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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Evicting my sister who doesn’t pay rent

236 replies

Vanessatiger · 27/06/2018 08:36

Back story: half sister divorced a few years back, left with her SN child. Lived with my parents, was depressed about her situation, was saving to buy her own place.
We were buying an investment property in the central parts of London. She occupied that flat (2 beds and newly renovated), paid no rent. Got herself a good highly paid job, didn’t offer to pay anything, we pay the council tax and associated costs with having the flat. We pay her water and heating. I’m a bit fed up frankly, and she says she’s saving her whole salary to buy the new place. She also buys a few designer handbags meanwhile.

AIBU to evict her by September? To rent it out to a bills and rent paying tenant?
The idea was that she’d take care of the flat, fix things that get broken etc, but last time I went nothing was fixed. Shower door was creeky, dish washer door was loose etc..

She’d have to go live with my parents until she sorts herself out.

I say we’re half siblings because she didn’t benefit from the economic advantage i got from one parent’s family’s side. So my husband and I are much more well off than her.

Help, it feels like I’m going to upset up

OP posts:
JavaJava · 27/06/2018 08:40

Have you spoken to her again about wanting her to pay? YABU to evict without giving her a chance to pay but YANBU to want a paying tenant!

IsDaveThere · 27/06/2018 08:40

She's taking the piss, big style. Letting her live there rent free is one thing but why on earth are you paying her council tax and bills?

I'd give her 2 options, start paying her way or find somewhere else to live. If she has been saving her whole salary then she should be able to afford the rent on a small flat.

Adambarlow · 27/06/2018 08:41

Let her fuck off! Cheeky bitch!

Or charge her rent at 80% of market rate if you’re feeling very generous.

AjasLipstick · 27/06/2018 08:41

I think you'd be better speaking to her and telling her that you can't pay the bills any longer and that you'd like a small rent.

Surely that would be better than causing a row? I can't believe you've actually allowed this to happen really.

shiklah · 27/06/2018 08:41

Have you asked her to pay? Does she know the costs involved? What was agreed when she moved in?

The problem is that she has been living there free and will now resent paying anything. It’s illogical but it’s how people behave - if you do something for someone once it is a favour, repeated and it is just what you do and you will be punished if you stop.

What do your parents think?

PitterPatterOfBigFeet · 27/06/2018 08:43

You say she has a highly paid job so why would she need to move in with parents? Couldn't she pay you some rent instead? I think either way you need to speak to her and come up with a concrete plan. How long is it going to take her to save? How much rent can she afford to pay? If you can't come up with a plan that you're both happy with then yes she needs to move out but make sure you give her plenty of time to find other arrangements.

Wildlingofthewest · 27/06/2018 08:43

For goodness sake - she’s taking you for a ride! Give her a months notIce now - get her out! She’s a freeloading cheeky cow!

EeeSheWasThin · 27/06/2018 08:46

I’ve had to read this twice to make sure I’d read it right...your sister is living rent free in a two bed flat in central London and isn't even paying the bills?

😮😮😮 doesn’t cover it. Yes, you’ll upset her but you have to make her pay rent (even if it’s cheaper than market rate) and pay the bills. Or yes, evict her.

To not offer to pay once she got a job is a CF moment of the highest order.

ChocolatePanda · 27/06/2018 08:47

I'd tell her you can't afford to keep the place without a rent-paying tenant (instead of making it about her now being able to afford rent). Tell her you want X amount of rent for the place and that you'll give her a week to think about whether she's happy to pay that amount to live there or if she wants to move out. If she wants to stay then you will expect the first rent payment in a fortnight.

DarklyDreamingDexter · 27/06/2018 08:47

Wow, she's had a good run! It was kind of you to let her stay rent and bills free for so long. Now she's back on her feet, has a well paid job and money for designer handbags it's time to get things back on an even keel. When you say 'evict' her, have you had the conversation about her paying her way? If not, time for a frank conversation about how much rent she should pay, and bills. Amazed you're paying bills as well. That really is beyond the call of duty. Perhaps you can offer her a lowish rent compared to what she would pay on the open market (you save money by not having a letting agent and know you have a tenant who won't trash the place) but show her the bills you pay and get her to take these on herself asap. If she doesn't agree, then you can say she'll need to find somewhere else by a certain date (or move in with parents or start looking to buy). She's had a good innings, so hopefully she will see reason.

