Aibu to be pissed off with BIL

[Braveneworld]

Bit of a messy one, but here goes. My best friend (let’s call him X) rented a house from my sister’s husband’s sister because she was moving in with her partner. She told them not to bring their own furniture because she didn’t want to take hers with her, so they got rid of things like fridges, sofas, beds, etc., assuming they’d be there for a couple of years.

Fast forward six months, she splits with her boyfriend and decides she wants the house back immediately. X and his partner tried to negotiate a reasonable timeline and said they could be out in 12 weeks. X works abroad and wasn’t even in the country at the time. Landlord refused and demanded they leave in three weeks or she'd issue proceedings. They said she’d have to take them to court because finding somewhere in three weeks and replacing everything they’d gotten rid of just wasn’t possible.

Court date was today. Landlord turns up with her solicitor and her dad for support. X, meanwhile, had to go alone. Then my BIL (who is married to my sister but has no real stake in this) randomly turns up and starts swearing at him. This is someone who has been on holiday with X, spent Christmas with him, and knows we’re really close—so it feels very personal and unnecessary.

To make matters worse, BIL and the landlord were sat in the waiting room on loudspeaker to my sister, slagging off X in the actual court waiting room. He slammed the door on my friend and blocked his exit to leave the court, and swore at him again.

This was just a procedural issue that could have been dealt with in a straightforward way, but BIL has now made it personal and escalated things unnecessarily.

Now X is devastated, saying he never wants to see them again and doesn’t even feel comfortable around my family anymore. My toxic mother is, of course, taking BIL’s side and telling me I should support my sister because ‘family is family’. When I pointed out BIL didn’t have to get involved, she just trotted out some nonsense about how he and SIL’s sister are ‘really close’.

I’m absolutely furious. This was already a difficult enough situation without BIL inserting himself and making it worse. I feel like I should say something, but I also know it’ll just cause more drama. AIBU to think he should have just stayed out of it? And WIBU to call him out?

All unacceptable.
Did X pay rent? If yes they had to be given a signed tenancy agreement, gas and electric safety certificates and if they paid a deposit that had to be lodged or registered with one of the 3 approved bodies and a copy of the certificate sent to X .
They’d have to be given a minimum of two months notice to move out and the correct paperwork has to be served.
If they’ve paid rent has the owner declared it as income?

Yes they paid 1100 a month!

Would you say something to BIL? Or just ignore and carry on? My best mate was a part of my family, he came on family holidays with us, known my family for years and years, spent Christmases with us all. I feel like his behaviour has impacted on that

So did they have all the the paperwork as above? They are legal requirements —- not optional. If they paid a deposit that wasn’t registered that is taken very seriously. I suggest X gets all the facts together of every failure.
Here’s the full list : https://www.housingrights.org.uk/housing-advice/private-tenants-rights/certificates-and-paperwork#:~:text=Your%20landlord%20is%20legally%20required,deposit%20protection%20information

Once they know what they should have had and didn’t they can get advice from CAB or Shelter on what to do next. Being a landlord is a responsibility and LLs who cut corners really bug me. ( and I was a LL for 20 years)

I go by “ don’t get mad, get even” I’d go through official channels as above. I’d also write to HMRC so they can check the rent was declared as income.
BIL I’d cut dead.

Yeah they did. Although they've since found out landlord didn't do all the gas safety and other admin as she submitted this as soon as she issued proceedings. I suppose my question is less about process but more about BILs behaviour

Thank you! I feel this

BIL sounds like a knob.She wants her flat back ,she’s got to give your friend reasonable time to find somewhere else

I'm glad there's some support here. My mum made it sound like I was the nob for being upset at his behaviour

BIL and the rest are completely in the wrong. Doesn't sound like X resisted moving out at all just asked for time to do so.

Agree with other posters I hope he snitches them to HMRC.

Can you report anonymously?

I believe so yes and honestly HMRC arnt going to be telling them who told them anyway just dropping a tax bill plus fees on them

Thanks for everyone commenting. Do you think it's worth me saying something to BIL or just ignoring?

Your sisters, husbands (BIL) sister is not family. She’s used your friend appallingly. I’d be telling your mother you’re ashamed of the way someone you have been close to was treated this way. You can say something to BIL if you want but what will it do? He’s going to side with his sister and your sister is going to side with him.

id message your friend and apologise for how he’s been treated, but they are not you and you had nothing to do with it.

Hopefully you can build your friendship back up and have a relationship away from your family.

id personally distance myself from ever mixing friends and my family again. I’ve never mixed ever as this would happen in my family. Favours always have strings attached so I keep my personal life very segmented.

Bil and his family have shown you who they are. Now you know to be very wary of them

There's no point is saying anything because they'll turn the same treatment on you but distance yourself. They're not to be trusted.

True I guess so. Just don't know why he gets to treat my friend like this for no reason. His sister chose to be a landlord and rake in the income. She can deal with the consequences of following due process.

I'm also pissed off with my mum for siding with BIL

Any other advice for raising with my BIL? Please!