Should I ask my new lodger to leave?

[Pugmummy92]

I have recently taken on a male lodger much older than me, he’s in his fifties (I’m 25). I own my own home, just me and my pug living here, and have previously rented one of my single rooms out.

My new lodger only moved in last week, paying two weeks’ rent as he wanted to have an initial trial period. However, since moving in, he appears to have moved half a house worth of belongings with him, despite only renting a very small single room! He has now occupied most of the garden shed, several kitchen cupboards (it was only agreed to have one cupboard and half the fridge), half the understairs cupboard and half my third bedroom too! He is also leaving the heating on constant (even when he’s not at home!)

Another reason for me taking on a lodger was to look after my pug a couple of nights a week, and to feed him should he finish work earlier. He is home earlier than me every day of the week so the agreement was that he feed my dog and let him out etc. before I’m home. He seems to be quite reluctant to do this now he has moved in and has quite a standoffish attitude towards looking after my dog, despite claiming to be a dog lover himself!

AIBU to give him notice at the end of his two weeks’ trial period??

He’s not very easy to talk about problems with, and makes me feel like I am the one creating problems already even after just one week. I just don’t know if I can stand living with someone who takes over the entire house and all my free space, and has no regard for my ever increasing house bills, and isn’t keen on looking after my dog?

Advice please! X

[eridanus]

It's your home, just move him on and be honest why... everything you have described is not unreasonable. Maybe get a younger female lodger.

[WazzitCalled]

Have you said anything about the extra belongings? If you want to make it easier on yourself you could lie to him and say that your brother or whoever has just been thrown out his house and needs to come and live with you. I think you can tell him he needs to move ASAP.

BTW I don’t usually like to lie but in this case I think it might be excusable...

[AlmostDoneWithThis]

It's going to take him another week to move all this stuff back out again!

[RunMummyRun68]

I feel worried for you op!

How will he take this news? And will he be able to find somewhere new so soon....

[FluffyWuffy100]

Fuck that, give him notice.

Totally outrageous to be putting stuff anywhere other than his room or his agreed kitchen space.

[Eatalot]

His wife most likely kicked him out for the same reasons.

[WazzitCalled]

Get rid asap, what sort of man in his fifties does this ?

He’s probably one of the countless men that have been thrown out of their home by their partners on the 'LTB' advice of Mumsnet. 😏

[Viviennemary]

I think it was most unwise to take on a 50 year old man as a lodger in your position. Get rid of him but do think a bit before you take another lodger.

[southeastdweller]

Have you done a tenancy agreement with him? If so what does it say about evicting him?

[AnnieAnoniMouse]

I don’t understand why you needed to say he is much older than you, in his 50’s. It’s not like you didn’t know that when you invited him to move into your home. It’s irrelevant.

He’s brought a lot more stuff than you said he could and it’s justifiably annoying you. You had a two week trial, just tell him it’s not working for you and he needs to go at the end of it.

Do you have a friend that can stay between you telling him & him moving out? Just in case he doesn’t take it well. Best you put your valuables elsewhere too. There’s something a bit weird about someone in their 50’s being so socially unaware that’s a bit creep/worrying.

As a lodger, he needs to learn to travel light.

[ALongHardWinter]

OMG get rid of him OP! It sounds like he's taking the piss,big time. This is the reason why I won't take in a lodger. Since my DD moved out a year ago,I have a spare room,but I've heard so many awful tales mainly on Mumsnet about lodgers giving them grief,that it has put me right off. Plus I'm quite a private person,and the idea of a complete stranger wandering around my home fills with me horror. So although the prospect of the money is tempting,I can't bring myself to do it.

[Petalflowers]

Definitely get rid.

Don’t let him stay any longer then a set date.

If he says he has nowhere to live, point him in the direction of sparerooms.com, plenty of avaialble rooms on there, a lot with immediate occupancy.

[BobbleHat102]

Massively disrespectful behaviour here - he hasn't listened to a word you have said. I'm totally in agreement about getting rid of him asap, and having someone with you when you do it.

Just a thought, but do you have a friend or relative who might be willing to come and stay in the 3rd room for a few nights so you have some support? You also then have a reason to force him to remove the extra crap he brought without permission - "my friend is coming on Saturday and needs the room"

At the end of the day there is nothing to stop him putting his excess crap into storage, or renting a larger space... if he's not able to do that it is not your problem!!!

[thiskittenbarks]

Definitely end it after the trial period. He's only paying for one bedroom so shouldn't be filling your other bedrooms with binbags of his old junk.
I'm sure you'll find someone who'd love to look after the dog a bit for you too - I know a lot of people who love dogs but can't commit to having one themselves. Good luck!

[TempusEejit]

I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't actually need your room after the "trial" period and is just using you as cheap contract-free storage for two weeks.

[Mookie81]

Placemarking for updates.
Be firm but you need to tell him soon as.

[Pugmummy92]

I think I’m definitely going to get rid when we speak about it at the end of the trial period. Unfortunately my agreement allows for 4 weeks’ notice to be given thereafter, so I’ve got plenty of awkward evenings ahead of me while I wait for him to find somewhere else!

Regarding his age, I definitely prefer an older person, I find people my own age where I live generally aren’t used to looking after their own space and can be quite “studenty” - I prefer peace and quiet!

I will definitely advertise in local hospitals etc. next time around although gender definitely isn’t an issue to me, males tend to keep themselves to themselves more too and are often tidier (with the odd exceptions of course!) Unfortunately I live in a very rural location and so there isn’t much call for renting a room, which doesn’t usually leave me with much of a choice when applicants come forward, but fingers crossed the right person comes along next time! X

[Technonan]

Get him out of there now. He sounds like he's on a takeover bid.

[crunchtimes]

Definitely need to ask him to leave, he's taking the piss already.
He's not a house-mate where you share the rent/bills, he's a lodger and he has to remember that and not expect to be able to take up half the house with his things.

The dog thing would be a deal-breaker for me too. I currently have a lodger, and a cat, I really emphasised that I needed to rent my spare room to an animal lover. I have since got a dog and my lodger has been great about feeding them both when I have to go away with work.

Living with a stranger is a compromise, but the fact that I know my pets are loved and cared for when I need to be away more than makes up for my lodgers little annoying habits (which we all have).

I am surprised that a single woman in her middle twenties would have a man double her age as a lodger, he obviously thinks you are a walk-over....you need him out before it gets inevitably worse!

[Tumblrpigeon]

He’s not keepin his side of the deal.
So forget the notice period.

[FranticallyPeaceful]

Cheeky fucker syndrome. Get rid

[auntysara]

Have you said anything about the extra belongings? If you want to make it easier on yourself you could lie to him and say that your brother or whoever has just been thrown out his house and needs to come and live with you. I think you can tell him he needs to move ASAP.

I'd also bring my 'police officer/lawyer brother/cousin' to the house to break the news to appalling lodger. I suspect he would take your decision more seriously.
In this situation you are morally right to ask a mate to help /pose as sibling if you don't have a 'real brother' available!!

[Pugmummy92]

I also let potential lodgers know beforehand too that I’m not single (just in case they like the idea of living with a female a little too much!) my partner lives locally so hence I like to have someone to look after my dog one or two nights a week so I can stay with him. The age and gender of a lodger really doesn’t bother me, I’m used to socialising in groups of older people rather than those my own age. X

[Mummyoflittledragon]

Oh dear it’s going to be a long 4 weeks. He’s completely taking the piss though.

[Sugarpiehoneyeye]

@Pugmummy92, you need to get some support on side, I don't think this guy is going to go easily !
GET HIM OUT.