New lodger first month's rent and rude behaviour issue

sitesafe

I would definitely get rid quick. This one sounds like a nightmare and you would end up feeling very vulnerable in your own home if you let him stay. I would have thought regardless of an agreement, that if the lodger is being aggressive and not paying the money at this early stage you can give him next to no notice, why would you be expected to have someone who is intimidating you live in your place, I wouldn't trust him.
Try and have someone be there when and if he does come back to collect his things if possible, he might be less likely to kick off. Expensive lesson but change the locks too. Don't fall for any sob stories or apologies. Hope you get it sorted.

[Deleted User]

I'd text him and tell him his belongings will be in the garden at x xx hours if he wants to come and get them, also as above your home you can change the locks and need to do so.

SuboJvR

randd wrote: »

Hi all, thanks for your replies.
I was also thinking to change the main door lock but I was not sure whether this is legally allowed or not. I really want to have these safety procedures in place. I'm also looking for camera installation so that I'll have some proof if something wrong happens.

Its quite frustrating and disappointing that all this is happening to me. As all I did was helped him by understanding his deposit issues and letting him in. From next time, I'm surely going to ask for full deposit and first month's rent before handing over the keys as @G_M has advised.

@paddy's mum: you said it right that just because of few people, I'll now not be helping another person in future cause of this fear and headache that I'm going through now. Having a bad weekend cause of all this and with this painful headache I'm having thats not gone even after taking a paracetamol tablet.

Camera wise, I can recommend a Logitech "Logi" Circle, if you can find a good place to put it inside. They're about £130, it's essentially a network camera and for the first two weeks (I think) you get a free trial of the premium service which records any motion to the server for you to watch back later. It also pings alerts to your smart phone when it picks up motion.

We got one for our two new rescue cats :rotfl:

Chrysalis

I would change the locks but keep his stuff inside (if it has value to him) then it can be used in exchange for the cash he owes you.

OF course I havent checked the legalities of what I would do.

If I felt his stuff has no value to him, then I would give him a deadline to pick them up and if he fails to meet the deadline they will be dumped outside.

randd

G_M wrote: »

1) give him notice

2) evict. No court order required as he's a lodger not a tenant

3) Notice must be as agreed in the contract, or if no notice period agreed, then 'reasonable' notice.

4) if rent is owed & remains unpaid, use the small claims court

5) once he's gone, change the locks

6) if there are threats or you fear for your safety, report to local police (not 999 unless actual violence), then evice immediately and change the locks

for next time:

a) agree a 1 week notice period either way
b) take full deposit before handing over keys
c) take first week/month's rent before handing over keys


LODGERS (Licencees/Excluded Occupiers)
A lodger (broadly) lives in the same property with a resident landlord & shares facilities. Unlike tenants, lodgers have few rights.

The Housing Act 1988 provides definitions of 'Resident Landlord' & 'same property' (S31 & Schedule 1 (10).

See:

LodgerLandlord (21 tips from solicitor Tessa Shepperson + General information site)

Landlordzone (Various articles on taking in lodgers)

Renting out rooms in your home (Government info)

Rent a Room Scheme (HMRC guide for tax-free income from lodgers)

Hi G_M,
I managed to contact local citizen advice and they said that I'll need to provide 1 months notice period as well as I can't change the door lock to deny him entry as others have stated here. This will be a negative point against me they said.

The termination notice on my contract is 1 month. Yesterday, I told him via text that I'm giving you notice to vacate this place. I hope this 1 month i.e. 30 days will be counted from yesterday and not from next rent date 12th July, right? So, his tenancy will end on 25th July 2017 after adding 30 days to 25th June 2017, right? Please correct me if I'm wrong here.

aneary

randd wrote: »

Hi G_M,
I managed to contact local citizen advice and they said that I'll need to provide 1 months notice period as well as I can't change the door lock to deny him entry as others have stated here. This will be a negative point against me they said.

The termination notice on my contract is 1 month. Yesterday, I told him via text that I'm giving you notice to vacate this place. I hope this 1 month i.e. 30 days will be counted from yesterday and not from next rent date 12th July, right? So, his tenancy will end on 25th July 2017 after adding 30 days to 25th June 2017, right? Please correct me if I'm wrong here.

Does your contract state rental period or calendar month for notice.

csgohan4

Don't do it via text, do it by post with proof of posting, not registered, anyone can delete texts. Verbal agreements also a no no.

Red-Squirrel_2

He hasn't paid you rent and he's sent you an abusive text.

Sorry, but I wouldn't be listening to that advice from CAB at all, I wouldn't be letting that person back in my home.

aneary

Additionally if he says that he is moving back with his wife you could say that he can break the contract and leave without notice. You aren't likely to get any more money out of him anyway and if he breaks the contract you are rid and can just move on.

randd

aneary wrote: »

Does your contract state rental period or calendar month for notice.

My contract says following:

• Early Termination Notice: 1 (month/[STRIKE]week[/STRIKE])
• Rent: The sum of £440 payable in advance: monthly/[STRIKE]weekly[/STRIKE] on the 12th day of every month/[STRIKE]week[/STRIKE] being payment for the room and services (if any).