Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Asking lodger to leave. Does he have rights?

229 replies

MrsRaspberry · 15/01/2025 22:24

I am a lone parent and have 2 adult children as well as 3 younger ones. One of my adult children asked if her friend could come to stay with us as his home situation wasn't good(he lived in supported accommodation and said it affected his mental health)I know this friend and agreed. He's here on the understanding that it wasn't permanent and he needed to sort out something with the homeless team. 8months later and he's still here doing nothing to help his living situation. I feel he's taking the piss. My 8 year old is saying she hates him as he winds her up purposely then shouts when she retaliates. He has doubled my bills with his eating habits he takes everything in excess leaving little without a thought that others need to eat. He puts the heating on and has upped my gas bill hugely. He does pay board as such £100 per month which doesn't even cover the extra food I have to buy to replace everything he uses let alone the fact that my other bills have gone up as he sits up all night using my internet leaving lights on and leaving heating on.he doesn't do his laundry he seems to expect me to do it and leaves all his dirty clothing in my bathroom he doesn't wash up after himself and he doesn't even purchase his own toiletries. He barely washes and just sleeps all day to the point I can't even have visitors as he makes them feel uncomfortable as he's sofa surfing at mine.(My house isn't big enough to give him a bedroom) I have given him 2 weeks to sort out somewhere permanent to live as we can no longer tolerate feeling like we can't even enjoy our home without him literally waiting for visitors to leave and making it obvious that he doesn't want them there. He even tried to tell me my eldest cannot come to my house unless I'm here at home which to be honest if she wants to come over she's allowed to as she sometimes likes to be here when I come home from work. He's told a mutual friend that I've been unreasonable to ask him to move out and now he's making me uncomfortable in my own home as he keeps giving sly nasty looks all the time. There's no tenancy agreement or anything but does he have any rights to not leave?as I have a feeling he's going to try to make it difficult to get him to leave

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
pinkyredrose · 20/01/2025 17:07

Abitofalark · 20/01/2025 15:49

He is a lodger, contrary to what has been posted on here. As such, he has a right to reasonable notice to leave. Usually reasonable notice would be deemed a week for someone who pays weekly or a month's notice for someone who pays monthly but it's not a fixed rule that must be adhered to in all cases; there could be circumstances where you need someone to leave sooner (or even with no notice), e g because of their unreasonable behaviour; that could range from a threat or danger to you or others or refusing to pay for his lodging or causing you severe difficulties such as disrupting your family life or running up bills you cannot afford to pay or generally refusing to cooperate in any way to the point of disruption and disrespect to you, your children, your house and family generally.

Did you give him notice in writing? The advantage of doing that is that you would have evidence of having given reasonable notice. He can't argue that you didn't give him any notice. You could follow up the notice with a written reminder that he is due to leave on a specific date according to the prior notice and make clear that he will not be allowed to live in the house after that date.

You can advise him to take his belongings with him but if he leaves any behind, legally you have to keep them for a reasonable period to allow him to collect them. After that you could dispose of them.

At the practical level of getting him out you mentioned his having lived previously at the YMCA - since they know him, have you thought of contacting the YMCA, explaining the problems you are having with him and asking if they can help you out by giving him temporary accommodation so that he leaves?

If he refuses to leave, you would be wise to get advice from the CAB, local law centre, Shelter or a solicitor about the legal position and liabilities, before taking action such as locking him out and leaving his belongings outside. If necessary, you could call the police for assistance if he refuses to go and tensions escalate. @

Edited

He wasn't a lodger, there was no tenancy agreement, he was on the sofa ffs!

Maddy70 · 20/01/2025 17:08

Give him a month's notice

September1013 · 20/01/2025 17:09

Maddy70 · 20/01/2025 17:08

Give him a month's notice

Given that she’d already given him two week’s notice when she posted and has now thrown him out, I think this advice may be redundant.

Emmz1510 · 20/01/2025 17:14

Hankunamatata · 15/01/2025 22:30

He was in assisted living? Which he has given up and has intentionally made himself homeless?

Is there a chance he doesn't qualify for help as he gave up supported accomadation

None of which is OP problem

Londonrach1 · 20/01/2025 17:17

Well done op. He had no rights as you know And well done for getting rid of him.

Pherian · 20/01/2025 17:17

Thank F* he’s gone. I hope things settle and get back to normal for you.

Emmz1510 · 20/01/2025 17:24

If you want to at least try to resolve this, give him a list of issues he has to resolve before you’ll consider letting him stay.
But you are perfectly within your rights to ask him to leave. As an unofficial lodger with no formal written agreement has limited rights beyond to get reasonable notice. Speak to CAB if you want to make absolutely sure.
Ask the Police to help you get him to leave, especially as he is intimidating you with nasty looks.

Hwi · 20/01/2025 17:24

What does the contract say?

Oblomov25 · 20/01/2025 17:25

Please grow a pair, and say you're sorry but he has to leave.

pinkyredrose · 20/01/2025 17:26

Hwi · 20/01/2025 17:24

What does the contract say?

What contract?

Maddy70 · 20/01/2025 17:27

September1013 · 20/01/2025 17:09

Given that she’d already given him two week’s notice when she posted and has now thrown him out, I think this advice may be redundant.