KittyVonCatsworth · 27/06/2018 08:47

Wowsers! I think you’ve been incredibly generous. I agree with a PP that you need to give her the chance to pay rent (even if it’s at a reduced rate) for a fixed period. If she throws her toys out of the pram then you have to give her notice. You sound lovely btw x

KirstenRaymonde · 27/06/2018 08:48

Have you asked her to pay rent? If you haven’t actually given her the opportunity to pay then you are being unreasonable. Was any time scale given of how long she could stay there? Sounds like not. There’s a middle ground here before kicking her out. Say you need her to start paying the bills at the least, rent if you want, and give a time frame you need the flat back by.

Maelstrop · 27/06/2018 08:48

How ong has she been there and does she have a proper tenancy agreement? If so, you need to send her a Section 21 to do this legally. She can claim you're making her homeless so may have the law on her side. I think it's a very unfortunate situation that she has never been asked to pay rent, silly of you, OP. Get legal advice before you say anything to her unless you know she will just go.

Candyflip · 27/06/2018 08:48

You bought it as an investment. It is not doing so well with her in it is it?

eloisesparkle · 27/06/2018 08:48

What do your parents think of the situation ?
Does her ex support his child ?
I would be mad as hell if I was allowing somebody to live rent free in my property while they bought designer handbags.
She needs to be told, but easier said than done.

TammySwansonTwo · 27/06/2018 08:48

“DS, the current situation with the flat is no longer tenable. We need to rent it out - if you’d like to rent it from us and take over the bills, you’re very welcome to do so, otherwise we need to give you a months notice.”

Done. Don’t let this continue any longer. Why should she, on a good salary, get to live at your expense? It’s not like she’s destitute.

Maelstrop · 27/06/2018 08:49

Why are you paying her bills?!

notapizzaeater · 27/06/2018 08:51

Tell her you need to get an income from the rent therefore if she stays she needs to pay. She is taking you for a ride

Sparklfairy · 27/06/2018 08:52

Her financial situation isn't your problem. Offer her full market rate rent and if she doesn't like it, she's out. If she's been living there a few years and 'saving' she'll be ready by now anyway

juneau · 27/06/2018 08:53

YWBU to evict her with no warning. You've allowed this situation to happen by giving her a free place to live and not enforcing the rule that she fix the place and keep it in good order. You also made the mistake, it would appear, of not making your offer a fixed term one i.e. six months to allow her to save, or a year to get her shit together, or whatever. You clearly feel some guilt about her and her situation and this has got the better of your judgement.

The first thing you should do is go and talk to her. Tell that you either want to start charging her market rent or you want to let the place from Sept. She needs a couple of months' warning - at least. She's been taking the piss, I agree, but she's been doing it because you've allowed her to do it. You have to take responsibility for your part in this messy situation. You might also want to take some legal advice on the legal aspects of getting her out. What if she point blank refuses or, more likely, stalls for time again and again until many months pass? You need to have a proper plan of action this time.

pasturesgreen · 27/06/2018 08:53

YANBU, that's an untenable situation, I'd give her notice now. Living there rent free is one thing, and would have been very kind of you anyway, but I can't believe your paying her bills for her. She's taking the piss, as demonstrated by the fact she's flaunting her expensive designer purchases.

Does she know the costs involved?

Unless sister has been living with the fairies up until now, I bet she's aware of such a thing as council tax and the costs of running a property in central London...Hmm

Babyblues052 · 27/06/2018 08:53

Fuck that. Part ofb being an adult is paying your way!!! Depression isn't an excuse to being a sponger.

If I were you I'd draw up a proper contract stating rent price, expectations re upkeep ect, and get her to sign it, like you would if you were renting to anyone else. If she doesn't agree tell her she will have to leave.

Original poster
Vanessatiger · 27/06/2018 08:55

My other sister thinks I should let her stay there until she can move out.

She has a good job BUT she won’t just stay anywhere.... her job doesn’t cover rent in high end places and my parents have a big house in a desirable area.. yes that’s my sister. Now I’m the villain for kicking her out according to some family members I’ve spoken to privately..

She’s been there for two years..

OP posts:
Original poster
Vanessatiger · 27/06/2018 08:56

Intially she had left her job to take care of thr child, now she found a good job. By high paying I mean about 60k+ it doesn’t go far in London

OP posts:
juneau · 27/06/2018 08:57

You're not a villain OP. Your DSis is a CF.