Does A Lock Fitted On The Bedroom Door Alter Legal Position?

Mallotum_X

Change the locks today and dont let him in.

Inform him you will pack his things and ask a friend to be there when you do. If he carries on being aggressive from outside call the police.

moneyistooshorttomention

Personally, I wouldn't tell the police in advance that I was going to change the locks. I would just tell them that I HAD changed the locks (AFTER I had done so) and that I feared for my safety when he came home and that there might well be a "breach of the peace" when he found he couldn't get in and point out how much safer you would feel if they were there at the time if possible please (with you being a little woman and him being a big man if applicable).

Hopefully, you can find some hefty male friends (through work perhaps?) to be there with you at the time.

The one thing about him being a solicitor is that I am wondering if he is currently working as one? If he is, then maybe the firm he is working for wouldn't like to be "brought into disrepute" because of his actions (if they knew about them)??

I must admit to wondering if he really IS a solicitor, or just telling you he is. Reason being solicitors are well-paid and I would be surprised at finding that a well-paid person was being a lodger (ie rather than buying their own home or at least renting a posh flat to themselves). Are you sure he is telling you the truth when he claims to be a solicitor?

I still go with the advice to get rid of him first and then figure out later whether he might be able to (ab)use the law against you.

You have to protect yourself as well as your property and this man sounds thoroughly nasty.

EDIT: I'd hazard a guess that he actually is (or was...) an office worker in a legal firm...but unlikely to be a solicitor in one.

Kynthia

If you should get another lodger in the future make sure you have a copy of their room key and get them to sign the lodger agreement that includes the clause that you retain the right to enter their room. You can still respect their privacy but Google 'exclusive occupation' and you'll understand why.

I hope you manage to get him out soon.

Enterprise_1701C

Not sure of the legalities, but it is your home so think you should be OK. Could you not have your mobile on record next time he starts being nasty?

princeofpounds

Don't involve his workplace. That (quite legitimately) could be construed as harrassment.

Mistral001

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

The one thing about him being a solicitor is that I am wondering if he is currently working as one? If he is, then maybe the firm he is working for wouldn't like to be "brought into disrepute" because of his actions (if they knew about them)??
..

There are three professions which have protected name status. One is a medical doctor, one is an architect and the other is a lawyer. if he is telling people he is a lawyer when he is not he might be committing an offense.

By the way there are a lot of solicitors on Tax credits at the minute so being a solicitor does not equal wealthy.

TBagpuss

Give him written notice to leave. Set out in your letter to him that you are comfirming in writing, the verbal notice given to him on [date] that you are terminating the arrangement for him to remain as a lodger in your home and that as stated at that time, you require him to leave by 30th August, and to pay the arrears he owes you immediately. Set out in the letter the amount currently outstanding.

I would also recommend that you check whether he is indeed a solicitor. (you can check here -http://www.lawsociety.org.uk/find-a-solicitor/?view=solsearch#formtop (He may not appear if he was a solicitor but is no longer practising)

Also, the fact he is in your home does not mean it is acceptable for him to intimidate or harass you. If he threatens you, report it to the police as soon as you can. Make it clear that you want it logged as harassment (if it is not severe enough to pursue immediately)

Do not back down if they tell you 'it's a civil matter' or 'get an injunction' simply tell them that you are taking legal advice but you want it logged as harassment. Make sure you get a crime reference number/log number.

When you do change the locks and exclude him, at the end of the month, get a friend to come round. While a big, burly man may make you feel safer, having *anyone* there means you have a witness to any bad behaviour, someone who can call 999.

Also, the new person is an unknown quantity - it's generally much easier to remain calm and aloof when it is not *your* home, or *your* dodgy lodger, so a friend ho can stay calm and simply tell him "you were given notice on [date], if you continue to threaten Strawberry I shall call the police" may well be equally effective.

DRP

strawberries1 wrote: »

...

Step1. Give a short period of notice (it sounds like you've already done this)
Step2. Remove the lock off his door (when he's out). This is your house remember.
Step3. When the notice period ends (and he's out), change the front door locks and put his stuff in bin bags and put it in the hall. Call the police and tell them you fear for your safety and ask them to attend. When he arrives back either put the bags through the door or a window so he can take them.

harryhound

To my way of thinking there are three possibilities (we re talking England & Wales - yes London!):
He is living with you as a household and neither of you have exclusive access to anything. (you don't explain your title to the property - renting?)
He is a rent a room lodger.
This is an HMO and so subject to all sorts of rules and regulations.
(as this is England, it won't be a "House" in multiple occupation,(HMO) but having a lock on the door that enables the lodger to lock himself in might well be a breach of the fire regulations, if he can lock himself in without a fire proof door and emergency override. ie you need to turn the home into an institution, with a "prison cell" door with in-tumescent strips and a little wired glass window; allowing the tenant to check the corridor lit by your secondary emergency lighting system. A single a way of escape through the living room/kitchen is unacceptable.
Obviously you don't want to shoot yourself in the foot - but a timed visit from another burly male in a position of authority would help get your message across.

This lodger is behaving in a totally unacceptable way for a lawyer and he should know it - have you really been lumbered with a "care in the community" case with a damaged grip on reality? Could he be trying to be officially ejected by the courts in order to claim something off the public purse at the local authority ?

You could also try posting this conundrum on one of the "landlord" forums for what would probably be an up to date legal opinion.

vuvuzela

harryhound wrote: »

To my way of thinking there are three possibilities (we re talking England & Wales - yes London!):
He is living with you as a household and neither of you have exclusive access to anything. (you don't explain your title to the property - renting?)
He is a rent a room lodger.
This is an HMO and so subject to all sorts of rules and regulations.
(as this is England, it won't be a "House" in multiple occupation,(HMO) but having a lock on the door that enables the lodger to lock himself in might well be a breach of the fire regulations, if he can lock himself in without a fire proof door and emergency override. ie you need to turn the home into an institution, with a "prison cell" door with in-tumescent strips and a little wired glass window; allowing the tenant to check the corridor lit by your secondary emergency lighting system. A single a way of escape through the living room/kitchen is unacceptable.
Obviously you don't want to shoot yourself in the foot - but a timed visit from another burly male in a position of authority would help get your message across.

This lodger is behaving in a totally unacceptable way for a lawyer and he should know it - have you really been lumbered with a "care in the community" case with a damaged grip on reality? Could he be trying to be officially ejected by the courts in order to claim something off the public purse at the local authority ?

You could also try posting this conundrum on one of the "landlord" forums for what would probably be an up to date legal opinion.

if there are only 2 of them living there, I don't think there are any councils that would class it as an HMO. I wouldn't have risked worrying the OP with HMO talk, as it won't be relevant.