'd just stay out of it now OP - no letters, no phone calls to LA necessary.

What you wrote was likely to come under the category of merely your opinion of his character based on what you knew about the person at that time. As I said previously LA/LL should have carried out some due diligence and taken up extra referencing.

LA will in all probability have had his behind well and truly kicked by the LL and is now just trying to lash out at someone further down the line. The situation faced by this LL is not of your doing and it doesn't sound as if the LA is in a situation to be giving anyone else "advice".

I'd also leave the LA /LL to track down the former friend/ex-T. If they need to use a third party tracing company the LL can set the costs down on his tax return.He's got six years to chase the rent debt.

zzzLazyDaisy

Good advice.

TBH OP I would also stay well out of it.

You were asked to give a reference and you gave it in good faith. You have nothing to reproach yourself for. This mess is entirely down to the LA not doing its job properly and to your friend for doing whatever s/he might have done or not. You are not to blame and you have no legal liability. The threat of court action is just scare tactics.

it sounds like you want no further involvement and in that case I'd just ignore all further correspondence and let them get on with it.

(I am assuming that you did not stand guarantor for your friend as that would be a whole different ball game)

Kittenonthekeys

zzzLazyDaisy wrote: »

Good advice.

TBH OP I would also stay well out of it.

You were asked to give a reference and you gave it in good faith. You have nothing to reproach yourself for. This mess is entirely down to the LA not doing its job properly and to your friend for doing whatever s/he might have done or not. You are not to blame and you have no legal liability. The threat of court action is just scare tactics.

it sounds like you want no further involvement and in that case I'd just ignore all further correspondence and let them get on with it.

(I am assuming that you did not stand guarantor for your friend as that would be a whole different ball game)

Oh goodness, no - absolutely not.
Excellent advice (and yours too, tbs624) - that's what I plan to do!
Thank you.

nrsql

The friend hasn't left you to face the music. You gave a reference honestly and that's as far as your involvement goes. The agent can inform you as to what has happened but its really nothing to do with you.
Maybe the friends circumstances changed and he couldn't pay the rent and couldn't leave as he would have been homeless. Damage needs a bit more explanation but again might not be clear cut.

Agent probably didn't do his job and is trying to cause trouble.