Damn the android app ...you can't see updates

Hwi · 20/01/2025 17:32

pinkyredrose · 20/01/2025 17:26

What contract?

The tenancy contract

Emmz1510 · 20/01/2025 17:33

Saw your update OP, well done, glad it’s sorted. Hope he doesn’t have a key! If so, time to change the locks.

RockOrAHardplace · 20/01/2025 17:39

@MrsRaspberry

Oh wow, I think you are having a tough ride on here.

If my family had a friend in need and he had no-where to go, given how long they have known him, I would have probably let him stay too. I think its a really kind thing you did and sadly, sometimes, no good deed goes unpunished.

Sometimes the persona they project to their friends and the reality can be two vastly different things. He was onto a good thing and he still abused your kindness and generosity.

He is not a tenant or a lodger, he is a sofa surfer and you must call him that on any paperwork as sofa surfers do not have tenancy rights, they are considered "Licensees" meaning they can be asked to leave at any time so if you encounter any difficulties you might want to seek legal advice to ensure the process goes smoothly.

Write him a letter, explaining you agreed to let him sofa surf short term whilst he sorted out somewhere to live and unfortunately you have seen little real effort on his behalf to address his situation after more than 8 months. Explain that due to the issues he is creating in your home and the significant costs you are incurring, its not sustainable and as per the discussion on X date, you have every right to ask him to leave immediately but in consideration for his situation, you gave him 2 weeks notice to leave the home with all of his possessions. That means that by x (time) on x date, he needs to have vacated the premises with all his possessions and redirected any post/notified the benefit system that he no longer resides there.

By giving him this in writing you are clarifying that this is not a case of breaking a tenancy agreement so he has no rights but also that you have given him ample opportunity and that he can present this letter for emergency housing.

Make sure you give him it in writing and make sure you change the locks as soon as he leaves.

Your generosity has been taken advantage of but now the impact on your family and financial wellbeing is at its limits so he needs to go.

If he ends up homeless, this will not be your fault. You offered him way more than he deserved and far from being grateful, or being on his best behaviour, it sounds like his behaviour deteriorated and he abused your good nature and your family. Who knows what he did to those he felt HAD to help him, i.e. his Mum and the supported housing residents. Do not let his "friend" in, if they arrive, lock the door and take stuff to the door for him and hand it over.

At some point, individuals need to take responsibility for themselves and he is no longer a child. He needs a wake up call.

Good luck and stay strong.

Scottsy200 · 20/01/2025 17:51

You need to get him out now no matter where he has to go, he will continue to take the piss, he is treating your home as if I’m he was an ungrateful teenager which we all get at some point but he isn’t your responsibility, pack his stuff and just make him leave

Tahlbias · 20/01/2025 17:54

2 weeks was generous! I would have kicked him out there and then!

pinkyredrose · 20/01/2025 17:58

Hwi · 20/01/2025 17:32

The tenancy contract

There wasn't one.

KmcK87 · 20/01/2025 18:00

YANBU to ask him to leave.

YABU to have put your young child in this position and despite her telling you she’s not comfortable, you still have him in your house.

MrsMoastyToasty · 20/01/2025 18:00

I hope you've changed the locks and got a security camera.

KmcK87 · 20/01/2025 18:01

KmcK87 · 20/01/2025 18:00

YANBU to ask him to leave.

YABU to have put your young child in this position and despite her telling you she’s not comfortable, you still have him in your house.

Glad to see he’s gone. Do not allow strangers into your home, 99% of the time they take the absolute piss.

Peaceandquietandacuppa · 20/01/2025 18:06

Merryoldgoat · 15/01/2025 22:33

What? You thought as a single parent on an 8 year old having a vulnerable man who was in supported housing sleeping on your sofa was a good idea?

What is going on? Seriously. Does no one know how to say no anymore?

I sometimes feel like I’m a nutcase reading threads like this as I literally don’t understand how this happens.

Me too!

Voneska · 20/01/2025 18:11

Its very important to keep your cool as otherwise this freeloader will try and be unreasonable to trigger a situation where YOU LOSE. So Be very reasonable. Write a formal letter saying: It is not possible for you to stay any longer and you need to vacate by : such and such a day. ( Don't worry this is legal) Stay as calm as you can. ...worst case is he won't go. If I was you I would fit a second mortice lock on the front door then when the eviction day comes and goes you can just flip the lock then get the other lock changed asap. The Law says that if Landlord lives on premises , lodger has zero rights except to get reasonable notice to leave .Ignore anyone who tells you different.

Throwawayaccount1 · 20/01/2025 18:13

What a massive relief for you OP. it's so sad that it went this way when I'm sure you were imagining giving this kid a helping hand to get themselves sorted and thriving.
Please tell me you celebrated with take away and wine!

LadeOde · 20/01/2025 18:18

How many times are people going to be told BEFORE they post, the young man was NEVER a lodger. OP is not his landlord. There is NO CONTRACT whatsoever in place AND HE HAS GONE!!!

Marcipix · 20/01/2025 18:24

Good riddance. Change the locks ASAP.