Lodger lied during application, outcome on page 29...!

GDB2222

canaldumidi said:

Thanks. Keep updating us. Court will cost him more. Best of luck.

 There’s a hearing fee, but he may be entitled to financial help with that. He has not baulked at paying the court fee so far.  

GDB2222

themastergoose said:

Quick update if ppl are still following this. He’s declined mediation so it’s going to a full hearing at some date at the county court.

I can’t gauge whether he’s being serious and is going to attend and attempt a defence, or he’s spend the money and just longing this out to annoy me for whatever reason? I guess I’ll soon find out.

Given that you find these proceedings annoying, the obvious course would be to try to settle the matter. My understanding is that you have made no attempt to do so. 

Tactically, he’s right to refuse mediation, as it only works if both parties are prepared to settle.

Sistergold

themastergoose said:

Quick update if ppl are still following this. He’s declined mediation so it’s going to a full hearing at some date at the county court.

I can’t gauge whether he’s being serious and is going to attend and attempt a defence, or he’s spend the money and just longing this out to annoy me for whatever reason? I guess I’ll soon find out.

What a pain! Good luck

bouicca21

GDB2222 said

Given that you find these proceedings annoying, the obvious course would be to try to settle the matter. My understanding is that you have made no attempt to do so. 

Tactically, he’s right to refuse mediation, as it only works if both parties are prepared to settle.

Surely offering mediation indicates a willingness to settle?  I thought courts looked askance at people who rejected mediation?

GDB2222

bouicca21 said:

GDB2222 said

Given that you find these proceedings annoying, the obvious course would be to try to settle the matter. My understanding is that you have made no attempt to do so. 

Tactically, he’s right to refuse mediation, as it only works if both parties are prepared to settle.

Surely offering mediation indicates a willingness to settle?  I thought courts looked askance at people who rejected mediation?

In the small claims track, there are very few cost implications. It won’t affect the judgment.

GDB2222

Besides that, I don’t think that the OP answered the LBA fully, so the judge may be equally unimpressed with both of them. Or, more likely, he’s seen it all before and won’t care.

Tiglet2

Best of luck OP. 

 I have read this thread and am shocked at the whole scenario.  I have not commented as I don't have any relevant experience or qualifications, but I can't help thinking that this lodger must have known right from the start that you would undertake checks (as per your advert) and that those checks would reveal his various offences.  He surely knew you wouldn't allow him to stay due to this, so did he target you with the intention of legal action, purely to scam you out of thousands of pounds?   

It is a warning to others thinking about sharing their home with a lodger that it doesn't matter how long the credit checks take.  Do not allow a potential lodger to move in before all the paperwork is back and is satisfactory.  To me, this is the only thing you have made a mistake with.

Beetroot_24

If he didn't set out to scam you, he's certainly vindictive. Obviously his mum never told him no enough when he grew up. She sounds like a complete enabler.

hazyjo

Have a really good Google for similar stories. Think it's already been said, but I'm sure he's prob done this before and targeted you due to your ad saying about checks.

What a nasty human being.

CKhalvashi

hazyjo said:

Have a really good Google for similar stories. Think it's already been said, but I'm sure he's prob done this before and targeted you due to your ad saying about checks.

What a nasty human being.

But on the basis of everything we've seen here, I don't believe OP has been unreasonable in their requests to the lodger given their full circumstances and the clarity in the advert.

However much I've picked on specific contract terms, OP has acted reasonably in these dealings. I find it difficult to see where the lodger feels they'd win in this case.