Friend evicting elderly tenant

[AppalachianWoman]

Would it change the way you felt about your friend if he evicted an elderly (70+) tenant so he could move into the house instead? The rent was paid upfront through a lifetime of agricultural labor from late childhood but the friend who recently inherited the estate feels they are owed cash payments and the property. The tenant cannot read or write and was widowed a year or two ago, has no children of his own but some step children from his marriage. The friend currently occupies another, smaller, property on the estate and was expected to move into the largest house which is very grand indeed but requires extensive renovation. He is daunted by the work and expense and has instead become fixated on the property the elderly farmhand lives in.

It feels emotionally immature of me to drop a friend over a difference in values but I am shocked that he would even consider this course of action. I don’t want to be friends with someone who acts this way, how can I exit gracefully or should I try to support him as he has supported me emotionally through decades of friendship?

Off the track a bit but how does he afford to run a house that big? He wouldn't even have a pension surely?

Well, you could help by letting the elderly person live in your house - for free?

Leaving aside the practicalities of living in a different continent from the old man, why would OP or anybody need to offer him different free accommodation when he's already paid his rent for the rest of his life? He's not a charity case.

rabi.org.uk/how-we-help/individuals-and-families/

Talk to these guys @AppalachianWoman , if they're not able to help directly they will know someone more appropriate.

Yes I’m interested in that

added to which - if he doesn’t read or write and is on his own - how on earth does he manages his finances. Indeed anything. Does he not have anyone in his life to advocate for him?

This is really sad. The man does need an advocate

He doesnt live in the 'big' house. He lives in the 4 bed and new owner lives in the 3 bed.
The 'big' house is empty

This is heartbreaking.

Your friend sounds incredibly spoiled and entitled. Not to mention cruel and stupid.

If I were you I would tell him this, in no uncertain terms. And if you can, make sure the elderly man knows his rights. If the poor soul can't read or write this will be very difficult for him.

This is awful. I very much hope he has the tenancy agreement in writing.

Poor soul.

You need to stay involved so you can help this man. He is about to have his world shattered. Your relationship with your friend might put you in a position to help him see reason.

A different in values means to me voting for a different political party. This story is about gross injustice by a very immoral person who doesn’t see someone who is illiterate, elderly and poor as an equal human being. It’s absolutely disgusting and the fact that they feel no guilt is very telling.

A 4 bedroom property is a large property! Hence a sensible question from the pp

You've been friends for decades. Your opinion may well sway your friend. I think the first thing to do is tell him how shocked you are at the idea of him turfing this old man out. Perhaps he'll come round.

Dreadful thing to even contemplate doing, and I would be unable to be friends with someone who behaved in such a way. Utterly disgraceful and pure greed to boot.

I sincerely hope it is in the terms of the will or the estate that the man has lifetime tenancy and cannot be evicted until he dies so your friend is powerless to make him homeless.

Some of the contracts offer a lifetime tenancy with tied cottages, especially if they have been there decades.
she needs to be very careful from a legal POV.
I worked for a rural estate and these sort of tenancies were commonplace. Perhaps there may be a more suitable property for the tenants needs? She could try to motivate a move this way

All hell will break loose if he tries to do it. Farming communities are tight knit. He’ll be rightly shunned - barred from the local pub and shop, won’t be able to get a local tradesman etc. Might find his car vandalised.

Your friend sounds like a vile piece of shit. I’d not only tell him, but actively support the tenant. Start a petition, barricade the house etc! What the hell is wrong with people.

yup and a sensible reply 😳

I wouldn’t exit the friendship “gracefully”. I’d explain to him in detail how you feel and why. He needs to hear that this is wrong and why. Then, as a previous poster suggested, I’d befriend the tenant and help him obtain good legal advice and give him emotional support.

The question was how does he afford to run a 4 bed property

your reply was to say he doesn’t live in the big house

rabi.org.uk/about/
or
www.ageuk.org.uk/

should be able to help or advise

Not evicted yet, friend is seeking legal advice. He doesn’t understand why or if he is obligated to house this man

Obviously getting proper advice rather than relying on armchair lawyers is the sensible thing to do, since it needs to be clear what everyone's rights are here

Once that's known the friend can start considering the difference between what they can do and what they may or may not feel they should, but I'd honestly avoid notoriously landlord hating sites such as this and focus on what the facts really are as opposed to what some wish they were

oops sorry, thats not what my PC says. I missed that part. Must have been responding to a different question. Apologies

Agree. And your friend is a cunt.

What an awful thing to do. And if the man has been there all his life, even with only verbal agreements in place he may find it difficult to move him. Of course, the elderly man may not have the money for a legal battle.
Your friend has a choice of 3 properties but is still going to throw this man out? Awful. Just awful.

Local newspapers can be very vocal on this kind of story.

If this is in the UK, then the sitting tenant does indeed have many rights.
If your friend goes ahead with this I have contacts who will represent the tenant pro-bono.
I would speak to him - ask him where he thinks tenant should be expected to go? And with what money given he was paid a pittance for years.

I think you should talk to your friend

friendship is not about blindly supporting one another. A real friend would tell you that this plan is not ok.