Page 26 | To keep their deposit!!

LivFG · 2023-11-15T03:20:42+00:00

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?

SwingTheMonkey · 15/11/2023 19:56

@LivFG Oh this just gets better and better! I’ll upgrade my 7/10 to a full 10! Bravo!

itsnotmeitsu · 15/11/2023 19:57

Years ago I lived in various rental properties through the same management agency. I always made sure I left the property as I'd expect to find it, despite not wanting to move out and find somewhere else (six month short-term contracts came in). Eventually I left the area, but several years later moved back. Relocating meant the need to rent until we could move into the property we bought. We were contracted for a six month let, although we were only in the property for four-and-a-half months.

When we left they withheld the deposit. The excuse was that there were ashes in the fireplace so it wasn't clean. We lived there between June and September. The fireplace was like that when we moved in. I wasn't going to clear it, although of course I cleaned the house before we left. So the landlord could get somebody else in after a few months, and also kept our deposit. Unfortunately this was before the rental deposit protection scheme, and we didn't pursue it. Unless they were blind the state of the fireplace should have been noted when doing their inventory.

I still begrudge this 25 years later, and some people should not be allowed to be landlords/ladies.

TeslaTwat · 15/11/2023 20:00

LivFG · 15/11/2023 19:53

There has been a concerted attempt to derail this thread and to turn it into an attack on me. I am absolutely shocked that illegal drug taking is apparently so accepted. I’ve held up my hands and have refunded the deposit (how many more times?). I do think it’s disgraceful that the law is apparently on the side of people who take illegal substances.

Of course I am concerned and sick with worry. For all I know, they’ve been taking illegal drug deliveries and the address will now be on the radar of drug dealers. How do I know the property won’t be raided by the police or be the target of vandals? Drug dealers hardly have a reputation as upstanding members of the community!!

I really wish this was a ’wind up’ thread because the last 24 hours have been hell.

You're hugely missing the point! You have illegally taken money off people. If you didn't do that, what else didn't you do? Gas checks for example? A small amount of potential illegal drug use which the police are not even bothered about is nothing. Sounds like you couldn't smell weed so it probably wasn't weed.

There will be absolute debauchery at your airbnb so you need to get used to it now.

Cosyblankets · 15/11/2023 20:01

LivFG · 15/11/2023 19:53

There has been a concerted attempt to derail this thread and to turn it into an attack on me. I am absolutely shocked that illegal drug taking is apparently so accepted. I’ve held up my hands and have refunded the deposit (how many more times?). I do think it’s disgraceful that the law is apparently on the side of people who take illegal substances.

Of course I am concerned and sick with worry. For all I know, they’ve been taking illegal drug deliveries and the address will now be on the radar of drug dealers. How do I know the property won’t be raided by the police or be the target of vandals? Drug dealers hardly have a reputation as upstanding members of the community!!

I really wish this was a ’wind up’ thread because the last 24 hours have been hell.

So have you got all your certificates etc? Have you changed your landlord insurance over to holiday let insurance?
I seem to have missed that bit.

CurlewKate · 15/11/2023 20:05

@LivFG I honestly don't think you need to worry. If there was any serious drug activity going on in the house, you'd be able to smell dope when you open the door.

listsandbudgets · 15/11/2023 20:06

Please calm down OP. Try not to be so upset. I very much doubt that the house is on your local drug dealers regular call list.

Certainly dope is illegal but it's use is wide spread and there is even a lot of support for legalising it as well as it having some indications in certain illnesses. OK it's not ideal but it's not as if they were running a crack house or been injecting heroin and leaving piles of needles and syringes.

Have a hot bath, put on some comfy PJs and have a drink and put it all behind you - dwelling on it will not help you at all.

What's done, is done - deposits gone back - move on

Wishiwasatailor · 15/11/2023 20:08

How do you know that it’s weed and even if it was that it wasn’t prescribed medical marijuana?

