Shared housing: another housemate took DD's room

[LostInTheWeeds]

DD is due to return to uni next week into a shared student house. The rooms had been allocated by lottery. However, one of the other students has moved in early and installed herself in DD's room. She is refusing to move to her own room. DD very upset by this. Landlord wont' get involved. Any idea what we should do?

They have already indicated they won’t get involved. The students don’t support the DD enough to join in with tactics such as throwing her stuff out. As for the childish suggestion of stealing her food and toiletries! Didn’t anyone teach posters that two wrongs don’t make a right? Don’t stoop so low. Learn the lessons and move on!

Why would the others get involved in this sort of nonsense? They're housemates, not friends. The others probably couldn't give a toss which one of them gets which room, and almost certainly not to the extent of engaging in this sort of strong arm shenanigans.

If I were a flat mate I would be getting involved. These people entered into a legal agreement together to rent a flat. Then made a verbal agreement which one has now broken. If there are no repercussions she and others will have no incentive to abide by any rules the group sets forth. She’s not going to treat any of them with respect. I would be very vocal about this.

@Maireas
It was my great gran that threw the purse out. I’m not sure what I would do, but if I ever needed someone out of my own house I’d definitely do this or similar. I still marvel at the ingenuity of this 93 year old woman.

I think 30 years ago I would have just moved the girl’s stuff out of the room and maybe even out of the flat altogether. Then claim I had no idea what happened. Today, I would probably not do that and I would probably just find a new flat, also. The OP’s daughter seems very mature.

@AliceOlive Well you are not a flatmate and they have backed off. So deal in reality. Not your imagination.

Because if she pulls this shitty move after all had been agreed, what else will she do in day to day life that will affect all housemates.

I would have gone in, moved her stuff and fitted a lock. Sometimes you just need to stand up to bullies such as this housemate.

The thing is the original allocation was not fair on the housemate who got the bad room with no incentive.Your dd was very happy for this person to get the shiy end of the stick but doesnt like it when the tables are turned.

Although I do absolutely agree with you @Charlingspont I don't think you become a ballsy person straight away, having very uncomfortable conversations with dickheads at 19.

If this kind of twattish behaviour happens again to OP's DD, I would hope she uses this example and nips this kind of shit in the bud. It's a learning curve.

I'd be pouring oil on this one not setting fire to it.

DD is in a shared house of 5. All of them are from abroad. One of the girls got them to move her stuff in while she'd already left and then didn't tried to get a different room. They went for a first come first served basis.

DD as lead tenant was feeling pretty fed up with it all before she even went back.

I think it's unfortunate for your DD and yes, unjust but I think the alternatives are worse for your DD. So I'd be advising her to certainly have a rant at the girl but if that doesn't work it's tough. The likelihood of everyone thanking your DD for pulling them into her issue is zero. And yes that's also unfair.

I'd wait a couple of weeks for people to drop out and there are rooms. I'd rather pay to stay in a hotel than be in a house with a snake line that.
The landlord would chase the rent from those in the house rather then the person that never moved in. So the house mates would be forced to try to chase for the missing rent. Back to the point of a verbal contact with house share members. They broke that contract.

That’s patently not true. OP’s daughter is libel for the rent and the landlord would come after her and her guarantor.

I've been in a similar situation and did just that. The landlord contract is usually a joint one, without specific split of liability (because then the rooms would be individually let). This is a problem if one person leaves, the others need to make up the shortfall, or get evicted. The landlord cannot really pursue one individual, he has to treat the whole house as one.

Obviously check the contract.

Fun uni experience - living in a hotel! No one does this. Many uni cities are short of rooms. Many students do have guarantors for their rent. Landlords know if one student defaults, the others cannot make up the shortfall so will come after the guarantor. That’s normal with student lets.

@Wallywobbles I think it’s difficult for students to navigate around the politics of flat rental. In future, draw lots for the rooms. Yes, this DD has had an issue, but for many it works out. Secondly: price differentially if they agree to this. Some rooms might be generous whilst others are small. Price slightly less for anything that’s obviously small. Not a huge amount of course. Then if a student wants to pay more for a bigger room, they swap that room for a bigger slightly pricier one. It’s usually not difficult to find someone wanting a cheaper room.

Rude

@AliceOlive It is not remotely rude! You haven’t read the thread. The op made it clear the flat mates were not interested in action. What you would do in different circumstances is not really relevant. Therefore it’s usually helpful to post on the actual situation, not what you would like it to be - that’s all.

Yeah, hearing something you don’t like doesn’t make it rude, lol.

In future, draw lots for the rooms.

This. Is. What. They. Did.

I read the entire thread. Clearly you didn’t. I was responding to a specific exchange.

You get aggressive with a complete stranger online that’s never even engaged with you and don’t even recognize it’s rude. You clearly haven’t been in this situation either but think you know what you would do and how it would work out. Not someone that should be giving out advice.

Lack of reading comprehension.

No.
My comprehension is just fine. Unless you meant yours?

Little name change fail there?

Exactly! Super fun seeing someone to tell others they didn’t read the thread then post this, 11 pages in. 🤣

Also, asking a question “why would the other flatmates get involved?” then insulting people under multiple user names for answering it.

This is why we can’t have nice things.

I said draw lots and price differentially. Then negotiate room swaps if necessary. Anyway. This is so boring now! Pragmatism always is the answer and start again in a few months for next years rental.