lodgers possessions/rent owed

catalonia13

Morning all, would appreciate some advice please.
I gave a room to a homeless person/friend of my sons, back in October, found later out he wasn't really homeless, he'd been offered emergency accommodation the next day by the Council but he turned it down, he clearly thought our home a better option. anyway, he said he was employed but had no shifts at the moment (that turned out to be a lie too, he'd been sacked 2 weeks earlier) so I only charged him £25pw all in, including food etc. and in return he'd help me out in the home and garden (help was a struggle to get tbh but he did do some work) anyway, after 2 months his alcohol issues (which I did not know of at the start, nor did my son) became too much, I had told him to stop bringing his stolen bottles back but he continued and then got aggressive one evening so I asked his support worker to remove him, which she did.
Whilst here he bought a lot of boxes of stuff in from his previous lodgings (the Police had to assist there as they wouldn't let him near otherwise) his support worker came and collected these boxes a week later when he got a council place, I still have about 20 of his x box games here which I agreed to return and he said he would pay the £65 he owes me (he agreed in December to pay it at £5pw, which never happened) but he now says that a load more are missing so he's gone out and bought the so called missing ones out of the £65 he owes me and I apparently have £6 left!
I feel he is taking the P, big time. I have no evidence that these games ever came here or, or if they did, that there were not in the boxes that his support worker took to him and currently have no inclination to give him back the ones I do have.
Yes, I know I was stupid to take him in in the first place, he appeared genuine, I know different now! hindsight eh?

G_M

and the question is........?

In your place, I would take the rent owed out of his deposit.

Pixie5740

catalonia13 wrote: »

Morning all, would appreciate some advice please.
I gave a room to a homeless person/friend of my sons, back in October, found later out he wasn't really homeless, he'd been offered emergency accommodation the next day by the Council but he turned it down, he clearly thought our home a better option. anyway, he said he was employed but had no shifts at the moment (that turned out to be a lie too, he'd been sacked 2 weeks earlier) so I only charged him £25pw all in, including food etc. and in return he'd help me out in the home and garden (help was a struggle to get tbh but he did do some work) anyway, after 2 months his alcohol issues (which I did not know of at the start, nor did my son) became too much, I had told him to stop bringing his stolen bottles back but he continued and then got aggressive one evening so I asked his support worker to remove him, which she did.
Whilst here he bought a lot of boxes of stuff in from his previous lodgings (the Police had to assist there as they wouldn't let him near otherwise) his support worker came and collected these boxes a week later when he got a council place, I still have about 20 of his x box games here which I agreed to return and he said he would pay the £65 he owes me (he agreed in December to pay it at £5pw, which never happened) but he now says that a load more are missing so he's gone out and bought the so called missing ones out of the £65 he owes me and I apparently have £6 left!
I feel he is taking the P, big time. I have no evidence that these games ever came here or, or if they did, that there were not in the boxes that his support worker took to him and currently have no inclination to give him back the ones I do have.
Yes, I know I was stupid to take him in in the first place, he appeared genuine, I know different now! hindsight eh?

I might have missed but what is your question?

Whilst the ex-lodger might owe you money you don't have a legal right to hold his possessions ransom even if he has behaved badly.

Comms69

I presume your question is - how do I get my money?


The short answer is, it's gone. You can take him to court, and win, but he's not going to pay is he. Blood out of a stone comes to mind.

Slinky

G_M wrote: »

and the question is........?

In your place, I would take the rent owed out of his deposit.

G_M you know there'll be no deposit........

OP put it down to experience and move on.

Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted.

catalonia13

correct, I did not take a deposit, I guess my question is, must I give him these games back, although I know really the answer is yes and I haven't a hope in hell of getting the £65 back as he's spent it on the 'missing' games!

Comms69

catalonia13 wrote: »

correct, I did not take a deposit, I guess my question is, must I give him these games back, although I know really the answer is yes and I haven't a hope in hell of getting the £65 back as he's spent it on the 'missing' games!

Yes, ofcourse. It's not your property.

catalonia13

does he have the right to buy these so called missing games out of what he owes me though......?

G_M

catalonia13 wrote: »

correct, I did not take a deposit, I guess my question is, must I give him these games back, although I know really the answer is yes and I haven't a hope in hell of getting the £65 back as he's spent it on the 'missing' games!

Others are right - the games are not yours and should be returned.

Butl playing devil's advocate for a moment, what would/could he do if you kept them?

He could sue you. Is he likely to?

You could then counter-claim for your rent.Both claims would be considered together.

Comms69

catalonia13 wrote: »

does he have the right to buy these so called missing games out of what he owes me though......?

It's complicated, but lets say no.


The issue is the money will never be paid back.


May as well just move on. It's only £65 at the end of the day

Mojisola

catalonia13 wrote: »

does he have the right to buy these so called missing games out of what he owes me though......?

He still owes you £65 - but don't expect to get it back.