Asking lodger to leave early

[Jemblue101]

Hi all, I have a lodger and he originally said we wanted somewhere for 4 months, has now been just over 2 but I'm finding it really stressful and I can't relax in my own home. There has also been some minor damage in the bathroom.

I want to give him notice now to leave a month early (he will have a month notice) am I out of order?

I've given it a chance and took the lodger out of financial desperation. But hate it. Equally it might then become awkward for the final month :(

I would just put up with it for the two months, it will be a lot more awkward if you give him notice and will only be a difference of 4 weeks even then if you do that, likely with that time being spent walking on eggshells.

It’s your home do what makes you feel most comfortable.

You are not being unreasonable - but I think I might suck it up for one more month if they are going to struggle to find somewhere else. However, if there are plenty of Airbnbs in the area then they should be able to manage.

I do keep thinking that, but (this may sound pathetic) but it's having a big toll on my mental health. I'm on edge and am getting nausea. The problem is I happened to hear the incident that caused the damage, he never actually told me, I had to speak to him, so what else is happening that he may have done and not said.

It's my first home and I take good care of things, and he told me he did too...

It's affecting your mental health and causing nausea?

Is there something else going on

I've had a lot of things at once going on the past few months, so feel if I could at least relax at home it would help. It's only a small place and I'm stuck in my bedroom most of the time now which doesn't feel good.

It's up to you really. I wouldn't feel particularly bad about it if it is intolerable to live with them.

When you say damage to bathroom, in what way? How much did it cost to fix? Was it a reasonable accident?

If they haven't really been awful and you're just not suited to living with lodgers in general, I'd say try and hold steady for the extra month. But if you feel they've not acted decently then it's fine to give notice.

Sorry you're in this situation. You can definitely ask him to leave sooner. Is there a firm date set for him leaving at the moment? He might have been planning to stay longer anyway.

You can ask anyone to leave your home at any point op and for any reason.

The relief you will feel once you've told him will be wonderful.

Best of luck.

It can be awkward having someone in your personal space, are you female? I guess that adds a different dynamic to it.

It's only 8 more weeks, I'd just ride it out. He'll soon be gone.

These are the legal requirements OP:

Overview

Yes, in most cases, you can ask a lodger to leave earlier than the end of their notice period, but it's crucial to follow legal procedures and ensure the lodger is treated fairly. A key factor is whether the lodger is an excluded occupier or has basic protection, which affects the eviction process.

Here's a breakdown of the key considerations:
Excluded Occupier:
If your lodger shares living space (kitchen, bathroom, living room) with you or your family, they are likely an excluded occupier. In this case, you only need to give them "reasonable notice" to leave, which is usually the length of their rental payment period (e.g., a week's notice if they pay weekly, a month's notice if they pay monthly).This notice doesn't need to be in writing.

Basic Protection:
If the lodger doesn't share living space and has their own separate entrance or living area, they may have basic protection. In this case, you'll need to provide them with a written "notice to quit" and the notice period will usually be around 4 weeks. If they refuse to leave after the notice period, you may need to seek a court order to evict them.

Agreeing to Leave:
If both you and the lodger agree, you can terminate the agreement at any time.

Reasonable Notice:
If you don't have a fixed-term agreement, or if the fixed term has ended, you'll need to give "reasonable notice" to your lodger to leave.

Notice Period:
The notice period should be the same as the rental payment period unless otherwise stated in a written agreement. For example, if rent is paid monthly, you should give at least one month's notice.

Written Notice:
If your lodger has basic protection, you'll need to provide a written notice to quit.

Avoiding Problems:
If you are having issues with your lodger, try to address them calmly and document any problems. If you can't resolve the issues, seek legal advice.

In summary, while you can ask a lodger to leave earlier, it's essential to follow the correct legal procedures based on their tenancy type. Ensure you provide the appropriate notice and consider seeking legal advice if you encounter any difficulties.

I had lodgers for years. I asked a guy to leave once because he was an absolute terror and kept leaving me notes complaining about things, but then also kept leaving me gifts. He only came out at night and I hardly ever saw him but just hearing him scurrying around in his room filled me with dread. It went on for months and absolutely took a toll on my mental health.

Your home is your safe space. When there’s someone in it making you feel uncomfortable, it’s horrible.

Give him notice and explain that your circumstances have changed or something. Hopefully that will curtail any bad feeling.

Honestly as some who also rents out a room you are being unreasonable, It will be very hard for the lodger to find somewhere for such a short period.
I think the onus was on you to have considered the impact this would have on you beforehand.

How? With a crystal ball?

I think a month notice is fair. I had no idea I would find it so hard.

@heroinechic gave you a good tip. Make up something personal such as a family member has become homeless. Anything so he knows it isn’t personal (even if it is).

What exactly happened in the bathroom? I think for the sake of four extra weeks I’d just leave it, as it does seem a bit unfair on him. Was there any contract saying he’d be there exactly four months or anything? But that said, it’s your home, up to you ultimately!

The problem with this is that the lodger might be thinking everything is okay and they’ll be allowed to stay on. I think OP has to tell them now that there will be no extension to the agreement so the tenant can start looking for something else now.

I don’t think you should ride it out. I would be asking him to leave asap and give him a week.

There’s been loads of lodger threads on here and they usually say tell them to leave not stick it out.

It seems a bit mean when he wanted somewhere for four months, you want him to leave a month earlier, so he will likely have difficulty finding a place for only one month. For the sake of a month, I’d just suck it up.

If it had been an indefinite arrangement, then it would be more reasonable to give him notice.

Having been a lodger, which is not exactly comfy either, I'd implore you to look in to your heart and wait it out, if you possibly can! Give him two months notice so he has plenty of time. He'll appreciate it and might have something specific planned for the end of the 4 months.

The minor break is not ideal and i hope he apologised, but it's such a gigantic ball ache moving about and being treated as an inconvenience. The anxiety sounds like a you problem. Definitely please, please don't do anything as heartless as give him a week's notice!

Hard disagree.

As a lodger he doesn't have rights. You can get him to leave at any time, notice not required as a pp said.

It's a business transaction.

Excellent advice from @thebraveryofbeingoutofrange . A month's notice is fine, even generous for a lodger. The legal notice period is lower precisely because it is not fair for you to be uncomfortable in your own home.