Have given lodger notice-but I am feeling so awkward for this notice period!

[Sukiandme]

I don't know how to 'be' with her in the house? I am pretty annoyed with her. I've only seen her once today and we didn't speak to one another. To be fair, if I do see her, for the entire time she's been here she doesn't usually address me unless there's a particular reason to.

Reasons I am annoyed with her include;

Her room is an UTTER tip. I had to go in there for a genuine reason a few weeks ago. Clothes, food wrappers, cups, plates, glasses, food, stains, mouldy things. Glasses with things growing in them (all crockery and glassware is mine) a plate used as an ashtray, It's disgusting-and I say this as quite a messy person myself.The room was furnished and she hasn't changed her bedding since moving in either.

She moved in having just got a new job. She also had a job at a local shop.
She stopped going to work a few weeks into that job and has now been sacked. She didn't tell me this.

She has been sacked from the shop for stealing repeatedly-prior to this she'd worked there for years, I know this from going in myself-this is where I met her in fact. She didn't tell me this either, I found out via the grapevine.

She has now applied for UC but is two months behind on her rent-yet I know she's been out almost every night-people have told me they've seen her buying expensive alcoholic drinks. This grates on me, although perhaps it shouldn't.

She's been stealing my food and drink and has denied it when I asked her why some bottles of wine had gone. I am not so bothered about the food, for example I went out for the day and went to get some packets of crisps and they had ALL gone-if she'd have asked me I'd have given her crisps if she wanted it, that's what is annoying.

She took a pot of my expensive face cream that I hadn't even opened yet and used it too, actually took it to her bedroom.

So, i am not feeling great about having her here. I am worried what she might take when she does leave. She's not acknowledged the notice or said anything to me about it.

Any advice at all, anything you'd do in this situation that I may not have thought of?

How much notice did you give her and how did you deliver it?

You won't see that rent money you need to be very careful about what else she might take

28 days, and in a notice letter. She didn't pick it up for ages. It's gone from where I left it now, but I also sent her a message saying I wasn't sure if she'd seen it but she has to be out by x date.

I know, I am quite worried. Especially if she goes while I am not in, or will she even go at all?

I knew her before this, and she had to leave her previous place as she lost her guarantor. She didn't have anywhere to go and I took pity on her. More fool me-but she seemed like a nice person!

Why have you given her 28 days?? She hasn’t paid rent for 2 months!

I would have given her a week.

Gov.Uk, CAB and other resources online say it is meant to be 28 days. I didn't want any backlash

How long has she got left?

What has she said about it?

Until the 16th. She's not said anything at all to me about it.

Another thing I am not happy about but not sure about either, is I stayed out one night and when I came back there was a pint glass next to my bed.
I don't drink out of pint glasses at home, ever. I don't drink beer/cider whatever may require one and if I drink soft drinks It's always out of a refillable bottle. I am not convinced that she's not slept in my bed.

Kick her out now, she hasn't held her end of the bargain so she has lost her rights. It's her own fault if she has nowhere else to go. She's obviously a sponger who took advantage of your good nature. I believe these types of people source people like you ( and me) who are good natured.
Lesson learnt for you , I'm sure this is incredibly stressful. I would change the lock and leave her stuff outside the door.

I think she'll end up at her Mum's whom I have learned has a one bedroomed flat, and lodger's brother lives there too and sleeps on the sofa. Not nice. But not my problem as you say.

I'd get the upper hand on this and just kick her out. Change the locks. Put her stuff outside. She is going to steal your stuff and trash your house. I'd also order a ring doorbell and CCTV for when she comes back to put your windows in.

You really think she may do that? That's what I am scared of. But if I kick her out literally ,without proper notice that could come back on me?

Can you move a (big) man in until she moves out?

Move all valuable/sensitive/ sentimental stuff into your bedroom and lock the door?

For the future: always have a very clear lodging agreement. Plus a deposit. And check references beforehand. Also, nip any 'transgressions' in the bud

Ask her to confirm that she has seen and understood your letter giving her notice. Say that it is contingent on her paying her last two months rent by the end of the week. If she doesn’t do this, the notice period is one week.

We had a lodger who lost her flat and unbeknownst to me moved her old and inefficient full fridge and freezer (two separate units) into her small bedroom when we were out. She developed a terrible mould problem but didn't want to say so it got really bad. It was a new flat to me when she moved in so we didn't know the room had that tendency. It was all fine for a while until it wasn't.

She ran space heaters constantly. The electric was unreal and took a year after she was out before Octopus let us reduce the monthly payment. She cooked at all hours of the night, hoarding food in her freezer and hogged the washing machine. And took hour long showers.

I owned the flat but she was lodging in it with my partner and I needed her out as I was moving back to the area for work, Covid was kicking off, and I was pregnant.

Bad timing but it forced the issue because she didn't want me added to the crowded and good timing as it was a week before lockdown or we'd have all been stuck together!

The relief when she was gone was palpable. Follow the process because that type will know their rights.

Massive handhold!

I did have a (I thought) very clear agreement! It actually included about hygiene and things such as. I am not sure she even read it really.
I can't think of a large man I could move in unfortunately. I am worried what she might do.

I feel for you with that situation! What a nightmare.

This one doesn't wash very often at all. She smells. But at least she's not using a lot of resources I guess! I can't say my water bill has gone up! I didn't want a lodger that was hanging about the house all day so her with two jobs I thought, perfect! That lasted about 2 weeks.

She hasn't used the washing machine once since moving in.

Are you the poster whose lodger took their foundation?

It's hard to get a good one. Either super clean resource hogging or filthy stink pit.

The year DP and I lived apart and he had her, I had an otherwise decent guy who left toilet skids and I once have to frog march into the bathroom for a poo crumble in the tub.

I'd take a second, even third, job over another person in my flat ever again!

No, although that has made me think of what else she might have taken that I am yet to notice!

I want to know what a 'poo crumble in the tub' is! Or maybe I don't.

You don't have to give a lodger 28 days notice.

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/housing/lodging-and-subletting/lodging-subletting/lodgers/if-youre-being-evicted-as-a-lodger/

Thank you for that! Looking now.

You are advising OP to break the law. If the tenant sued, they would win.