Tenancy Advice for a Friend

Logsi · 4 Nov 2015 at 20:45

Just need a bit of advice for a friend of my better halves, she's been incredibly silly/naive and rented a flat to be with her boyfriend whilst he's at Uni. She is the sole tenant on the contract but her boyfriend stays with her.

Now, the relationship has turned sour and she can't get rid of him. He won't leave and claims to have rights. He is blackmailing her as she hasn't told her landlord that he stays there. He is also being physically abusive towards her.

What legal recourse does he or she have?

I'm of the opinion she should ring the police and get him removed and failing that hold her hands up and get in contact with her landlord.

lafemmefatale · 4 Nov 2015 at 20:48

Police for the domestic violence more than anything else. If she reports it they will take him into custody. While he's at the police station being interviewed change the locks.

Tosno · 4 Nov 2015 at 20:51

She needs a white knight to save her because she is silly, can you do that op? Maybe you will get a reward...

Logsi · 4 Nov 2015 at 20:53

Tosno said:
She needs a white knight to save her because she is silly, can you do that op? Maybe you will get a reward...

I'm more jumping at her stupidity than anything else...

Destination · 4 Nov 2015 at 21:02

Have him arrested?

Quartz · 4 Nov 2015 at 21:16

Logsi said:
She is the sole tenant on the contract

This is the important bit. She should head down to the CAB and get advice from them, but in the non-short term, ex-boyfriend is not on the contract and so is SOL.

Dr Delphi · 4 Nov 2015 at 21:17

According to the contract surely she is the sole occupant so the ex-boyfriend has no come back?

Shoza · 4 Nov 2015 at 21:20

lafemmefatale said:
Police for the domestic violence more than anything else. If she reports it they will take him into custody. While he's at the police station being interviewed change the locks.

This really.

You don't need legal advice you need him out of her property and he has no rights. If he's being abusive that's a call to the police and or get some friends together and ask him to leave immediately then change the locks but know that as a tenant you shouldn't really change the locks - however the cost of replacing locks or putting the old ones back up shouldn't prohibit dealing with him.

lafemmefatale · 4 Nov 2015 at 21:25

Her safety is more important than issues with changing the locks.

OP, which general area/city is she in? If it's within 50 miles of me and she feels like she needs a safe space to stay while it's sorted she can stay at mine. I have people who can vouch for me and if money is a problem I'll make sure she travels safely.

adolf hamster · 4 Nov 2015 at 21:37

Get him in the back of a police car asap if its at that stage, if she cant do that then you can try the locks, at the worst case move out, even back to parents is better than being in danger.

Short is, get him out of the picture then worry about the rent, although by the sounds she's got the rights to the place.

Hitman_Leon · 4 Nov 2015 at 22:35

If that was my daughter I'd..............

Regardless, he has to go, yesterday, physical violence, police love his kind, first port of call would be the police, he has no recourse on the right to stay. She should probably consider a move too, to get away from where he might turn up.

Phantom Shadow · 4 Nov 2015 at 22:54

He isn't on the contract and therefore has no right to be in the property.

Treat it like some random guy was walking around your house, call the police and they'll promptly remove him. Mention the abuse and he'll likely also be arrested at the time of removal.

MrMoonX · 4 Nov 2015 at 22:58

Sounds like domestic abuse, get advice from police she is the tenant they will ask him to leave

This never ends well · 4 Nov 2015 at 23:01

Tell the ex to go the tell the landlord, that he been staying, they will be thinking yeah so what.

As above ring the police, they should be there within 20 minutes as its for D/V

dowie · 4 Nov 2015 at 23:36

Hikari Kisugi said:
Have him arrested?

this

if she is subject to violence then even if he was a tenant the police would likely remove him simply because she is female and they're highly likely to side with her

fact is she is the sole tenant and there is a violence issue - phoning the police is the obvious solution, they'll get him out of there right away

Boycey0211 · 5 Nov 2015 at 00:08

Logsi said:
He is also being physically abusive towards her.

What legal recourse does he or she have?

Genuine question, are you stupid?

Your friend is quite possibly in danger right now and you're on the internet asking for help.

Terminal_Boy · 5 Nov 2015 at 00:18

Boycey0211 said:
Genuine question, are you stupid?

Your friend is quite possibly in danger right now and you're on the internet asking for help.

This.

Call the Pokice now if you don't have 3 large mates, a Transit van and 20 square metres of plastic sheeting that can be at this girl's flat in 5 minutes.

McPhee · 5 Nov 2015 at 01:07

Phone the police. Report the abuse.
Phone the landlord. Explain the situation.

Within a few hours, the problem will be solved. He'll be out of the flat, the locks will be changed and she'll likely still be living there. People's partners moving in without being added to the tenancy isn't exactly uncommon. TBH in this situation it's probably worked out better for her that he isn't on the tenancy, since it means he actually has no right to be there at all. He's not a tenant. He hasn't been invited in. He shouldn't be there.

Skeeter · 5 Nov 2015 at 05:29

Unless the landlord is an absolute idiot, they won't have a problem at all with you changing the locks and sorting out enough keys to give the landlord and any letting agent copies.

The ability to be safe and secure in your home is above any tenancy agreement or anything.

MadMouse101 · 5 Nov 2015 at 07:08

Like what others have said report to the police

let the landlord know.