Weekday lodger has left clothes and kept key

Weekday lodger has left clothes and kept key

10:33 AM, 31st December 2014, About 10 years ago 19

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I had a lodger who stayed Monday to Friday. She did sometimes stay the whole week without paying any extra money.

We had a verbal agreement that we would give 2 weeks notice either way. However, she went to see her family out of the country and has not paid her rent.

I don’t think she is coming back as her work contract has ended, but she has got my front door key and left her clothes here. What can I do as she is not replying to any messages I send her.

Many thanks

Julieclothes


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julie davies

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13:15 PM, 3rd January 2015, About 10 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Mandy Thomson" at "03/01/2015 - 13:12":

Thank you for your reply....no I wont be getting another lodger before I go on holiday.....and yes I will check everything with my next lodger and make a written agreement.
( I have had 2 lodgers in the past and had no problems with them ).

julie davies

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17:14 PM, 6th January 2015, About 10 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Neil Patterson" at "02/01/2015 - 13:24":

UPDATE.....my lodger text me today from a telephone number i havent got stating she didnt take her phone with her (where did she get my number from then to text me )...she has stated she is coming back tomorrow and can she have my bank details.....her rent was due on the 28th dec......ive heard nothing from her since the 16th dec......she told me if her contract at work was to be extended she would let me know...so on that basis i thought she was not coming back..i have packed all her clothes up...and i did text her to the 2 phone numbers i have got to say she has 7 days to collect her clothes.....this lodger has messed me about with payments from day 1.....she thinks when she goes away she doesnt have to pay rent.....what do i do now....i go on holiday in just over a week...do i change my locks? see if she pays the rent?.....im really stuck and fed up of her messing me about....

Neil Patterson

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18:47 PM, 6th January 2015, About 10 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "julie davies" at "06/01/2015 - 17:21":

I don't see what option you have other than change the locks?

julie davies

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18:50 PM, 6th January 2015, About 10 years ago

if i changed my locks and she did happen to pay the months rent in to my account....would i just be able to give her 2 weeks money back and that be the end of it?...as shes owes me 2 weeks.....surely she cant just turn up again and carry on again as i have had this before and vowed i wouldnt put up with it again...

Rob Crawford

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19:04 PM, 6th January 2015, About 10 years ago

Have you served notice as suggested previously? If so and she pays money into your bank and you return the surplus then yes. However, I cannot see why she would put a months rent into your bank if she is aware that you have served her notice. In which case you still need to serve the notice.

julie davies

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19:08 PM, 6th January 2015, About 10 years ago

i have sent her a text to the 2 numbers i have for her stating as i have had no rent and she has not been in contact for 3 weeks i have give her 7 days to collect her clothes.....she said in the text today from a different number that she did not take her phone with her...but im not sure how she has got my number and why she couldnt have text me before now as her rent is nearly 2 weeks late..

Mandy Thomson

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8:44 AM, 7th January 2015, About 10 years ago

Strictly speaking, from a legal viewpoint, you can't simply lock the lodger out of what is for the time being her home or at least somewhere you've contracted to make available for her to live in for part of the week, until that contract has expired.

However, if you haven't replied to the lodger yet, you could make her aware that you've changed the locks, AND let her think that you're away already...? However, no doubt the lodger will be very angry, and this leaves you in a somewhat grey area as regards whether notice was properly served, as you can't easily prove receipt.

I therefore think you have two choices:

-tell the lodger she can't stay there any more and REFUND HER THE LAST MONTH'S RENT

-Allow her to remain, but immediately serve one month's notice - in writing (can be by email if you can set up a read receipt - not all email apps allow) - give her the notice in hand AND post it to the lodger at your home address and get CERTIFICATE OF PROOF OF POSTAGE

julie davies

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13:27 PM, 7th January 2015, About 10 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Mandy Thomson" at "07/01/2015 - 08:44":

hI THANKS FOR THE REPLY.... idont mean to sound awkward..but i would not refund her the last months rent as she has been staying for weekends when she only pays mon to fri and that was the arrangement...also last time i went on holiday she did not pay rent for 3 weeks as she was not living their but had her belongings their she told me she didnt see why she had to pay....and again i didnt know where she was..she didnt text or phone me...also the later...i have no e mail address for her...she does not have any mail sent to my house as she also has a flat in london which she goes to at weeekends...my room is temporary for her job...which i still do not know as she has not informed me if they have extended her contract...she did say she would let me know...but she hasnt.....

julie davies

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8:01 AM, 8th January 2015, About 10 years ago

UPDATE ....the lodger did not come back yesterday and she did not pay the rent.....so the locks will be changed and i will not be allowing her back in my home...

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