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Legal matters

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Flip

Original poster

live-in housekeeper of deceased relative

21 replies

Jason878 · 14/12/2023 21:15

what can i do about a live-in housekeeper of deceased relative. She was paid til the end of the month, can I ask her to move out or do I have get and eviction notice from the courts?

OP posts:

LadyGaGasPokerFace · 14/12/2023 21:30

I would’ve thought that their contract ended when the relative died. In which case they need to move out in a reasonable amount of time.

VeniVidiWeeWee · 14/12/2023 23:24

Jason878 · 14/12/2023 21:15

what can i do about a live-in housekeeper of deceased relative. She was paid til the end of the month, can I ask her to move out or do I have get and eviction notice from the courts?

You can ask, but what do you do if she says no?

I suspect negotiation will be key here.

tescocreditcard · 14/12/2023 23:28

What does her contract say. It's usually 2 months notice for carers and housekeepers.

crumpet · 14/12/2023 23:29

Check her contract but also think about what the decent thing to do in terms of the actual amount if notice to give.

Gingerkittykat · 14/12/2023 23:52

It seems pretty heartless to throw someone out between Christmas and New Year.

tescocreditcard · 15/12/2023 00:01

Gingerkittykat · 14/12/2023 23:52

It seems pretty heartless to throw someone out between Christmas and New Year.

It's very unlikely they would be able to do so even if they wanted to. I worked with live in staff for the elderly for many years and all of them had a 2 month notice contract if their client went into hospital or a care home.

Most of them don't have any other home in the UK to go to anyway and have to find another placement, which is why 2 months is allowed. They don't just have to find another job, they have to find somewhere to live too.

2 months was the contractually obligated minimum though. Many carers left earlier if they had another placement lined up and many left a few weeks later with the families continuing to house them but not pay them (although most did)

SM4713 · 15/12/2023 00:09

I'm sorry for your loss OP

Do you have a copy of the housekeepers contract? It should be in there hopefully. Have you spoken to them and asked what THEY are planning to do? They are likely looking for future employment ASAP. I'd keep communications civil and open until you get the full facts.

Realist2022 · 15/12/2023 03:46

You will also need to consider whether any redundancy is due. When my DM died we served notice on her (not live in) carer the next day (we employed her directly and exclusively) and paid her statutory redundancy and then a bit of a bonus, and pay in lieu of notice. She helped for a few days return all equipment etc and then came to the funeral. Not sure though of the additional obligations with a live in person.

Original poster

Jason878 · 15/12/2023 06:38

I should have added she has been paid up to the end of January and I don’t expect her to move out till then. I’ve not found the contact yet, but I wasn’t sure what legal right she has to stay after January.

OP posts:

tescocreditcard · 15/12/2023 08:16

Ask her for a copy of the contract she will have one as well.

Does she have a place to live in the uk?

determinedtomakethiswork · 15/12/2023 08:38

She doesn't have a legal right to stay there after January, but I think depending on your relationship with her and her relationship with the deceased, I would be prepared to be a bit more lax about dates.

Original poster

Jason878 · 26/12/2023 09:05

Update, the short version is the housekeeper was caught red handed trying to ship all the silverware to her sister in the Philippines and we have not managed to find any of the jewellery in the house 😡. Police were called, nothing was done, locks were changed. Housekeeper was told to arrange a suitable time to pick up the rest of her stuff in the new year.

OP posts:

SM4713 · 26/12/2023 09:17

OMG!!! Thanks for the update OP, but how awful. I'd be concerned about what else was being nicked whilst the relative was still alive, or if they were persuaded to get cash out for the housekeeper/thief! 😡

SausageCasseroles · 26/12/2023 09:20

Wow was not expecting that! Your poor family.

Oblomov23 · 26/12/2023 10:39

Sorry to read that.

Jioyt · 26/12/2023 10:59

Sorry for your loss, OP. Your update changes the whole perspective. Why didn't the Police do anything? In light of what the housekeeper has done, I would make it clear that end of Jan. is when she should leave. No matter what the contract says. And I wouldn't be giving them any bonus or redundancy either. Just the salary. I would go further and offer a letter of termination giving reasons for why termination has been made at that time so there is nothing left to wonder about. Especially if she threatens legal action for a shakedown.

Snippit · 26/12/2023 11:16

Wow, what a deceitful person, that’s awful for you. The fact that the police have done bugger all is shocking. I wouldn’t even pay her salary at the end of January, I’d hope she wouldn’t kick up a stink after what she’s done.

tescocreditcard · 26/12/2023 13:01

Ship all the silverware to the Phillipines!!!!!!!

Silver is heavy, and cheap. It will surely cost her more to ship it than it's worth anyway.

She shouldn't have taken the jewellery obviously, but, anything small and valuable should be removed from a vulnerable persons home for safekeeping - anything could happen to it.

If the police are involved but declined to press charges than I'm guessing she's said that the silverware and jewellery were given to her. Difficult to prove otherwise unfortunately when someone has already passed away.

It's a horrid thing to have to deal with on top of losing a loved one.

Is there any chance you can put in a complaint to the agency?

yesyouareyouare · 26/12/2023 15:50

Just dump her stuff outside in black bags. Text her telling her that they're there. If she doesn't pick them up, dump them.

Original poster

Jason878 · 26/12/2023 16:06

We think they may have already shipped one box back home, it would explain the missing jewellery.

OP posts:

Original poster

Jason878 · 26/12/2023 16:14

She was a private hire, the silverware was antique with a value of about 2k, my cousins passing was unexpected, she had a heart attack at 50 😢, the box had about £1000 worth of clothes in too, my cousin was like a sister but she had very expensive taste.

OP posts:

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