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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:
LessMissAbs · 22/01/2014 21:41

wayed? weighed

etoo · 22/01/2014 21:42

Agree with everything Randy says although from my experience the law is totally on the side of the tenant!

I'm sorry but an international comparison shows UK law to be heavily in favour of the landlord, eg. the site below gives the average period to evict a tenant for non payment of rent as 100ish days, whereas in Germany it is over 300. Repossession for defaulting on a mortgage is not immediate, why should renting be any different?

www.globalpropertyguide.com/Europe/United-Kingdom/Landlord-and-Tenant

Mushypeasandchipstogo · 22/01/2014 21:43

I DO have sympathy for the baby but IMO it is the tenants who are mostly to blame vampy. Unfortunately I know of at least two people who have been in a similar position to this LL who have been almost suicidal with the problems that their tenants have caused.

CocktailQueen · 22/01/2014 21:46

Etoo - I disagree. Why on earth should the ll be responsible for keeping her tenants, if they don't pay rent? It us their responsibility. Their baby us their responsibility too. If they want their baby to gave a nice life, then pay your rent on time or let the ll know what's going on.

CocktailQueen · 22/01/2014 21:47

Is, not us.
Have, not gave.

BrianTheMole · 22/01/2014 21:47

Well, she should have gone through the legal process to protect herself. Although I can see why she was tempted. But it was dumb. But having had shit tenants who moved in without the intention to pay, and decided to trash my house too, I would have no qualms in evicting them, regardless of whether they had somewhere else to go or not. My ex tenants turned up to court and tried to negotiate a lot more time to stay in my house, rent free. Fortunately the judge saw sense and informed them I was not a charity and had no obligation to house them, before giving them their marching orders.

BrianTheMole · 22/01/2014 21:48

Etoo - I disagree. Why on earth should the ll be responsible for keeping her tenants, if they don't pay rent? It us their responsibility. Their baby us their responsibility too. If they want their baby to gave a nice life, then pay your rent on time or let the ll know what's going on.

Absolutely.

BrianTheMole · 22/01/2014 21:52

can you imagine how stressful it is for a landlord to have a tenant staying indefinitely in your property for free, or who treats paying rent as an option when it suits them and when they can afford it, and having the risk of repossession if you can't pay the mortgage.

Thats right. I was pg at the time and I used to lie in bed at night, sick with stress about what they would do next. I was terrified they would set the house on fire as a parting shot. Sod their well being, they didn't care about anyone elses.

loveisagirlnameddaisy · 22/01/2014 21:54

The law in the UK used to be in favour of the landlord but is deemed by most (excluding LL haters) to now be far more fairly weighted towards the tenant. Certainly in my experience, it takes far longer than 100 days to end a tenancy with a reluctant tenant and the LL can be left with debts running into the thousands which are rarely recoverable. I don't think a comparison with supermarkets is helpful.

VampyreofTimeandMemory · 22/01/2014 21:54

such a shame, i would really hope that any decent person, given the choice, would choose NOT to disadvantage an innocent child. fucking sickening.

AwfulMaureen · 22/01/2014 21:54

Ah bollocks. The legal process is there for everyone....if Landlords fail to follow it then they are as bad as the tenants they're stuck with. People can't go about breaking the law because they've been done badly by.

CocktailQueen · 22/01/2014 21:55

Etoo - your last post _ why on earth should tenants have any more than 100 days before they are evicted?

Mortgage companies are just that - companies. Whereas landlords are often individuals. Why on earth should they be out of pocket from more than three months if tenants don't pay?? M&S don't let you buy good without paying; nor do dentists or tesco. Why on earth should and lords be any different?

I used to let out my flat in London and our second lot of tenants were awful. Changed the locks without permission. Wouldn't let us in to inspect property. Didn't air property so it was damp and horrible. Didn't clean for the entire time they lived there - disgusting. Used their deposit as their last month of rent so we were out of pocket. Broke the loo seat, loo cabinet, fridge. Cigarette burns in carpet. Yuk yuk yuk. Broke my heart - it had been my flat.

loveisagirlnameddaisy · 22/01/2014 21:56

But in answer to the OP, I do think the LL has been a total fool. Illegal eviction is a criminal offence and she should be worried.

