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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think this is a really shitty way to behave?

309 replies

ballinacup · 22/01/2014 19:24

An acquaintance was talking very proudly today about how she has evicted her tenants. She's done it completely illegally by sneaking in whilst they were out and changing the locks.

Yes, they were shitty tenants, but I still think making someone homeless without notice is a bit off. However, it gets worse.

She will not give the tenants their possessions. She finds it hilarious that the couple have called her on several occasions in tears, begging for their five month old's clothes/bottles/cot. Acquaintance's sister is expecting so she's given all of their stuff to her.

She stormed into the office fuming today as the tenants are taking legal action against her. Aibu to hope she gets into serious trouble for, essentially, stealing from a baby?

OP posts:
WoodBurnerBabe · 22/01/2014 19:27

I hope she gets the book thrown at her. What a shitty thing to do, I know landlords have a lot to deal with when they get a bad tenant, but this is no way to behave.

Tiredemma · 22/01/2014 19:28

what a bitch.

Berryglitter · 22/01/2014 19:29

Disgusting.

RandyRudolf · 22/01/2014 19:30

The LL may be shitty but you have no idea what she might have put her through. I went through the legal route to get my bitch of a tenant out. By the time she left I was thousands of pounds out of pocket with a wrecked house. It took me five years to get back on my feet.

Methe · 22/01/2014 19:31

She sounds like an absolute arsehole not giving them their belongings back.

I do have some sympathy with the fact they were shit tenants though. One of my friends has a tenant who's never paid a days rent, has trashed the property and taken out credit fraudulently. The law has been on the side of the tenant!

If that were my house she'd have been out on her arse after a couple of months... I'd have let her have her stuff back though [nice]

RandyRudolf · 22/01/2014 19:31

I'm not condoning what she did by the way, just that people have different breaking points.

Original poster
ballinacup · 22/01/2014 19:32

I get that Randy, but would you have stolen items from the tenant clearly intended for the wellbeing of q young baby and gloated about it?

OP posts:
Original poster
ballinacup · 22/01/2014 19:32

*a

OP posts:
Fairylea · 22/01/2014 19:33

Awful :(

So she's actually made a family with a 5 month old baby homeless?!

What a bitch.

Iactuallydothinkso · 22/01/2014 19:33

She will find herself in a lot of trouble and considerably out of pocket if she hasn't gone down the legal route.

The legal route is a pain in the arse as witnessed above but it is the only way to evict someone without considerable comeback.

She won't be laughing for much longer.

LEMmingaround · 22/01/2014 19:33

Why are you friends with this woman?

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 22/01/2014 19:34

Keeping their belongings, and giving them away, sounds like theft to me.

LineRunner · 22/01/2014 19:34

Goodness.

etoo · 22/01/2014 19:34

If you don't like the legal process for evicting tenants don't become a landlord. Can't say I have any sympathy for any landlord who hasn't prepared themselves for a non-paying tenant, it's well known they happen from time to time.

notundermyfoof · 22/01/2014 19:34

She sounds like a cunt and I hope she gets the book thrown at her Angry

They may have been shit tenants but that is the risk you take when you become a ll, either follow the correct legal procedures or don't let out your property.

RandyRudolf · 22/01/2014 19:34

I wouldn't have lowered myself to the behaviour of the tenant, no.

I think the OP's acquaintance will get dragged through the courts for this though.

ISeeYouShiverWithAntici · 22/01/2014 19:36

She is disgusting to be laughing about keeping things that someone needs for a baby!

there is a legal process for evicting people and I hope not following it costs her dearly.

maddening · 22/01/2014 19:36

she is an idiot - if she had boxed up the stuff with a witness present and arranged to take them their stuff she may have got away with the illegal eviction - as it is they have been left with no choice but to take it up as a legal matter.

RandyRudolf · 22/01/2014 19:36

Can't say I have any sympathy for any landlord who hasn't prepared themselves for a non-paying tenant, it's well known they happen from time to time.

It's virtually impossible to get insurance to cover you for tenants who are on benefits.

DustyBaubles · 22/01/2014 19:37

I'm surprised she's managed to keep them out actually.

I thought tenants in that situation had the right to re-enter the property.

Remotecontrolduck · 22/01/2014 19:37

I think the taking of the belongings would be theft.....

She's in the shit big time when tennants involve in the police. No matter how awful the tennants, there is NEVER an excuse to act like acquaintance has done, especially as there's a baby invoved!

CombineBananaFister · 22/01/2014 19:38

I can see why some landlords reach breaking point with tenants royally taking the piss and know the law is mostly in their favour.

I cannot comprehend anyone withholding baby items, then GIVING them away, THEN being a clever arse about it - pretty low IMHO.

Original poster
ballinacup · 22/01/2014 19:39

Just for the record, she's no friend of mine, just someone I have the misfortune of working with.

OP posts:
etoo · 22/01/2014 19:40

If you can't get insurance to cover for non-paying tenants then you need enough of a contingency fund to tide you over until the tenant moves out. Renting out a property is like investing in shares, you hope it will make you money but you also need to accept it may lose you money. If you can't afford to lose don't make the investment in the first place.

RandyRudolf · 22/01/2014 19:41

Easier said than done etoo.