Houseshare problems - tenant's new boyfriend refuses to leave

[FirstAvenue]

Name changed, looking for advice here. I'll try not to go into too much detail.

I own a five bedroom house in a town a fair distance away and I let out four bedrooms under Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreements. It's an all female house as I have found that way it is generally easier to manage from a distance.

I do everything as professionally as possible, I advertise empty rooms, take references from applicants, tell them the house rules and give the tenants a proper tenancy agreement which states that they have exclusive use of their bedroom and shared use of the communal areas.

One of the House rules states: "Your room is for single occupancy only and boyfriends / girlfriends etc. should only really stay every other weekend." Now it's not that I am a prude, it's just that I have learnt from previous bad experiences that the house becomes overcrowded and untidy and generally starts to smell if the house is over-occupied. It's very hard to let a room if the house smells.

One of the girls, let's call her Ann, got a new boyfriend about six months ago and recently he appears to have "moved in". She says he has not and that she is aware of the house rules, but he is "always there" despite him living nearby. Unfortunately it is not just a case of staying in her room, he seems to spend most of the time watching TV in the living room and has even set his laptop up in the kitchen.

One of the other girls, let's call her Betsy, has complained about his continued presence. Betsy says that she took the house on the basis that it was girls only, and that she feels uncomfortable with him being in the house all the time in his dressing gown.

I've asked Ann to stick to the house rules and to make sure he only stays ever other weekend, and she has at various times in the last two weeks a) denied that he stays there in the week, b) says he does stay over sometimes but the other girls don't mind, or c) says that he is her partner and she wants him to stay as much as possible. It is clear that she is not telling the truth.

Betsy however made a further formal complaint to me last Tuesday, and after a number of texts and phone calls to Ann during which time the boyfriend did not depart, last Friday I had to write an email to Ann asking her to make sure that house rules are obeyed and that her boyfriend only stays two nights a fortnight. I did not get a reply.

Betsy went away for the weekend but when she arrived back last night the boyfriend was there and he was still there this morning. She is now dreading going back home this evening, and it is my understanding that he has now stayed there for 11 consecutive nights. Betsy is now asking me what she should do if he is still there this evening.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to how to resolve this?

It's crazy isn't it, all these posters saying oo call the police or evict Anne. Just get a grip op, I'm sorry for Betsy but I bet she is never going to settle in a houseshare. Make them clean their house if it smells, don't be this bizarre housemaster from a previous century.

OP is paying the bills though, why should should she subsidise this twat?

It doesn’t matter whether PP thinks the rules are fair or not. Ann knew the rules when she signed on and so did Betsy so Betsy has a right to complain about some man with his sweaty bollocks, manky dressing down and crumb flecked laptop keyboard on her sofa all day.

Give Ann her notice and tell her tae get tae fuck.

Ask Betsy to text you when he is next there and then go around if it’s not on a weekend.

I would speak to Ann and ask him to leave and say you believe he is there more than every other weekend so from now on she’ll have to go to his instead.

I feel really sorry for Betsy - I would hate to lose her who is someone who follows the rules for someone who takes the piss.

Ann should pay for Betsy to stay in a hotel until her boyfriend finds an alternative solution.

Betsy has a right to feel safe in her own home.

You might end up losing Betsy before Ann and I know which one I would rather keep... the one who isn’t ignoring her tenancy agreement.

Two things have happened in the last half hour:
First I received an email from Ann replying to my email on Friday and stating that the boyfriend won't stay overnight in the week again.
Then had a message from Betsy: "Hi, the boyfriend is here again. Can you please ask him to leave?"
Going to reply to Ann's email first and ask her to confirm that he is not at the property.

@PhatPhanny

Ban the boyfriend from the house and give Ann notice. You don't want this kind of person in your house anyway, a blatant disregard to your property, if she doesn't like it she needs to rent sole use.

but the house is a business premises and the nature of the business means that it is let out as homes for the occupants to...be at home in. The OP cant start acting as if it's her home because it isnt! She may own the business premises but she has to abide by the laws which regulate the type of business she is involved in.

@GetOffYourHighHorse

'Are you running an HMO or a day release prison?'

It's crazy isn't it, all these posters saying oo call the police or evict Anne. Just get a grip op, I'm sorry for Betsy but I bet she is never going to settle in a houseshare. Make them clean their house if it smells, don't be this bizarre housemaster from a previous century.

