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

[RebootYourEngine]

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[EllieMe]

Tell him now that it isn't working out and he needs to find somewhere else ASAP.

Tell him not to bring any more stuff and to remove the excess that he's already brought. He's taking the piss and will continue to do so if you don't stop him now.

[MrsCrabbyTree]

Third bedroom isn't part of your agreement is it? Tell him to move everything he has placed in there to his bedroom, the room he is actually paying for. His attitude to being asked to do so, will give you an insight into who he is. Anything except an apology and immediate moving of his belongs, and you can tell him to move out without further misgivings from you.

PS: I'd be wanting to cancel the agreement regardless as he will have a bagful of other ways to annoy you.

[Gabilan]

(even as a dog lover myself) I wouldn't be impressed at having this landed on me.

It wasn't landed on him. The OP made it clear before he moved in. I've lodged somewhere with a dog and a cat and caring for them from time to time was part of the agreement. I loved it, as I couldn't have pets of my own, but had them around and they were quite fond of me. It's not for everyone of course, but if the OP is up front about it, it shouldn't be a problem.

[AHedgehogCanNeverBeBuggered]

Having read the article linked earlier I'm now genuinely concerned for your safety!

Get friends/family/colleagues to stay with you till he leaves (and to make sure he does).

[Foodylicious]

Can you start with getting him to move stuff out of Your spare rooms so a friend can come to stay?
Then tell he he really has to move out as it's just not working.

If he won't move stuff out of the spare room you know you have a big problem.
Good luck

[doug1964]

Absolutely have someone on speed dial with a code word if it starts to get uncomfortable.
Also be a bit more picky about your next lodger you numpty.

[Laine21]

I agree with others, Definitely get friend or family to move in with you ASAP and tell him to sling his hook........and his rubbish!

I would not wait the two weeks, that would give him more chance to get comfortable and move in more shite!

He had already broken the agreement, so I would tell him to go NOW! And be prepared to give him his money back, less the days rent he had already used up.

[YouDancin]

I hope you can tell him tonight "move your stuff out of the rooms you're not paying for" and also " and your trial period of two weeks is up"

Also since he only paid you for 2 weeks rent hasn't he invalidated the contract anyway? I presume you have a month's rent in advance agreement in place? If so then two weeks rent = two week's notice.

[64BooLane]

I'd be so uncomfortable with this. Good luck OP - I hope he will be reasonable.

[caringcarer]

The arrangement is not working. I would get another person with you when you challenge him about taking over 3rd bedroom and much of your house and preferably a big strong male just in case he turns nasty. Ask him to leave at end of two week trial.

[XXHelenaXX]

Almost identical thing happened to me. Female, 53, moved from renting an entire house to one room in mine.

You have to get rid of him. He has no respect for you.

Also, write up a list of house rules including how much stuff they can bring and hand out a copy to every applicant. I have done that for years now.

[XXHelenaXX]

If he moved in one week ago and paid two weeks rent then give him two weeks notice immediately.

I hope you took a deposit!

[EnglishRose13]

We had a lodger for 9 months. The first day he moved in, he went into "our" living room (he had his own) and used the house phone to call gambling lines. £30 worth of calls.

This happened every month. Even after asking him not to.

Rent was late 7 out of the 9 months.

I saw the warning signs (like turning up without the agreed deposit), and chose to ignore them.

Don't let this happen to you. Get rid!

[CircleSquareCircleSquare]

OP, how’s it going? Have you got a friend or family member who has said they will come by yet?

[expatinscotland]

Seriously hope you've got rid of him or told him to go.

[Grandmakiely]

Ask a friend to be there with you. Tell him TODAY!!

[SaffyMcDonut]

Tell him to go today.

[fruitbrewhaha]

I think you can ask him to leave. A trial period works both ways. He has broken the terms of his licence by using rooms not included.

He does appear to be completely unrealistic about how much stuff he has and how much space he needs.

You mention you don't get a lot of demand for your room. It might be a tall order to find someone mature and not 'studenty' who can compress all their belongings into one small single room. Have you looked into finding someone who only needs it during the week or similar?

[Pugmummy92]

So I psyched myself up ready to speak to my lodger tonight and he’s not home, although he has definitely been home as the heating has been switched on high while I’ve been at work! I have written out a long message to send him tomorrow and have a friend coming to see me tomorrow evening for support too. I’d rather not send the message tonight, I’ve had a trip to the vets first thing this morning so am spending the evening making sure my little one is well looked after, lodger troubles are slipping down the list of priorities for tonight!

@XXHelenaXX - I wrote a list of house rules up today for any future lodgers, I’ll probably keep a copy stuck to the kitchen cupboards just in case anybody forgets! X

[Mummyoflittledragon]

He’s incredibly rude. Glad you’re getting rid.

[smackbangwhollop]

What did you have in writing?

[Icanttakemuchmore]

Get rid. Have someone with you and also on his last day there too. Tell him the dog hasn't taken to him!

[snewsname]

Lodgers shouldn't creep into any other part of the house except for space to store their food and their room. Get rid asap.

He wanted the trial. Now it's worked to your advantage.

[smackbangwhollop]

Do you have anything valuable in your house. You don't want to leave him to move out when you're not there to oversee it. I'd feel so uncomfortable with this. Try and take a nice strong confident man with you for support.

Did you do any referencing.How much notice do you have to give him?