How do I ask my lodger to leave?

[huilledolives]

My lodger has only been in the house for a month and has missed three rent payments (he pays weekly). He claims that his account has been cleared out due to fraud and that he can't pay until 25th when he gets paid but I'm sceptical.

I've been using his deposit to cover the missing rent but that will only cover until Friday, leaving another week without rent payment.

I've got someone else to fill the room. I need help to compose a message to ask him to leave!

Hi. Did you have a contractual agreement with him? What did it say regarding termination of lease? x

You just ask him to leave. tm Mayo/Kermode..

Does the rental deposit scheme not cover lodgers?

Depends if you have a formal contract I think.

Dear lodger I have decided to rent the room to someone else. You must move out by Thursday 8pm. regards huilled

Do you have a lodger agreement laying out how much notice you will give?

Thing is, you don't need to give a reason. Just write to him saying this is formal notice you are asking him to vacate by whatever date.

When I got my terrible lodger to leave mainly because she wouldn't stop smoking, I didn't bother to say '...because you keep smoking in the room' and all the other stuff, because she would have just argued and denied it.
This one sounds like he might argue too.

Does lodger act like he has no money after being cleaned out from fraud? Or is he out on town, spending money on other things?

Can you afford to wait until the 25th, or is that not possible?

If he was paying, would he be acceptable?

If he seems dodgy, unpleasant or you just can't afford to have no income coming in, then written notice, no reasons, just asking him to leave.

Funny how such people can pay enough to get them in the house (deposit and first payment) then can't pay any more.

You tell him to go. Promises to pay won't materialise and even if it did it will happen time and again. Don't ask him. Just tell him.

his account has been cleared out due to fraud

Has he reported it to the police? And shown you a copy of said report?

That's what you have to do in my country (not UK) in order to be reimbursed by the insurance.

If not, I smell a rat.

Even if he is otherwise nice, and the fraud story is true, the way he has handled it still makes it not ok because he is treating rent as optional rather than either 1. Finding some other way to pay such as borrowing, selling or pawning stuff 2. If he GENUINELY has no option, nothing to sell etc, giving you evidence of the situation and throwing himself on your mercy. It sounds like even if it is true, he has been unacceptably casual about the money he owes you.

A lodger has almost zero legal right of possession.

You're supposed to legally give 28 days notice in writing. But in reality, it's tantamount to a civil matter and of no interest to the police or anybody else.

the above ONLY applies to a house where you share living areas with your lodger and the house IS your actual real address

Wait until he is out and change the locks. When he returns, refuse to let him in, if he gets funny, call the police as potentially there could be a breach of the peace.

Hand his stuff out to him BUT DO NOT LET HIM INSIDE THE HOUSE.

The above is the nuclear option of course, better to just give notice and let him leave of his own accord.

I spoke to my lodger face to face and just said I'm giving you a weeks notice to leave because I need the room back - no artguments.
She left. It was the same thing, constantly going on holiday and not paying the rent. Be firm.

It has to be reasonable notice, not necessarily 28 days. If they pay rent weekly a week counts as reasonable - here.

Lock up or remove your valuables before you tell him.