Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
cholka · 27/06/2018 08:58

'Investment property' Confused

UpstartCrow · 27/06/2018 08:58

You've done all you can for her, now its another family members turn to step up.

Repeat as necessary.

Maelstrop · 27/06/2018 09:00

60K+!!! Shock I'm double horrified that you're paying her rent/bills! I don't see why you should ask or care about other people's opinions on this. It's YOUR flat, for which you could be earning a huge rent. Give her notice today!

ReanimatedSGB · 27/06/2018 09:01

Is this about wanting her out, or needing rental income from the flat? Because you don't seem to have considered just telling her you want some rent, and for her to pay the bills.
Or is it that you are scared she will agree to pay you and then have excuse after excuse as to why she can't pay just yet?

Fishface77 · 27/06/2018 09:03

Tell the people who think you are a villain to house her for free then.
The only thing worse than a cf is the person who allows them to be a cheeky fucker.

HairyToity · 27/06/2018 09:05

Yanbu

DontDribbleOnTheCarpet · 27/06/2018 09:05

I think you need proper legal advice. I don't know if you have created problems for yourself by letting her live there rent free for so long, but it does seem like it could make things tricky. I doubt she is just going to hand over the rent money easily, or leave without fuss.
I agree with the others that you need a frank talk about it, and if she agrees then you need a proper contract. If she doesn't then you need to be prepared for a bumpy ride.

LIZS · 27/06/2018 09:08

If you have no formal agreement not sure how you can evict her easily. You could point out what the market rent might otherwise be and ask her to contribute.

juneau · 27/06/2018 09:10

£60k is quite a bit of money in London if you're not paying any rent or bills! No wonder she can afford designer handbags ...

BarbarianMum · 27/06/2018 09:11

Tell the family members who think you're being unfair that they can have a turn at supporting her if they want.

And start thinking for yourself. Do you really believe people can't live in London for 60k?

Your dsis is a cf but you're a mug.

SheSellSeaShells · 27/06/2018 09:12

holy crap - 2 years!! Wow I think you've been hugely generous - My mouth is literally hitting floor you don't even make her pay her bills? - why on earth would she ever move out from that cushy scenario.

YADNBU!!!

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 27/06/2018 09:13

Get her out.
She has somewhere to go, if she doesn't like the idea of staying with your parents, she'll be forced to get her act together.
OP, this is no one's business but yours, the party's over.

EspressoButler · 27/06/2018 09:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Daisymay2 · 27/06/2018 09:14

60K and she doesn't pay council tax and bills? If nothing else she must pay her bills and then ask for rent. You can, if you want, make it a token but she needs to pay something,
If nothing else, tell the gas/electricity and water that you are not liable for the bills and give them her details. Its not optional and you are subsidising her hugely.
Perhaps tell the others exactly how much you pay out each month for her and ask for their share of the last 2 years costs!! If they complain about the reduction of ability to save, ask where the designer bags came from.
If you have been unreasonabe, it is for letting things gett to this stage,

BolleauxtoBankers · 27/06/2018 09:16

I don't understand why you don't ask her to pay the bills, council tax, and at least some rent before going to the drastic action of trying to evict her? If you manage to come to an agreement, get a solicitor involved and get her to sign a contract of some sort.

Mrsramsayscat · 27/06/2018 09:16

I think she has no incentive to save properly, and no incentive to leave.

Orangecake123 · 27/06/2018 09:17

How long as this been going on for?

60k is more than enough not to be living rent free. Shock

wizzywig · 27/06/2018 09:19

Ask those relatives to chip in and pay for her then

Littletabbyocelot · 27/06/2018 09:19

I think being treated like a villain when you've housed her and paid her bills for 2 years would be the deciding factor.

Op it is not your fault that you had financial advantages she didn't. It is not your responsibility to make it up to her. Your family should not be guilting you into this.

I mean this kindly but I think you should look at why you've put up with this for so long & what is going on with your family dynamics.

Wallywobbles · 27/06/2018 09:20

Guilt is rarely a good reason for doing something. The guilt is not yours to own in this case. It's an accident of birth.

Ifonlyus · 27/06/2018 09:25

Can you tell her you are getting a second tenant for the other bedroom? Might that make her move out?

Mummyoflittledragon · 27/06/2018 09:26

Are you sure she’s even saving any money? Ywvu to let her stay for free plus bills and no tenancy agreement. You do realise that you are legally liable for fixing anything that’s broken despite her paying nothing? It’s actually a good job she didn’t put money into the house tbh otherwise she could be claiming some of the flat as her own. (Although that would prove difficult).

You need legal advice. As far as I’m aware you would treat this as if you had a shorthold tenancy agreement and serve her a section 21. That’s 2 months notice. As you have no contract, that can be done at any time. After that, she may refuse in which case you would have to follow court proceedings and get her evicted. If she wants to go down this route, I think she would actually be housed by the council but I’m unsure as her salary is so high.

I hope she leaves and doesn’t trash the place. I’d deffo consider taking her to court for any substantial damage above fair wear and tear.

Ifonlyus · 27/06/2018 09:26

Or sit down and discuss an exit date mutually. What was the original agreement? Did you let her move in without discussing a time frame?

Puzzledandpissedoff · 27/06/2018 09:28

Tell the people who think you are a villain to house her for free then

That's probably what they're afraid of Hmm

OP, everyone else has given sensible advice on what to do, but can I ask just one thing ... how on earth did it happen that you're paying the bills too?!!

Collaborate · 27/06/2018 09:32

her job doesn’t cover rent in high end places

It might not, but it covers rent in an adequate place. She should cut her cloth accordingly.