Lodger wants another months notice

Landladyinwaiting2082

Hi all,

I have a lodger living with me that I have decided, due to personal reasons, that I would like them to leave.  They signed an initially 3 month contract with me as at the time when they moved in I was happy with a flexible contract and they seemed happy with it too.  They have now been here for just gone 2 years.  I was hoping they would leave earlier being honest but they never made the move.

After doing some reading I served the lodger with a written notice to quit which they accepted on the 16th of August 2023 and I asked for them to be moved out on the 1st of October 2023 which is actually more than a months notice, technically.  However yesterday they said that they wanted another month as one month wouldn't be suitable for them.  I am thinking of letting them stay for another two weeks and then putting them up in a hotel for the last two weeks as it really doesn't suit me for them to be staying in my home any longer and as I really want them gone.  I just wanted some help really as I feel like my wishes haven't been respected and I have served them the legal notice required to vacate my property. Has this happened to anyone else and how did you resolve it?

I would be interested to hear your views on this 

jimbog

You have been more than generous and seem like a kind person, but there are times when it's necessary to be a bit more firm.
I would give them two extra weeks and not pay for their hotel bills. Say something like you are planning to start redecoration in October so it wont be possible to stay any longer

Tahlullah.H

They are lodgers - assuming they are!  They have no right to stay in your home.  You can ask them to leave with notice, which you have done.  After that, you can enforce it.

Chrysalis

A month really isnt much time to find somewhere else to live, if you hadnt given any indication at all prior to the notice you wanted them to leave I can understand them asking for more time.

How much time is enough? How long is a piece of string.

It is clear you desperately want them gone and the hotel offer is nice.

Its a do you want to be nice or does your own needs come first? thats a decision for you to make, but I checked and 28 days is the legal requirement which you have met.

Landladyinwaiting2082

Chrysalis said:

A month really isnt much time to find somewhere else to live, if you hadnt given any indication at all prior to the notice you wanted them to leave I can understand them asking for more time.

How much time is enough? How long is a piece of string.

It is clear you desperately want them gone and the hotel offer is nice.

Its a do you want to be nice or does your own needs come first? thats a decision for you to make, but I checked and 28 days is the legal requirement which you have met.

Yeah thank you, I've carried out my legal duties.  The only thing is, he said he did view a few properties and they were too expensive.  Which I understand, times are difficult but I've asked him to leave and this isn't the first he's tried to weasel his way around me.  I do think he's chanced his luck a few times with paying rent a few days late here and there and I even told him that I have a habit of letting people walk over me but I think it's fallen on deafs ears.  I don't think he cares lol 

I understand one month isn't enough but some of the excuses he gave me doesn't really add up.  I think he's upset which is understandable but I really don't like that he's not even tried to accept a room when someone has asked them to leave their home, if it was a standard tenancy renting with a bunch of nobodys I don't think I would feel as hurt lol.  It sounds like he's tried but he's not bothered.  I'm feeling a bit hurt myself to be honest and I really needed the support lol Thanks for your reply 

timehastoldme

'No' is a complete sentence. If you feel safe to say no, that's what I'd do, because a month will turn into the other side of Christmas which will turn into the Spring which will...

It's your home, say no, resist the urge to justify it, and plan for a change of locks.

theartfullodger

Indeed, as long as you really have lived in the same property for all the time he's been there (excepting temporary absence like holidays or hospital) simply change locks after expiry of your valid notice.

Don't let him back in for belongings -  agree date & time and stack his stuff outside.  Ideally after photos and with witness.

Landladyinwaiting2082

timehastoldme said:

'No' is a complete sentence. If you feel safe to say no, that's what I'd do, because a month will turn into the other side of Christmas which will turn into the Spring which will...

It's your home, say no, resist the urge to justify it, and plan for a change of locks.

Yeah, that's my worry.  I served him notice as soon as I was sure I wanted him to leave.  I was already wary that serving notice so close to September would be an issue.  He said he saw a few properties and I feel like September was his month to make the leap but he decided not to.   I think he thinks the extra month will help him but I know that the longer he leaves it the harder he's going to make it for himself.  Hence why I've been thinking about the hotel.  Maybe once he's out of the house it might give him the urgency that he needs because I think whilst he's still living in my house that he's just too comfortable and not feeling the urge to make any commitments.  

There was me thinking just serving notice was enough lol 

anselld

One month absolutely is enough.  That is why it is considered fair and reasonable notice on a lodger contract.

He is not trying hard enough, probably because he has seen that you are unlikely to be firm enough to enforce.   Paying his hotel bill would just be ridiculous.

FreeBear

Landladyinwaiting2082 said: Yeah thank you, I've carried out my legal duties.  The only thing is, he said he did view a few properties and they were too expensive.  Which I understand, times are difficult but I've asked him to leave and this isn't the first he's tried to weasel his way around me.

Not your problem what alternative accommodation costs - If anything, it suggests you have been charging below market rate. You have also been generous to give more than the required notice, so stick to your guns (and don't offer to pay for hotel rooms...). If you relent and give him another month, you could find it happening again and again. before you know it, another year has gone. You need to play the hard nosed [redacted], and if necessary, use some unladylike language.

I have had a pair of lodgers that turned in to an absolute nightmare - Gave them a months notice to vacate, and purchased a new set of locks. Left them on display (minus the keys), and fully intended to change them at midnight on the appointed day. As it was, they left without needed any encouragement, and the locks still got changed.

YoungBlueEyes

Forgive me for not quoting, my phone isn’t letting me. 

OP you said in your second post that you told him you have a habit of letting people walk all over you but you think it’s fallen on deaf ears.  

You only served the notice yesterday, so in just one day you’ve mentally given him another couple of weeks and put him up in a hotel? 

It didn’t fall on deaf ears.