AelinGalathynius · 15/11/2023 20:08

Fucking hell this keeps getting better and better 🤣 So they have gone from being perfectly acceptable tenants who paid their rent on time, to disgraceful people who smoke weed, and now fully escalated to drug dealers likely to be target of a police raid?! OP I have to ask, are you the one on drugs here? Few too many cocktails? You honestly sound unhinged!

Hmmm33 · 15/11/2023 20:09

OP. Please don't rent out again. You've been acting illegally as a landlord. The deposit protection scheme is there for this exact reason, to stop landlords taking money from deposits for non valid reasons. You're talking about a tenant acting illegally when you and your husbands have been acting illegally also.

If you reported them to the police, nothing would come of it. If they took you to court (regardless of the fact you've returned their full deposit), they will get more money off you. You basically need to pray for the next 6 years they don't realise you've acted illegally.

Just makes me wonder what other legalities you and your husband have forgotten about for your rentals?

You're outraged at your tenants potentially illegally possessing weed but don't seem very outraged at your breaking of the law?

Ontheperiphery79 · 15/11/2023 20:09

This has been one of the most entertaining threads of the Autumn. Thank you, @LivFG!

Whiteday · 15/11/2023 20:09

LivFG · 15/11/2023 19:53

There has been a concerted attempt to derail this thread and to turn it into an attack on me. I am absolutely shocked that illegal drug taking is apparently so accepted. I’ve held up my hands and have refunded the deposit (how many more times?). I do think it’s disgraceful that the law is apparently on the side of people who take illegal substances.

Of course I am concerned and sick with worry. For all I know, they’ve been taking illegal drug deliveries and the address will now be on the radar of drug dealers. How do I know the property won’t be raided by the police or be the target of vandals? Drug dealers hardly have a reputation as upstanding members of the community!!

I really wish this was a ’wind up’ thread because the last 24 hours have been hell.

I think without doubt that's going to happen, if it was mine I'd burn it down.

It's doomed, the airbnb guests will be plagued by a string of dealers and addicts!

YetMoreNewBeginnings · 15/11/2023 20:11

LivFG · 15/11/2023 19:53

There has been a concerted attempt to derail this thread and to turn it into an attack on me. I am absolutely shocked that illegal drug taking is apparently so accepted. I’ve held up my hands and have refunded the deposit (how many more times?). I do think it’s disgraceful that the law is apparently on the side of people who take illegal substances.

Of course I am concerned and sick with worry. For all I know, they’ve been taking illegal drug deliveries and the address will now be on the radar of drug dealers. How do I know the property won’t be raided by the police or be the target of vandals? Drug dealers hardly have a reputation as upstanding members of the community!!

I really wish this was a ’wind up’ thread because the last 24 hours have been hell.

Pointing out your illegal actions is not derailing the thread.

If you want to be worried sick about something be worried sick about the tenants taking you to court over the deposit issue.

Id also be checking the rest of your DH’s admin to make sure he hasn’t broke the law in any other ways that could see you face a fine.

And maybe you should have a bit of gratitude that the tenants you’re so desperate to slate accepted your invalid notice to leave and left.

OCDmama · 15/11/2023 20:12

You really don't accept you've committed an offence yourself do you OP?

You've referred to an alleged 'weed residue' (and no one really knows what this means), and are clutching your pearls.

Meanwhile, you causally admit to committing an actual crime - not protecting the deposit in a registered scheme.

Wishitsnows · 15/11/2023 20:13

Lucky you did give their delist back as you have broken the law by taking a deposit and not putting it into a deposit scheme. If they were aware you could be made to pay them 3 x the deposit. You should never be a landlord and I pity anyone who stays in your Airbnb.

Wishitsnows · 15/11/2023 20:15

Doubt you paid tax on the additional income seeing as you are a dodgy landlord.

reesewithoutaspoon · 15/11/2023 20:18

Honestly, you're acting like it was crack cocaine or something. The police couldn't be arsed about the odd joint. You really have led a sheltered life if you are losing your mind over a joint.

