Flatmate has left leaving me up the creek

[EachandEveryone]

I wonder how long before I can get another one. My rent has doubled since I had a knock on the door last night. Flat mates mum turned up to empty her room. She was really lovely as well. Not even a text. Apparently she went to NI has caught a chest infection and been put on antibiotics and her mum has told her she needs to move back home! I want to say see how the land lies she might want to come back in afew weeks.

So Im all on my own some and my rent has shot up from £700 to £1250 plus bills. Im trying not to worry but I need to make a plan. Im lucky in that Im a nurse and of course there’s overtime but thats not without its risks.

Will people ever return to London? I cant ask for help and theres no point telling the landlord as they know Im a nurse and Ive been here 15 years.

They’ve claimed it already

So anyway, as I asked before, what does your tenancy agreement say about subletting?

No no-one has been told to stay away from their families what’s happened though Is people have gone off to be with their families because their elderly mother/young grandchild lives with them. It’s getting really tight for staffing🙁

@PieceOfMaria what the fuck does it matter!!! What has that got to do with ANYTHING?

I expect she let herself in with her daughter’s key.

Even worse! I would never have let myself into my daughters rental properties without asking. Especially not during a pandemic.

Shes also gone out to visit friends its madness really. Ill be isinfecting everything when inget home from work tomorrow.

thecat it matters because unless the OP’s tenancy agreement does not preclude subletting then she should not be complaining that she can’t afford her rent because her subletting tenant has left at short notice. I would have thought that was obvious.

Maria - she has already said that the LL is well aware of the subletting, which she has been doing for years, so it doesn't matter what the agreement says as the LL is fine with it. Even if were 'against the rules' she could still feel upset if she wanted to ... There is nothing obvious at all about why you are constantly harping on.

Actually it really does matter what the tenancy agreement says, irrespective time of what the landlord might say off the record. According to the IP anyway. Personally I have my doubts that anything other than a rogue landlord would agree casually to such a thing because it would void their insurance policies apart from anything else.

According to the OP

subletting is common in London and whilst often ruled out in agreements - if the landlord is getting the rent they turn a blind eye regardless of anything else.

Mum has gone the room is the nicest Ive seen it. I think the daughter will be disappointed her Blondie and Prince prints have been left behind. And her signed Soft Cell poster. She was only young but had the same taste in music as me. She was chuffed when Marc Almond came into her shop two days running, I cant beleive shes willingly given it all up.

Mum has asked for the deposit back. I dont know whether to wait until I find someone else.

Yes, wait. Mum is a CF.

Tell her mum to fuck off on the deposit. They have left you in the lurch.

Tell Mum to fuck off. Keep the deposit if it is legal to do so. I’m still scratching my head re how this is all possible under lockdown conditions. Mum seems to think the rules generally don’t apply to her.

Keep the deposit. Where was your notice?

They are CFs

Keep the deposit in lieu of notice.

Someone came to view today. She was so bloody perfect. A dietitian at the local hospital doing agency starting on Tuesday. We drank in the same places up north she’d lived in my town for five years. She loved the flat and the cats and offered to give me the deposit there and then. I said no wait until tonight when you have seen the next place.

I could kick myself. I could’ve wept when she just text to say the next place had somewhere to put her bike and that she had such a good vibe from me and my flat could we meet for coffee and be friends 😥😥

Oh that's a shame...can you try to lure her back...?

Really nowhere to put the bike?

Funny ive got one of those wrought iron old fashioned fire exits with my plants on i did wonder if two locks would secure it on the step part? Also the mutual hall is shared with neighbours maybe if i put the feral food into a big plastic container it could go against that wall. My hall is small but it could be done if she was taking it to work (I wouldnt dare personally) and if she goes to Brighton every weekend it could go in her bedroom then?

She did text back and say she got such a lovely feeling if only the bike could fit sonewhere. The car park is £2.50 a day I cant guarantee its security on a night but Im not a car owner. I dont know what else I cant say. She was so perfect even goes to Glasto just like me. Ive looked on Spareroom and no one is showing any inclination to view. Soon they will have the pick of places.

I don't think I missed any reference to this in the thread, apologies if I have, but have you told your council that you now live alone for the time being. You can apply on line for the Single Person Discount (25% reduction) on your council tax. That might help a little.

I know it is gutting about the perfect tenant but things may not work out where she is, even if they seem 'perfect' at the moment.

Thank you for being a nurse, OP, and being out on the frontline for all this.

I don’t understand how sometimes threads go his way - we should all be offering constructive suggestions, commiserating with your bad luck or at the least thank you for what you do at work. Literally can not believe anyone reported the thread - totally puzzled by that! This has read like an example of Mumsnet at it worst - passive aggressive, obsessing over a tiny irrelevant detail, repeatedly asking the same question and making sarky comments about your income. I prefer it when posters just call someone a twat than all this shit.

I hope you get a new flat mate soon. Sorry the perfect women didn’t work out - hopefully it’ll work out for the best. Good luck.

Ive spoke to my neighbour who has said of course we can find somewhere for the bike. I dont really understand why anyone needs a bike and a car in London but thats just me. If i reduce it by £50 and tell her we really can make it work with the bike will that be chasing her?