To keep their deposit!!

[LivFG]

DH and I have a couple of properties we rent out. We have been renting to a young couple who always seemed like good tenants. We gave them notice a couple of months ago as we are going to start renting on AirBnB instead as DH thinks we will get more money (don't get me started).

Anyway, they moved out on Saturday and everything seemed fine. Today I went to get everything cleaned and I found (what I think to be) weed residue next to the sink. I'm Furious. I feel completely violated and uncomfortable being inside the property. I'm sick with worry that they have been using illegal drugs in my home and what the legal ramifications could be!!

Obviously we have their deposit. I was planning to refund it this week. After my discovery today, I now feel incredibly reluctant to make any sort of refund. The idea of supporting/funding their lifestyle makes me very uncomfortable. And they never would have been given permission to abuse my property in this way.

DH seems to think none of this is a problem and seems to completely miss the point - it isn't about cleaning it up - it's about the abuse of our trust.

AIBU?

I will be having stern words with DH about the AirBnB plan. He says we already have bookings so not sure if it's too late to cancel. But I've told him I think it's unworkable.

But you should be doing that between tenancies anyway!

How had your property been abused? What are the ramifications?

So you know the ramifications if not using a deposit scheme?

He's totally unreliable and a bad landlord, who doesn't use a deposit scheme!

I don't think you get much say do you?

Clearly if it's illegal I'll be forced to give it back!! It isn't me who has broken the law. And if it is the world has gone mad. The point isn't the cleaning! It's the fact illegal activities have taken place in a property I own. That surely isn't acceptable and I have a good mind to report it to the police!

I’m just laughing at all the pearl clutching over what may or may not be marijuana.

It’s a legal substance where I live and no one bats an eye about it.

Also yes to a deep clean between tenants. A dust and a Hoover definitely not adequate.

Report it to the police. They won't give a shit if it's a small amount of weed which you aren't even sure about. Stop trying to get people to agree with you that stealing their deposit is ok.

But you have broken the lawn by not lodging the deposit in one of the protected schemes.

Do you have a lot of pigeons on the roof? Check the loft?

What illegal activities are you thinking wee carried out?

Call the police, I'm sure the drug squad will be round post haste!

Are you sure is not just some spiky dried marjoram?

^dried marjoram

Hahaha thanks for the laugh! I'm sure the police will be round like a shot!! If this is even real 🙄What a load of absolute nonsense

This has been entertaining when I can't sleep

You have broken the law. Very frowned upon being a rogue landlord, probably moreso than a bit of weed residue.

Oh dear oh dear

🤣

Sounds like you just want to keep the deposit money and wtf is weed residue?.

Sticky/gunky residue by sink and what I am pretty sure is ground weed on the surface.

But you have broken the law by not protecting the deposit. How you can think it is justified to keep a deposit because of some residue which could just be herbs is beyond me. The audacity is outstanding. You have no right to this money and I hope they come after you for the 3x deposit

Ffs clean it and pay the deposit back. If this is real, you're definitely some piece of work.

Definitely call the police, ring them now! Don't delay!

Bust of the century. 😁

Give the deposit back and thank your lucky stars that the couple don't sue you for not putting the deposit into the protection scheme, they could get 3 x the deposit in compensation if they wanted.
If you're not going to be proper LL'S you'll get caught eventually.

Oh ffs over dramatic 🤣

Why on earth would it need to be "bleached and sterilised" due to what you are assuming is "weed residue". IF it was some remnants of weed in the kitchen there is no evidence that it was smoked inside. IF it was smoked inside there is nothing to be bleached and sterilised. I think you're thinking about homes that have been used as meth labs that need a massive forensic clean to make them safe to inhabit again. This is not the case if someone smokes a joint in your home. It might smell a bit yucky but no different to someone smoking cigarettes in your house, and you would have noticed the smell before seeing any 'residue'. Get a grip.

I can assure you any future deposits would be going into the scheme first thing! And DH will be told about this. One of the advantages DH likes about airBnB is apparently they don't have deposits and you can claim on the insurance for any abuses instead. I still think the idea is ridiculous though and no doubt I'll be expected to clean and sort it out. How can it be that tenants can treat a property like this, break the law and do what they like and apparently it's okay? These are illegal activities!!