Unwanted guest.

[melissa2929291936]

My work sent me abroad for six months.I arranged to rent our home out to a "friend".She only paid two months rent but I let it slide until we returned.When we did come home,she refused to leave the house.The police said there was nothing they could do so myself,husband and two small children had to camp out at my mothers thirty miles away.After six weeks of this,and having tried every legal avenue,I went to our home after "friend"had left for work.I still had my keys so I entered and turned the water off at the stopcock.The stopcock is in a weird place,not where you'd expect,so I was pretty sure she didn't know its location.I then cancelled the broadband for the address.That night she had the nerve to phone me complaining.She said she had an infant,a toddler and no water.I informed her she could go to her own mother (who lived in the same street.)but the rental time in our written contract had passed and she hadn't even paid me for most of it.Cue tears,threats etc but,because I knew she had somewhere to go,I held my ground.Went round next day and she'd gone,although the place was trashed.I had the locks changed,cleared up and moved back in.Now she's bad mouthing me all over,saying I threw out a mother with young children.Her main gripe though seems to be the lack of broadband rather than water! I genuinely don't think i was in the wrong "throwing her out"_I knew she wouldn't be on the street.

[Greensleevevssnotnose]

Sounds fair to me

[Hillrunning]

What's your question? It's done now, move on.

[Yoyooo]

Was there any way you could've just changed the locks when she was at work?

[Fuctifin0]

She doesn't sound much of a friend.

[Ktime]

Well done for getting her out! How bad is the damage? ☹️

When you got in the house, would you have been allowed to change the locks and put her stuff outside?

[NotTerfNorCis]

What a vile person. You were well shot of her.

[Goldbar]

Photograph the damage she's caused. Do you have written proof (email etc.) that there was an agreement that she should pay rent?

I'd tell her that unless she shuts up fairly sharply, you're going to bring a claim in the small claims court for rent/damages.

[ThinWomansBrain]

well done on getting rid of her - hope the damage wasn't too horrendous
think i'd have cancelled the broadband when she stopped paying rent - watch for mail that might relate to debts she's run up at your home.

[hoophoophooray]

If she paid you rent at any point, she legally had an assured shorthold tenancy. You should have protected her deposit (if you too one), had electrical and gas safety checks done, and various other bits.

What you did in the eyes of the law was an illegal eviction. The ONLY way to legally get someone out it to serve them with a s21 (no fault) or s8 (late rent) notice and wait for it to go through the courts. That is why the police wouldn't help as illegal eviction is a criminal offence.

[GrazingSheep]

Dreadful 👀

[coffeecupsandwaxmelts]

Did you protect her deposit and put it in a scheme?

I don't disagree with you being pissed off but I don't think the law is exactly on your side here 😬

Hopefully she's too embarrassed or lazy to try and go through the courts.

[turtlemurtle1982]

She doesn't sound like much of a friend but if you had a proper rental agreement and she was an actual tenant then it doesn't sound like you used legal means.

[BluetheBear]

Depending on the agreement you had, what you'd do is potentially illegal, and turning off water etc is not acceptable although I can fully understand why you would want to. I would also want her out and want money for what she owes but be careful as she could have a claim against you too.

[Turmerictolly]

@hoophoophooray

If she paid you rent at any point, she legally had an assured shorthold tenancy. You should have protected her deposit (if you too one), had electrical and gas safety checks done, and various other bits.

What you did in the eyes of the law was an illegal eviction. The ONLY way to legally get someone out it to serve them with a s21 (no fault) or s8 (late rent) notice and wait for it to go through the courts. That is why the police wouldn't help as illegal eviction is a criminal offence.

This. Unfortunately however u fair it seems, you are in the wrong legally. You'd better hope she doesn't get legal advice.

[Samsungwasher]

You’re lucky you haven’t ended up in court. However justified you feel you were you acted illegally.
Did you protect the deposit? Get a gas safety certificate? You acted illegally in taking the property back as you did. So maybe don’t take advice to go after her for damage costs!

[Cabella]

@melissa2929291936
OP, would you mind stating the location of the stop tap? I am in my own flat, moved in 7 months ago, and can't find the stop tap, it's not under the sink. It was built by Barratt in 2002, no idea of the location of stop tap.

[PixiKitKat]

@Cabella

@melissa2929291936
OP, would you mind stating the location of the stop tap? I am in my own flat, moved in 7 months ago, and can't find the stop tap, it's not under the sink. It was built by Barratt in 2002, no idea of the location of stop tap.

Mine isn't a brand new build but my stop tap is at the back of a different kitchen cupboard, high up at the back. I had to really crouch down to see it so check in all the cupboards and crouch to see the full back of them.

[KarmaStar]

Ywnbu! Or is this a reverse?
Whichever,the unwanted 'guest' is a very c.f.

[Bewilderedandhurt]

The moral of the story is always get a contract signed then you have a legal leg to stand on.
If a "friend" dislikes the idea of it all being legally above board and signing a contract then you have to question their motives.

[1FootInTheRave]

She is a cheeky twat and deserves everything she gets.

I'd make sure all mutual friends know what she's done too.

[CC4712]

Why on earth would you enter to property, turn to stop cock off and leave???

Why didn't you enter and get the locks changed there and then?

What sort of written agreement did you have? Do you have a buy-to-let mortgage in place and appropriate insurance? Did you protect her deposit?

[FrostyFifi]

Technically you evicted her illegally.
As someone who went the legal route to get rid of tenants, I did quite enjoy reading that though and I don't think you did anything wrong morally.
Hopefully she'll content herself with bitching about it and not take it further.

[FrostyFifi]

I'm guessing as it was a friend there may not have been a deposit?

[AfraidToRun]

Illegal eviction usually results in a fine but could result in a prison sentence.

Sounds like you werent ready to run a business as a landlord .

[IWineAndDontDine]

@Cabella

@melissa2929291936
OP, would you mind stating the location of the stop tap? I am in my own flat, moved in 7 months ago, and can't find the stop tap, it's not under the sink. It was built by Barratt in 2002, no idea of the location of stop tap.

Ours is in our cupboard in the hallway!