I think that it’s great that @FirstAvenue is offering a female only space.

I wonder if Ann is a mner?!

Change this rule to ‘must not’. Your current rule is not sufficiently direct.

Absolutely this!

You have advertised it as a female only house so it should be exactly that - there are many people who can only stay in female only houses so you need to make the rules more clear so everyone knows where they stand.

the one who isn’t ignoring her tenancy agreement
I dont think 'no intimate partners staying over night' is enforceable as part of a tenancy agreement?

What's with all the prison jokes? The inmates signed up voluntarily

Who does the boyfriend live with?
If he lives alone then she can go there and if he lives with other adults then he shouldn’t be around anyway which you could use as your excuse until you get the rules sorted properly.

Should boyfriend be there at all with Covid rules? him and Ann may be in a bubble but I don't expect the other tenants are in his bubble too and are not related to him or part of his household. If he was climbing in through her bedroom window and not going in any of the communal parts ie. bathroom and kitchen it may be different. Isn't this the same as wanting to visit your Granny and not being allowed to because of covid rules? I don't believe he has his own place if he had she would be living round there and not having any hassle, he has no where else to go has he? So he is moved in here rent free, using the heating if he is there all day in his dressing gown, using the hot water, and all the appliances etc that the other tenants are paying for. Why would Betsy want to support Ann's boyfriend financially. As I have heard Judge Judy Ann might think he is adorable but Betsy doesn't.

@FirstAvenue

Two things have happened in the last half hour: First I received an email from Ann replying to my email on Friday and stating that the boyfriend won't stay overnight in the week again. Then had a message from Betsy: "Hi, the boyfriend is here again. Can you please ask him to leave?" Going to reply to Ann's email first and ask her to confirm that he is not at the property.

Pick up the phone , call her and tell her thar he leaves right then or you’ll be attending with the police.

You need to get more assertive. This isn’t on.

I dont think 'no intimate partners staying over night' is enforceable as part of a tenancy agreement?

Surely if it’s a female only house it could be? I’d be fuming if I paid for a female only setting and a male was there the majority of the time.

'a day release prison where you have to pay for being in prison'

Tis the rulez though! I have an awful feeling the op keeps a room spare for herself for frequent Checking Duties, clipboard at hand. I hope they make their beds properly and God knows what the LL will make of the fridge, I bet there isn't adequate labelling in place. Tut tut.

'think that it’s great that FirstAvenue is offering a female only space.'

It should be a comfortable home for all inmates residents. Locks on doors should suffice if people don't feel safe. Not allowing overnight guests is ridiculous.

Sorry if this has been asked already but do you still have to give six months notice if tenants are in breach of the rules they agreed to?

Well given we are in the time of covid and are not allowed to see people unless it is in the garden or outside, I am bemused that everyone is quoting the 6mth rule around notice due to covid but not highlighting the fact that Ann is breaking covid rules and placing her other tenants at risk by having this man in her home repeatedly.

@Nanny0gg

If he doesn't have permission to be in the house, surely you can phone the police for advice?

No, it's not a police matter. If he is a guest of a tenant then the only recourse you have is to evict that tenant, and currently you're looking at about 18 months at least to do that.

@AngelicaSchuylerAndHerSisters

Sorry if this has been asked already but do you still have to give six months notice if tenants are in breach of the rules they agreed to?

Yes you do.

Surely the boyfriend is there without your permission, therefore he is trespassing on your property. Ask him to leave, and give Ann 6 months notice at the same time

You need to get someone over there tonight to find out what's happening. A physical presence, not just an email. This is happened in part because you are trying to manage this from a distance. A regular LL presence would have helped prevent this or nip it in the bud.

Give her notice to leave and go and stay in the spare 5th bedroom. Keep kicking the boyfriend out.

but the house is a business premises

@oil0W0lio Nope. The rooms are let out as rooms. The rest of the house is just like any other house owned by the OP legally.

@FirstAvenue

Two things have happened in the last half hour: First I received an email from Ann replying to my email on Friday and stating that the boyfriend won't stay overnight in the week again. Then had a message from Betsy: "Hi, the boyfriend is here again. Can you please ask him to leave?" Going to reply to Ann's email first and ask her to confirm that he is not at the property.

Unless it's hundreds of miles away, I'd go round there and see for myself, OP.

And if he's there, and Ann has lied, I'd read them both the riot act and tell Ann you'll be serving notice.