Unwanted lodger I need advice

[EachandEveryone]

I wrote afew weeks ago about my lodger. I am a tenant in a 3 bedded flat I’ve lived here for 23 years in London with a rent that hardly increases. Originally three were on the contract now it’s just me. If someone moves in and wants to be here long term then they go on the contract. If not they just pay a third of the rent and leave with a months notice. I don’t make any money from this and it’s worked out well for 23 years (my own property is up north) my landlord knows and isn’t interested we don’t involve each other as I maintain the flat and she does the big jobs like new windows etc.

Someone moved in four months ago I never knew at the time she has PTSD and other MH issues she’s lived in London awhile but is from Russia. She was fine at first then she lost her job then she would scream if we shut any door no matter how quietly and she literally goes purple with rage. I asked her to leave but she put the rent in as normal so yesterday when it happened again at 2pm on a Sunday she was screaming in my flat mates face saying she’s not well and we are disrespectful I waited for it to die down and emphasised that she has to go in three weeks. And that she has no other rights.

Now she’s sent me a nicey nicey text asking me to answer these questions. I’ve enclosed it. What do you think she is up to? I don’t want to give her any details. I know she is under the new gp and is on meds but do I really need to give her this information when I’ve asked her to leave?

Have you posted about this before?

Just tell her by email or txt that as she is not a tenant you have nothing to say to her questions. Remind her that she is a lodger with no legal right to stay in the flat any longer. As previously stated she has to be out by x date and that those questions are irrelevant until she becomes an actual tenant elsewhere.

It looks very much like part of a UC claim to me. If you don't give the info all it will mean is she doesn't get any UC to cover her housing costs. It will have no effect on her housing status or rights.

As has been said, she is a lodger and has very few rights. Clearly her behaviour is unacceptable and you understandably want her gone ASAP but it seems mean not to do this for her as it won't affect you (do check this is what it is for first) but it would mean she could claim back the rent from the date of her claim to her eviction date. Three weeks' rent could set her up somewhere new.

DWP will probably expect a letter from you, if she just passes the info on they will get back in touch with you to confirm. You could write the letter, include all the details requested while also making clear that she is a lodger, that you share facilities at the same address and that she is required to leave on such and such a date.

I remember your previous post. The woman is a nut job and her aggression could well spill over into physical violence or damaging your property and possessions.

You have told her to go and she hasn’t so now you are showing her you’re scared of her and are giving her three weeks!

The longer you leave it the harder it will be.

Get her out ASAP and call the police the moment she starts her screeching.

Do not tolerate anything from her.

She is not your responsibility and her rotten behaviour means she deserves to be booted out on her ear.

It's so she can claim private rental costs under uc

The last time she got round me by saying that she was having brain scans and counselling and a new job. That she was trying and I saw her book shelf with loads of books about coping after trauma so I let it go. Now she’s lost that job and we are back to square one. I’m so nervous to go home I feel sick.

You are a very kind person.

It’s a shame that she has problems but her aggressiveness and unreasonable behaviour is unfair on you and the other lodger.

She needs professional help not the misplaced kindness of strangers who’s lives she is making a misery.

Should I give the details or not? And if I do is it my details not the landlords? If I give her an eviction letter at the same time will it count or should I not help with the benefit claim incase she takes it as us being ok with her staying?

Put her eviction date in writing and stick to it. Call the police at any time if she becomes aggressive.

It would be worth her applying as homeless, she should get priority need if her mental health issues prevent her from being able to maintain a tenancy/lodgers agreement in the private sector.

That’s what I thought

You're going to have to talk to your LL. She has a right to know this woman is in her property and won't leave. If you don't and this escalates, your LL could blame you and ask you to leave as well.

You were told clearly last time to tell her to go, that as she has no rights to any notice as she’s a lodger

Fgs, please do your home work on lodgers rights (none) and tell her she needs to go tomorrow and that police will be called if she refuses to go

How much more will you put yourselves through?!!

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/housing/renting-a-home/subletting-and-lodging/lodging/what-rights-do-lodgers-have/

None isn’t exactly right, but a lot less rights than a tenant would have
is she legal here?

DO NOT GIVE THE DETAILS

I echo pp. She has no rights as a lodger and a week is sufficient notice, you are allowed to change your mind on the three weeks. Get her out. The police will help if she becomes aggressive. P.ease don’t leave yourself or your flat mate in a vulnerable position.

Check the details are needed for a benefit claim first. It would be your details as the landlord you would need to give.

These are two separate things - whether she claims UC or not, she is still a lodger and has very few rights. You still only need to give 'reasonable' notice and if she becomes violent, 'reasonable' can mean less than an hour, regardless of whether you have already given written notice of three weeks.

If it was me I'd do the DWP letter as outlined above, making clear she is a lodger and has been given notice to quit, and also give her written notice and keep copies of both. Make it clear to her that permission to stay for these three weeks is dependent on her behaviour and you will call the police if you have to.

But then I haven't read your previous thread.

It’s just a repeat of what’s happened now.

If you want to avoid a confrontation could you pack her stuff up and leave it by the door and change the locks. If she kicks off call the police.

Oh right, so she was actually given notice before and didn't leave? In that case yes, evict her asap using the police if necessary. Tell her she must be gone tomorrow - give her a time - and if she kicks off tonight call the police.

She's obviously vulnerable but people can be vulnerable and dangerous at the same time. She isn't your problem and you're not equipped to deal with her.

If she leaves belongings behind you can't just dispose of them. You need to store them safely and give her reasonable notice to arrange collection.

That is the font that the government uses on tax / benefits pages etc. It doesn’t look like questions she’s written.

That link @MzHz gave you sets everything out very clearly. It also says you can change the lock if needs be. Don't reply to the questions, just message her to say "you are a lodger not a tenant, your notice period has been served and you need to leave by x". Print out the CAB pages if necessary, and then tell her to leave within 48 hours or whatever.

She’s screaming for a rental agreement

I asked why and she said it was none of my f in business I said I’m not giving her one when she’s had her notice

Each tell her to shut up or you will have police remove her tonight. Enough is enough.

She’s come out five minutes later in a really calm voice asking me my full name so she must be filling it in herself. She must have an appointment. I just need to get through my twelve hour shift at work tomorrow then I’m off the rest of the week. I just want to sleep tonight in peace.