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Original poster

Lodger wont let me show her room

55 replies

PayingGuests · 09/03/2020 13:35

Lodger/flatmate Im not going into it too much. Anyway shes been smoking skunk outside the flat its been blowing in after about the 10th time of us “going on” about it she offered to leave. The final straw came when she started going out with someone who she hasnt introduced us too but who spends an awful lot of time down our back alley passing things into car windows. And she brings him in every night when we are in bed. I suspect hes paying her rent in skunk.

Well she goes in two weeks and her room stinks to high heaven. She used to clean it twice a week she was really houseproud. Not any more.

We have no contract for her but shes telling me that she does not consent to us showing anyone her room. Shes googled and sent various statements saying this. Thats fine but how can we wait for her to be around?

I dont recognise her anymore. She owes me £350 as well. Im never going to see that again, am I? Shes promised to set up a DD but theres no saying that she will follow that through.

OP posts:
IntermittentParps · 09/03/2020 15:13

The OP doesn't use the word 'tenant' at all. She says 'Lodger/flatmate', which strongly implies a lodger who is (or was) on friendly terms with the OP and her household.
As for paperwork, the OP says there's no contract.

Original poster
PayingGuests · 09/03/2020 15:13

Sorry for the typos the keyboard runs away with itself sometimes.

OP posts:
nickname302 · 09/03/2020 15:14

If she's a lodger you don't need consent.

Interested in this thread?

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Property
IntermittentParps · 09/03/2020 15:15

x-post and a bit of a drip-feed! 'I flat share thsts all'
So, OP, are you not the householder? Are you all flat-sharers and if so, do you have a landlord/landlady? If so then they should obviously be dealing with this.

lowlandLucky · 09/03/2020 15:35

Put her out today before you have the police knocking on your door. You know her boyfriend is dealing and she is using, as you have just told us on here. The coppers may not be so nice and understanding as you know what is going on.

Original poster
PayingGuests · 09/03/2020 16:09

It wasn’t a drip feed I said in my first post flatmate/lodger how ever you classify it she lives with us and is not on the tenancy. We have lived here ten years.

OP posts:
IntermittentParps · 09/03/2020 16:15

It is confusing, OP., because the two terms/classifications are very different ones If you're all flatmates then that means none of you are the householder and all have a landlord/lady, and they should deal with these issues; if she's a lodger that implies that you are her landlady, which means you should deal with it.

You're being weirdly vague about the set-up. Who is 'we'? Are you the householder? Or are the rest of you, excluding her, all tenants and you're subletting to her?

Purpleartichoke · 09/03/2020 16:21

It’s pointless to show the room in its current state. You will just be wasting your time and the time of potential lodgers. Get her out and get the room deep cleaned and maybe even repainted. You probably need a new mattress too. No one is going to rent it with a lingering smell.

MrsTerryPratchett · 09/03/2020 16:23

Am I cut put to be a landlord? Its not my professional job.

If you accept money for services then it's professional and you should treat it as such. I work in housing and accidental landlords are the absolute worst.

Before you get into a financial relationship with anyone you should know your rights, responsibilities and boundaries. I know I sound harsh but I have seen so many nightmare scenarios.

Original poster
PayingGuests · 09/03/2020 16:37

Me and my friend are on the contract we are king term renters. We have two spare rooms one we rent out and have never had a problem. The landlord doesn’t care as she doesn’t want the hassle of changing contracts every time someone moves in. So they are counted as a lodger. Nothing dodgy going on. Just trying not to put myself incase she sees this.

OP posts:
Original poster
PayingGuests · 09/03/2020 16:37

Long term not king.

OP posts:
IntermittentParps · 09/03/2020 16:43

I didn’t say there was anything dodgy going on, just that you were being vague, which makes it hard to understand the scenario.

Anyway, if they are counted as a lodger then I think that means she has hardly any rights. But might the landlady care more if she heard about the potential drug use/dealing?

Jonb6 · 09/03/2020 16:43

She's a lodger. Ask her today to leave tomorrow. Her actions are unreasonable and she has entitlement to reasonable notice only which is so subjective it means nothing under the circumstances you describe.

Original poster
PayingGuests · 09/03/2020 17:06

Can we show her room though or not? The CAB advice is quite vague.

OP posts:
CuriousaboutSamphire · 09/03/2020 17:13

Yes. As long as you have not allowed her to fit a lock, which changes things considerably, you can do almost anything you want as show does not have exclusive use of the room.

But she may make that difficult for you, leave the room dirty, smelly etc. So it may be better to wait until she has gone. But you CAN show the room.

CuriousaboutSamphire · 09/03/2020 17:16

CAB and SHELTER are the often so vague as to be misleading. SHELTER is often just plain wrong. Which is worrying considering how well they are thought of.

I suspect you need to replace her rent ASAP, but you might not be able to do that if she chooses to be difficult. You may be best off concentrating on making sure she does actually leave and hope she doesn't do anything daft on her way out.

Shit, I know, but you may have to be patient...

IntermittentParps · 09/03/2020 17:18

But she may make that difficult for you, leave the room dirty, smelly etc. So it may be better to wait until she has gone. But you CAN show the room.

Yes, I tend to think you should wait til she’s gone and then clean the room properly. Even if it means a short period with no rent coming in. It’ll be easier to let if it’s clean and aired.

SirGawain · 09/03/2020 17:55

She genuinely was a nice person so I didnt mind she was proper desparate for the room.
They always until they have to pay things back!

Jonb6 · 09/03/2020 17:55

Yes you can show her room. She is a lodger which means she does not have exclusive possession of any part of the property.

Original poster
PayingGuests · 09/03/2020 17:55

Yes I have some paint from when it was decorated its a shame because theres someone wanting to see it this week.

OP posts:
Jonb6 · 09/03/2020 17:56

You can also clean her room . . .

JuanSheetIsPlenty · 09/03/2020 17:59

Just wait til she’s gone. It’s only two weeks away and you stand a far better chance of letting the room when it has been properly cleaned and ventilated.

Whatsnewpussyhat · 09/03/2020 19:15

You said she owed you £350. Why is the actual landlord not chasing their money? Or are you illegally subletting the empty rooms?

EachandEveryone · 09/03/2020 19:30

Again, whats illegal about it? OP said she owes her money personally.

Jonb6 · 10/03/2020 02:13

@what'snewpussyhat please share what constitutes illegal subletting.