Urgent advice needed re: lodger

jimpix12

Crashy_Time wrote: »

Yes, get a new one, give the guy his stuff back, make all new lodgers pay by direct debit. Alternatively get a house that you can afford without bringing people into the spare room.

That was my thought too. It sounds to me like the OP took in the lodger not as a favour to an old friend as claimed, but more to make some easy cash, which hasn't been as forthcoming as s/he thought it would be.

djdust

spunko2010 wrote: »

That was my thought too. It sounds to me like the OP took in the lodger not as a favour to an old friend as claimed, but more to make some easy cash, which hasn't been as forthcoming as s/he thought it would be.

Not true in the slightest, I went to a massive amount of effort to clear a room for him at very short notice and it cost me money to do so. He was happy to make a financial arrangement with me in return and we agreed on figures. My council tax and bills have increased as a result and I'm entitled to get paid what was agreed - I didn't even want a lodger anyway. If you choose to translate that as me "making some easy cash" and wish to paint me as some shady character, that's your opinion - and you know where you can stick it. Thanks for the feedback.

Guest101

djdust wrote: »

Not true in the slightest, I went to a massive amount of effort to clear a room for him at very short notice and it cost me money to do so. - That's hardly relevant, you were expecting payment. He was happy to make a financial arrangement with me in return and we agreed on figures. My council tax and bills have increased as a result and I'm entitled to get paid what was agreed - yes you are. But via the proper legal channels, court. - I didn't even want a lodger anyway. - Then you shouldn't have got one, that's your problem. If you choose to translate that as me "making some easy cash" and wish to paint me as some shady character, that's your opinion - and you know where you can stick it. Thanks for the feedback.

Just get a letter before action, go to court and win. There's a reason for this being the correct remedy.

djdust

I didn't even want a lodger anyway
Then you shouldn't have got one, that's your problem

Indeed but, as I've already stated, I did it to help out someone I thought was a friend. If people want to imply that I somehow conned him by putting a roof over his head and giving him a home for a couple of months and, shock horror, expecting him to *pay* for it as well....? Sheesh.

djdust

Ok, locks changed. Got a message from him an hour ago:

"The man at Halifax said that he could see it pending and it should've gone through the only thing that could be stopping it was that it would put me into my unplanned overdraft if it went through"

In other words, he doesn't have the money, there's no could be about it.

Mojisola

djdust wrote: »

I didn't even want a lodger anyway
Then you shouldn't have got one, that's your problem

Indeed but, as I've already stated, I did it to help out someone I thought was a friend.

He will soon find that he doesn't have any friends ready to help him out if he treats them like this.

Even with friends and family, it's worth putting these things on a formal footing. Taking at least a couple of weeks upfront would have helped. Also, not letting it slip when the first non-payment happened.

Lessons for the future!

djdust

Mojisola wrote: »

He will soon find that he doesn't have any friends ready to help him out if he treats them like this.

I think he's made it through life this far without anyone standing up to him and calling him on it.

Mojisola wrote: »

Even with friends and family, it's worth putting these things on a formal footing. Taking at least a couple of weeks upfront would have helped. Also, not letting it slip when the first non-payment happened. Lessons for the future!

I agree completely and am the first to admit I'm responsible for bringing this on myself by being such a pushover. I don't appreciate the less-than-helpful comments basically calling me a crook though.

Guest101

djdust wrote: »

I didn't even want a lodger anyway
Then you shouldn't have got one, that's your problem

Indeed but, as I've already stated, I did it to help out someone I thought was a friend. If people want to imply that I somehow conned him by putting a roof over his head and giving him a home for a couple of months and, shock horror, expecting him to *pay* for it as well....? Sheesh.

That's fine, but no point saying it and in the same breath asking about the money.


You have a clear legal route to take

jimpix12

djdust wrote: »

Not true in the slightest, I went to a massive amount of effort to clear a room for him at very short notice and it cost me money to do so. He was happy to make a financial arrangement with me in return and we agreed on figures. My council tax and bills have increased as a result and I'm entitled to get paid what was agreed - I didn't even want a lodger anyway. If you choose to translate that as me "making some easy cash" and wish to paint me as some shady character, that's your opinion - and you know where you can stick it. Thanks for the feedback.

Then I apologise, though you could have made that clearer.

You say in your OP that you attract losers, it's because you're a "soft touch" and certain people will exploit that.

Money_maker

djdust wrote: »

Ok, locks changed. Got a message from him an hour ago:

"The man at Halifax said that he could see it pending and it should've gone through the only thing that could be stopping it was that it would put me into my unplanned overdraft if it went through"

In other words, he doesn't have the money, there's no could be about it.

That so doesn't sound right. When you transfer, you are advised of the amount available and it goes through almost instantly. Has anyone really had any experience of a payment such as this just hanging?