Question regarding a lodger leaving my house

OpenToSuggestions · 27 Sep 2013 at 15:50

Hey all.

I have a lodger and he has handed in his notice at work.
His lodging contract we both signed says 1 month notice to be given. Out of kindness I said he can have 28 days out of me trying to help him.
All fine and dandy.

A few days ago I got very irate with him, by him refusing to move his car in time, so I am late for work, when his commute is quicker than mine.
I then have to ask him for the rent (as usual), to which he paid late and decided he was leaving after 24 days.

Today I told him I am to take the 4 days out of his deposit and he got angry, saying I am being greedy and that he had a cold shower this morning (I turned off water last night as I found there is a leak in the roof which I have a plumber coming out to fix it <48 hours after it started) and that itself is worth a day of free rent.

I feel disappointed that someone I believed to be friend is acting this way. He earns more than I do yet his dad subsidises his lifestyle at age 24.
He wanted to be a lodger more than I wanted one, so I thought I would give it a go. Sadly I don't think I will have another one.

Am I being reasonable?

Murf · 27 Sep 2013 at 15:52

I wouldn't bother with the hassle, or the friend. Let him pay the 24 days if he wants to be immature, then forget about him.

tom_e · 27 Sep 2013 at 15:53

Yep I don't see a problem with that, in fact I'd tell him I was taking the full month's worth of rent from him for being a spoilt child.

-westy- · 27 Sep 2013 at 16:00

For 4 day's worth of rent, I wouldn't bother personally. Best to just let him go.

areksnumbr1sxylady · 27 Sep 2013 at 16:03

Electrocute him.

Haggisman · 27 Sep 2013 at 16:14

Think of it this way. He could do a lot more than 4 days worth of rent's damage (or even more than the whole deposit most likely) if you **** him off. For the ~£50 or so, I'd just let him get on with it for an easy life.

dirtychinchilla · 27 Sep 2013 at 16:16

Lazder said:
Electrocute him.

+1

4T5 · 27 Sep 2013 at 16:17

I'd gas him during the night stuff him in a sack then take him down the local gravel pit. Try to do it as early in the night as poss as you have to have him tortured, dead & buried before Sun up. I know a bloke called Trevor who would gladly help you out.

dowie · 27 Sep 2013 at 16:18

If you're not even planning on having another lodger then why on earth are you bothered about the notice period, which is generally used to give you time to find another tenant?

I mean if he's moving out in 24 days instead of 1 month and you're actually not going to be looking for a new tenant I don't see why you need a month long notice period at all... what function does it serve if you're not seeking another lodger? Obviously out of politeness you'd expect to be told in advance that they were considering moving out but getting anal over 'the contract says 1 month exactly' is a bit pointless if it was someone you otherwise got along with.

randal · 27 Sep 2013 at 16:19

4 days money to get rid of a problem sooner.

Seems like a wise investment.

nick.lidgett · 27 Sep 2013 at 16:23

How about just getting shot of him now, dont risk having him in the house a second longer than you have to, if youre not desperate for the cash throw him out and give him his money back. Failing that **** in his pillow case.

neil_g · 27 Sep 2013 at 16:26

assuming you put the deposit in a scheme the correct way forward is to raise a dispute.

otherwise if you havent used a scheme id keep quiet, you know you can get screwed for 3x the deposit if the tennant wanted to make a fuss.

tom_e · 27 Sep 2013 at 16:27

neil_g said:
assuming you put the deposit in a scheme the correct way forward is to raise a dispute.

otherwise id keep quiet, you know you can get screwed for 3x the deposit if the tennant wanted to make a fuss.

Doesn't cover live in landlords iirc.

neil_g · 27 Sep 2013 at 16:30

tom_e said:
Doesn't cover live in landlords iirc.

mmm, not sure. i think live in landlords cant have a shorthold tennancy but i cant find any info about not being able to use DPS.

tom_e · 27 Sep 2013 at 16:32

neil_g said:
mmm, not sure. i think live in landlords cant have a shorthold tennancy but i cant find any info about not being able to use DPS.

They may be able to use it but I don't think it's a legal requirement.

neil_g · 27 Sep 2013 at 16:33

tom_e said:
They may be able to use it but I don't think it's a legal requirement.

fair enough, i didnt know that

Mr Jack · 27 Sep 2013 at 16:42

Just let it go. No point making things worse over 4 days rent.

clv101 · 27 Sep 2013 at 16:50

He's a lodger, technically an 'excluded occupier' rather than a tenant the legal side of things is very simple. He doesn't really have any legal rights, I can only stay until you tell him can't! DPS doesn't apply.

Ammeg · 27 Sep 2013 at 16:58

tom_e said:
Yep I don't see a problem with that, in fact I'd tell him I was taking the full month's worth of rent from him for being a spoilt child.

^

That.

OpenToSuggestions · 27 Sep 2013 at 17:02

Mr Jack said:
Just let it go. No point making things worse over 4 days rent.

Those 4 days rent would be enough to pay for new locks if need be!
He is in the process of buying a house wityh <3% interest rate so he must have tens of thousands behind him, yet every month I have had to badger him for the rent.
Had a Google and he has no rights from what I can tell. It is my house, my mortgage and he rents a room, to which he signed a contract I took from the internet and modified, which states he is to give 1 month of rent.
I hold the deposit, but afaik this is OK as I live there.

Just had the plumber over fixing the leak in the roof, a total of 22 hours after I found out about it.