The Phantom Lodger

MKwife

My husband and I have got a lodger for the first time to help us out with the mortgage. He moved in last month and gave us a months rent, and a months rent as deposit. He is usually only with us throughout the week and goes home at weekends.

All was going swimmingly until we went on holiday. We told him we were going away for a week. We came home from holiday and we have not seen him for 3 weeks now.... His usual stuff is still in the room so we assume he is coming back??

But the rent was due last week so we used the deposit money to pay the rent. I have texted him to see if he is ok and to tell him he owes us rent as we had agreed he pay us on the first of the month. That was 3 days ago and he has not replied.

Now I don't know what to do. Bit nervous to ring incase he has a family tradgedy or something bad has happened. I just need to know if he intends staying with us cos if not I need to find another lodger for next month.

Any ideas? I personally think it is very rude that he has not emailed, phoned or texted but I don't know what situation he might be in.

Melissa177

Just call him - typical of us English to worry about it being awkward to call him when he hasn't been in touch or paid his rent...

flower_72

I would just call him too.
Whatever the situation he's in, you need to know what's up with him, wether he's still your lodger or decided to do one.
This happened to a friend of mine, their lodger just never came back. They tried to contact him. No luck. After a month, they notified the police "our lodger has not been seen or heard for a month, his stuff is still in the room as if he just popped out for a bit".
At the end they cleared up the room, gave some stuff to charity and sold some other.

CYBERCIDERSAVER

You've got a months rent (the deposit) so you aren't out of pocket yet. I'd sit tight keep trying to contact him every few days/week and work out how you are going to evict him if he doesn't show (shouldn't be a problem....) Maybe a text like "if we haven't heard from you in x days we will rent out the room to someone else..."

Although texting is one way have you actually tried ringing him? (use a number that he doesn't know.) Always catches people out who are avoiding certain people.

Guy_Montag

Call him, but it's possible he took a last minute holiday deal or something.

MABLE

MKwife wrote: »

My husband and I have got a lodger for the first time to help us out with the mortgage. He moved in last month and gave us a months rent, and a months rent as deposit. He is usually only with us throughout the week and goes home at weekends.

All was going swimmingly until we went on holiday. We told him we were going away for a week. We came home from holiday and we have not seen him for 3 weeks now.... His usual stuff is still in the room so we assume he is coming back??

But the rent was due last week so we used the deposit money to pay the rent. I have texted him to see if he is ok and to tell him he owes us rent as we had agreed he pay us on the first of the month. That was 3 days ago and he has not replied.

Now I don't know what to do. Bit nervous to ring incase he has a family tradgedy or something bad has happened. I just need to know if he intends staying with us cos if not I need to find another lodger for next month.

Any ideas? I personally think it is very rude that he has not emailed, phoned or texted but I don't know what situation he might be in.

Its your house and you have every right to know what the situation is.
He is only renting a room from you.

MKwife

I am going to call him tomorrow :eek:

Just not looking forward to it. As if he is coming back I don't want him to get the hump with us incase he does anything horrible to my house!! :mad:

But then if he does get the hump I will just tell him to leave I think. Unless there is a real genuine reason ???? I just can't possible think of one!

Kaz2904

Just phone up and say something like "I hope evrythings OK for you, we were getting concerned that something may have happened as we've not seen you around for a while" or text and say "we're having a chinese tonight do you want us to order anything for you?"
Nothing to get offended about in either call.
Is he a student or anything? He may have had some heavy work on or something?
I'd be quite concerned by now as I'd worry something could have happened. Do you have any friend or family contact numbers?

lindsaygalaxy

Did you manage to contact him?

MKwife

We are waiting to see if he comes back tonight (Monday) as he would normally come back on a Monday eve after going home for the weekend. Calling him at 8.30pm as he is not normally home until 8pm.

Just going to ask if he intends on coming back and if so when. If he doesn't intend to be back for another week I am going to ask him to send the rent by cheque, and if we haven't received it by next Monday I will let the room out to someone else on the 1st of next month. Simple as. Do you think that is fair?

I will let you know!!

Wig

He could be dead. 15 mins to go.