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

Kittenonthekeys

nrsql wrote: »

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.

On the contrary, they have indeed left me to face the music - it's me the LA has already contacted twice, and undoubtedly will again as they cannot get to my friend who is lying low, hoping they won't be found and who has no intention of 'calling off the dogs.'
Its not a nice situation to be in, and as a result of their actions I've been landed with unnecessary stress & harassment when my friend was aware that I had been unwell myself.
I had no way if knowing if I *could* in fact be held liable until I asked on here.
As to my friends circumstances, obviously as I've said before, I can't go into that here but I can tell you that they were not as you described.

Sambucus_Nigra

Kittenonthekeys wrote: »

On the contrary, they have indeed left me to face the music

No they haven't!

You gave a reference - you didn't underwrite them.

So tell the agent to do one.

Kittenonthekeys

Sambucus_Nigra wrote: »

No they haven't!

You gave a reference - you didn't underwrite them.

So tell the agent to do one.

Thank you.
Whilst not wishing to get into a panto-esque 'oh yes he did, oh no he didn't' discussion for the next 3 pages, that's how it's affecting *me* so let's just agree to differ on that one. I'm the one at the receiving end, I know the full story about my friend - again, I cant put that on a public forum and anyway it's irrelevant to my original question, to which Ive had many helpful replies.

Kittenonthekeys

As predicted, Monday morning and agent has started chasing me again (left voicemail.) Very tempted to respond and tell them where to go, to get them off my back but perhaps ignoring them is the best way forward.
Not quite sure where to take this.

Out,_Vile_Jelly

If you don't want to pass on contact details, then tell the agent you have also been let down by the ex-friend and are no longer in touch with them, and request that they stop contacting you.

DRP

Kittenonthekeys wrote: »

As predicted, Monday morning and agent has started chasing me again (left voicemail.) Very tempted to respond and tell them where to go, to get them off my back but perhaps ignoring them is the best way forward.
Not quite sure where to take this.

If they ring again, tell them you don't have your friends' contact details and ask him not to contact you. Just keep it simple.

whitewing

I still don't see any reason not to pass on the contact details. But I would make it clear that that is the last contact I expect to have with the agent from that point on.

Kittenonthekeys

Thanks - have sent a short note via snail mail, as this agent doesn't seem to pick up their emails.
Hopefully that's an end to it..........

Kittenonthekeys

whitewing wrote: »

I still don't see any reason not to pass on the contact details. But I would make it clear that that is the last contact I expect to have with the agent from that point on.

I'll only do that as a last resort if I have no other choice; as someone remarked early on, I need to put my family and even myself before this (negligent) agent and the landlord - I don't want to risk more hassle and possible repurcussions.
The agent needs to get off his backside and earn his fee - they could find my friend if they wanted to as they do have an email address. But it's easier if someone else does their work for them.
And incidentally, at no time have they actually asked me for the contact details!

tbs624

Kittenonthekeys wrote: »

As predicted, Monday morning and agent has started chasing me again (left voicemail.) Very tempted to respond and tell them where to go, to get them off my back but perhaps ignoring them is the best way forward.
Not quite sure where to take this.

Just ignore them - don't respond but keep a note of the times/dates of calls just in case the LA does need to eventually formally be warned off with a cease and desist letter