SuedeEffectPochette · 22/01/2014 21:57

Her behaviour is illegal and if the tenants claim they will get LOTS of money as compensation for this. Plus their belongings back (or more money). Stupid woman.

CocktailQueen · 22/01/2014 21:58

Having said that, I do not condone evicting people illegally. Doesn't matter whether or not they have a baby, tbh, but you should follow the legal channels.

Also, op, we need to know - how were the tenants shitty? What did they do?

Mushypeasandchipstogo · 22/01/2014 22:00

My sympathies are with you Brian and Cocktail.

LessMissAbs · 22/01/2014 22:03

Random I had landlords a couple of years ago who showed up at the door at Christmas because we were a month behind with the rent. They were a married couple. The husband had been calling us twice a day asking when we were going to pay. We'd ignored the phone for a couple of days because he was driving us round the twist, and he was personally aggrieved at, what he called, our "disrespect". The wife was crying, saying "Why are you doing this to us? The house will be repossessed. What will we have to leave the kids?". The husband was absolutely livid and shaking. I let them in because I felt sorry for the wife, and the husband took the opportunity to steal our original 12 month contract off the kitchen counter and replace it with a six month one so that he could start evicting us immediately

I think your attitude stinks. Anyone can have money troubles, but in effect you expected this couple to provide you with free accommodation for a month. Your landlords had no idea when and if you would start paying again, and you ignored them because they annoyed you. Most people would feel ashamed at not paying their rent and make some attempt to explain to their landlords at least. You're not even ashamed at being evicted.

How magnanimous of you to "feel sorry" for your landlord. It sounds like you were jealous of them for renting you a property!

You do realise you don't give a very good impression of yourself in that little story?

etoo · 22/01/2014 22:04

Mortgage companies are just that - companies. Whereas landlords are often individuals. Why on earth should they be out of pocket from more than three months if tenants don't pay??

Selling mortgages is a business, renting out houses is a business, both have clear predefined rules and well known risks. If you don't have the contingency to cover your expenses for a few months when a tenant doesn't pay you shouldn't enter the rental business full stop. It is very depressing that so many people want to erode tenants already very fragile rights in order to cater for the proliferation of rank amateur landlords who aren't in a position to be entrusted with the basic human need of other people and families.

VampyreofTimeandMemory · 22/01/2014 22:05

based on the op, this couple doesn't sound like they have any interest in setting houses on fire or hurting someone - they've called 'several times' in tears and have taken the appropriate action. the ll is coming across as a complete arsehole who finds the whole thing funny.

RandyRudolf · 22/01/2014 22:05

Yeah OP, can you make it your mission to find out how shitty this tenant has been. It's difficult to judge otherwise Grin.

loveisagirlnameddaisy · 22/01/2014 22:11

'Tenants fragile rights'. Hilarious.

BrianTheMole · 22/01/2014 22:11

I had landlords a couple of years ago who showed up at the door at Christmas because we were a month behind with the rent. They were a married couple. The husband had been calling us twice a day asking when we were going to pay. We'd ignored the phone for a couple of days because he was driving us round the twist, and he was personally aggrieved at, what he called, our "disrespect". The wife was crying, saying "Why are you doing this to us? The house will be repossessed. What will we have to leave the kids?". The husband was absolutely livid and shaking. I let them in because I felt sorry for the wife, and the husband took the opportunity to steal our original 12 month contract off the kitchen counter and replace it with a six month one so that he could start evicting us immediately.

Well I have little sympathy for you. Why didn't you just talk to the landlord and try and work out a plan? Instead of just ignoring the phone.

BrianTheMole · 22/01/2014 22:14

A few months is one thing etoo, it took 5 months to evict my tenants. And that was quick. You think they should have had the best part of a year rent free then? Really? I don't think so.

BrianTheMole · 22/01/2014 22:17

tenants already very fragile rights in order to cater for the proliferation of rank amateur landlords who aren't in a position to be entrusted with the basic human need of other people and families.

Yeah, it seems to be all about their rights but not their responsibilities with you eh?

Mushypeasandchipstogo · 22/01/2014 22:18

etoo you and I obviously occupy a parallel universe!

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