Troublesome lodger

bigjoe

spirit wrote: »

I don't poke around in his room for evidence, his ashtray is in full view. I would never and have never touched anything, opened cupboards, drawers or anything else. I do actually respect their privacy, but I won't allow smoking and as they knew that, surely they should respect my wishes. would you allow people to have a sneaky smoke in your house if you were a non smoker and didn't like smoke?

You respect their privacy except when it suits you not to by the sounds of it. Taking photos is bang out of order and pretty sad to boot (not to mention pointless).

Why not go the full hog and burst in WITH WITNESSES when you think he is having a crafty fag?

Honestly you don't come across well in this thread. The photos, trying to get money you don't deserve, etc., No wonder you've gone through so many lodgers!

bigjoe

spirit wrote: »

He has the window open most of the time - he obviously thinks that it will get rid of the smell - it doesn't.

He has the big window open even when it's howling a gale and diddling in rain - neighbours have seen him standing there smoking.

So the re-decoration bit is just a piece of nonsense to try to hold on to a deposit then?

Debt_Free_Chick

Come on guys - the OP has had her question answered and is taking a pragmatic approach.

This is not really the place to harangue her over the way she manages her lodgers. If they don't like it, they'll take it up with her and/or vote with their feet.

We're not here to as the judge, jury and executioner on moral/ethical issues. Sure, we can make observations on what seems to be morally right. But I think that's been done and the OP has taken it on board.

jamesd

spirit, you are required to seek permission from your lodger to enter their room, since they have exclusive possession of it by virtue of being the only person entitled to sleep there. Exceptions for emergencies or with ample prior notice for non-emergency access. The rooms that they do not have exclusive possession of are any shared kitchens, bathrooms and common areas outside their room.

It appears that it's your practice to harass your tenants via breaching their right to quiet enjoyment of the room they are renting from you. You shouldn't be doing this and the tenant breaking the house rule does not entitle you to interfere with their quiet enjoyment, just to give them notice to end their tenancy.

Good to read that you got the weekly rent calculation done reasaonably. As for the period, the court would have to decide but paying weekly makes it likely that it'll be weekly if it matters enough to the tenant to go there and find out. But maybe that montly rent calculation method would save it and keep it monthly.

Debt_Free_Chick, telling landlords about their obligations is good practice even when their immediate question has been answered.

bigjoe

Debt_Free_Chick wrote: »

Come on guys - the OP has had her question answered and is taking a pragmatic approach.

This is not really the place to harangue her over the way she manages her lodgers. If they don't like it, they'll take it up with her and/or vote with their feet.

We're not here to as the judge, jury and executioner on moral/ethical issues. Sure, we can make observations on what seems to be morally right. But I think that's been done and the OP has taken it on board.

:rolleyes:

WTF?_2

bigjoe wrote: »

So the re-decoration bit is just a piece of nonsense to try to hold on to a deposit then?

The OP didn't say that at all. The smoking is the issue why the lodger has been asked to leave. She is perfectly entitled to use a portion of the damage deposit in cleaning the room. Smoking can leave a lingering smell in the soft furnishings and carpets which need extra cleaning to remove. It can also leave indelible stains on the walls around the ceiling line, requiring painting.

The contentious thing is that she seems to want to hold on to a month's rent whilst getting the lodger out immediately. That seems pretty unfair to me.

spirit

Debtfreechick and others are right. I asked a series of questions to get people's views for which I have thanked you all. If I didn't care then wouldn't I just have gone ahead and done whatever anyway?

I haven't deserved having my character assasinated on here. The previous lodgers have left for job reasons and as I say am in touch frequently with them all. the small room which is let occasionally to short-termers has had 2 people in so far, one lady from the US doing book research and the other a teacher from NZ, both of whom I'm still friendly with not because they didn't smoke but they didn't break any of my (very few and simple) house rules and are nice people.

the current lodger thinks/thought that by opening the window and burning incense, that I wouldn't notice the smoke but as most non-smokers will attest, it doesn't actually work. EVEN if it did, it is plainly wrong and against my wishes. I live here too and won't have a horrid smoky fug hanging around upstairs - it's that simple. If I were against smokers per se, I wouldn't have allowed him to rent the room would I. Truth is I have tried to accommodate him by allowing him to use the utility room with the stable door open when the weather is bad.

So, I would prefer not to read any more slurs on my character please from people who know nothing about me.

thank you.

clutton_2

""If I were against smokers per se,"" - i think we have established that you clearly are against smokers per se !!!!

but as Debt free chick says, lets move on.

why not just advertise NON smokers only for next time, then everyone knows where they stand ....

barnaby-bear

spirit wrote: »

Debtfreechick and others are right. I asked a series of questions to get people's views for which I have thanked you all. If I didn't care then wouldn't I just have gone ahead and done whatever anyway?

I haven't deserved having my character assasinated on here. The previous lodgers have left for job reasons and as I say am in touch frequently with them all. the small room which is let occasionally to short-termers has had 2 people in so far, one lady from the US doing book research and the other a teacher from NZ, both of whom I'm still friendly with not because they didn't smoke but they didn't break any of my (very few and simple) house rules and are nice people.

the current lodger thinks/thought that by opening the window and burning incense, that I wouldn't notice the smoke but as most non-smokers will attest, it doesn't actually work. EVEN if it did, it is plainly wrong and against my wishes. I live here too and won't have a horrid smoky fug hanging around upstairs - it's that simple. If I were against smokers per se, I wouldn't have allowed him to rent the room would I. Truth is I have tried to accommodate him by allowing him to use the utility room with the stable door open when the weather is bad.

So, I would prefer not to read any more slurs on my character please from people who know nothing about me.

thank you.

But you did the creepy pervy sneaking into lodger's room (quiet enjoyment) and taking photos thing.... that's just plan sinister *shudder* it's not your character so much that you have undertaken the actions of a creep....

bigjoe

spirit wrote: »

Debtfreechick and others are right . . .

Because they agree with you! That figures coming from you.

The truth is you are bang out of order for trying to take money that isn't yours (stealing as someone else pointed out - which is a crime unlike smoking) and invading the privacy of others with your ridicolous photographic sessions.

You can trot out "house rules" and "it's my house so I can do what I want" all you like, but don't expect everyone on here to agree with you when you are plain wrong.