Livingtothefull · 15/11/2023 20:19

LivFG · 15/11/2023 19:53

There has been a concerted attempt to derail this thread and to turn it into an attack on me. I am absolutely shocked that illegal drug taking is apparently so accepted. I’ve held up my hands and have refunded the deposit (how many more times?). I do think it’s disgraceful that the law is apparently on the side of people who take illegal substances.

Of course I am concerned and sick with worry. For all I know, they’ve been taking illegal drug deliveries and the address will now be on the radar of drug dealers. How do I know the property won’t be raided by the police or be the target of vandals? Drug dealers hardly have a reputation as upstanding members of the community!!

I really wish this was a ’wind up’ thread because the last 24 hours have been hell.

I am really sorry that this has been hell for you (small violin). Hopefully you will have sympathy for your ex-tenants who have been deprived of their home to enable you to make a few extra bob.

'Thank you for all of your good wishes (not)'.

Speaking for myself I don't actually wish you any harm or to attack you. But I do think you are probably too dim to be a landlord; I don't know you of course, but your every post on here screams 'dim'. I & people I know have had too many run ins with greedy/unscrupulous and difficult landlords in the past to enable me to have a lot of sympathy for you.

Mistymist · 15/11/2023 20:19

How the hell do you know what really happened in that house an how do you know it's weed whatever you have found in the kitchen?
Everybody is telling YABU , but you keep ranting about illegal stuff happening, breaking the law, and disrespecting your house, yet you have no evidence.
The truth is you wanted to keep the deposit, hoped MN would agree with you, backtracked and now you are still trying to convince us that everybody is in the wrong.
But don't worry, you've managed to cheer up quite a few of us!

Sjh15 · 15/11/2023 20:21

The words
’WHAT I THINK TO BE’
there’s no proof. Refund the deposit, it’s protected and I doubt ‘I think they might have stored weed at my property’ will be a reason not to give it back.
just don’t rent to them again.
There will be no legal repercussions if they have because there will have been repercussions already.

freetheunicorn · 15/11/2023 20:24

What an overreaction. You do realise you can get a Cannabis Prescription legally?

zeibesaffron · 15/11/2023 20:25

Completely unreasonable- you should be doing a full clean anyway and what ramifications? you can clearly show you weren’t living there at the time and tbh the police are not going be interested in weed residue (if it that!)

MinnieL · 15/11/2023 20:26

I still don't think it's right that tenants can engage in illegal activities (for which they could be imprisoned!)

You get a warning for personal drug use in the majority of cases. The fact that you think they could be imprisoned is just so ridiculous🤣🤣🤣 your additional comments are also ridiculous. Good luck with the Air BnB. You cowboys wouldn’t last two months

DrRichardWebber · 15/11/2023 20:27

You can’t justify yourself acting illegally by saying ‘we’ve had 101 things on’. That’s not a good enough excuse for not doing the very basics of being a landlord and using a deposit protection scheme.

If this is real I cannot wait for what happens when you start to AirBnB. I used to live near one that was rented out for an absolutely out of control party. You know the kind that destroys the house.

Hibiscrubbed · 15/11/2023 20:27

LivFG · 15/11/2023 19:53

There has been a concerted attempt to derail this thread and to turn it into an attack on me. I am absolutely shocked that illegal drug taking is apparently so accepted. I’ve held up my hands and have refunded the deposit (how many more times?). I do think it’s disgraceful that the law is apparently on the side of people who take illegal substances.

Of course I am concerned and sick with worry. For all I know, they’ve been taking illegal drug deliveries and the address will now be on the radar of drug dealers. How do I know the property won’t be raided by the police or be the target of vandals? Drug dealers hardly have a reputation as upstanding members of the community!!

I really wish this was a ’wind up’ thread because the last 24 hours have been hell.

Now I know you’re taking the piss. I bet it was a bit of old gunge from a neglected basil plant. 😂

Screwcorona · 15/11/2023 20:28

YABU both for trying to keep their deposit AND for removing people from their home to change to Airbnb. It's decimated my local community.