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Lodger Issue

Hi. I'm a live-in landlord, and have been for about 5 years. I've currently got one lodger, having recently got rid of my 2nd lodger (having had no problems for years, I now seem to be attracting them all at once!)

The chap I've got now has been her about 6 months. I find him quite abrupt and unsociable (he barely says hello) but because he's been no problem up til now, I've kept him.

However, he's gone home for 2 weeks for Christmas. I've today noticed that one of the cupboards in the kitchen (a cupboard with his pots and pans in) has both doors jammed tight to the kitchen unit, so the doors wouldn't pull open. On closer examination, I've noticed that someone has drilled through both doors and put a screw through each hole to hold the doors tight to the kitchen unit, before covering the screws with polyfiller. I've taken the screws out, leaving a small, but clearly visible hole, in each of the doors.

In terms of damage, it is very minor. However, I'm pretty hacked off that he's seen fit to drill into my kitchen units without even asking if it was ok to do so.

What are your thoughts on how you'd deal with this? I'm pretty hacked off but not sure whether I'm over-reacting.
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Comments

  • Talc1234
    Talc1234 Posts: 273 Forumite
    Seventh Anniversary 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    No you are not overreacting, it's willful damage. Evict him.
  • gazter
    gazter Posts: 931 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary Combo Breaker
    That's outrageous behaviour. Who would even think that such a thing was acceptable?
  • Why would he do that? Is there some kind of history over pots and pans?

    For me it's over the line behaviour too.
  • lee111s
    lee111s Posts: 2,987 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Get him out. That's not acceptable behaviour.
  • getmore4less
    getmore4less Posts: 46,882 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper I've helped Parliament
    Pack up his stuff and tell him he is not coming back into your house.
  • theartfullodger
    theartfullodger Posts: 15,796 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 29 December 2014 at 10:31AM
    What did you do with the £4500 in cash inside his security safe cupboard? What else was in there??

    How do you know it was him that did it not another, earlier, lodger if you've only just noticed it. It could have been a disgruntled lodger you were booting out leaving a "present": If so, what others.. (e.g. kippers under the floor-boards... as my eldest left with one unhelpful landlord..)

    Ask him politely, !!!!!!? He might know what really happened & permit you to sue/pursue the real villain.
  • What did you do with the £4500 in cash inside his security safe cupboard? What else was in there??

    ?

    Have I missed something
  • ?

    Have I missed something
    Why would someone screw shut cupboards if there wasn't something to keep safe - or to cause problems for the landlord..

    If lodger was trying to cause problems for the landlord (as OP seems to think..) then claiming to have had stuff stolen is, sadly, a common tactic: Especially if someone "broke into" a secured area....

    Call me cynical & I'll agree,,
  • fishpond
    fishpond Posts: 1,022 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Combo Breaker
    ?

    Have I missed something

    Yes you did, its already gone:cool:
    I am a LandLord,(under review) so there!:p
  • In answer to the question of whether it was definitely him - it could theoretically have been the other chap I got rid of. Current lodger went home for Christmas on Wednesday 17th December, old lodger moved out on Friday 19th December so within those 2 days, yes the old lodger could have caused this damage.

    I very much doubt that it was the old lodger, but I couldn't actually prove this. I haven't taken any action yet while I weigh it all up.
This discussion has been closed.
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