Friend refusing to leave

[4seasons]

My daughter allowed a friend to stay in her rented flat until the friend found herself alternative accomodation. She had been evicted due to non payment of her rent. The friend has a good job with a good salary . She has been there 6 weeks now and shows no willingness to move out and has made no effort to find elsewhere to live. She does not contribute to rent or bills. She is driving my daughter mad with her behaviour and has been told to leave at the end of the month. My daughter has been very ill and needs to rest but this worry is not helping. Are there any legal rights this friend has re staying in my daughters flat ?

Is your daughter currently living in the flat as well?

She’s only a licence. Sounds like she’s been told to leave. Next step is to change the locks and put her stuff in boxes as soon as the notice she’s been given is up.

I think I would just put her stuff outside while she is at work and change the locks. It’s very unlikely she would spend the time and money on making a claim.

Friend has no rights she is a guest.

She can just pack her stuff up and change the locks when she is out. Then text her to arrange a time to collect her belongings.

Your DD should also say that if they are not collected within 14 days they will be disposed of.

She's a sociopathic freeloader, just lock the b1tch out!

If your daughter lives there as well, she is an excluded occupier (lodger) and has no rights and can just be removed.

If your daughter doesn't live there, she may be a tenant in which case it's going to be more difficult.

I’m not sure this is right, she’s not paying anything towards the flat, and it doesn’t sound as if she agreed to pay before she moved in. She’s an unwanted guest, and has no legal standing.

Box her stuff up when she’s at work and leave it outside. This is no friend to your dd. Make sure people are with your dd at the time she collects so she can’t worm her way in. Also, change the locks.

This

Thank you for your responses. My daughter is also living there and is the tenant who pays the rent. My daughter has a text she sent her giving her a deadline of 30 th April. She’s also spoken to her. I’ve told my daughter to tell her friend that I am coming to stay on the 30 th and am happy to help her pack ! I was worried that this woman had legal rights to stay there . I am happy to call the police if necessary. Unfortunately my daughter may have to go back into hospital in the next few days and is concerned that this “ friend “ will use this to her advantage.

You daughter needs to change the locks as soon as friend is out even if friend gives back her key. She may well have made copies at any point in the last few weeks.

Are you able to go to your daughter's to stay when she is due to go into hospital so the flat isn't empty? You could support your daughter and ensure the friend is packing up.

Chuck her out if your daughter goes to hospital no notice is required as she pays no contributions and therefore is not even a lodger.

Defo get your daughter to advertise the fact that you will be going down to stay with your her before during and after her hospital stay so the flat mate needs to you as you and your husband or son etc will need the space.

Imply more than one of you is arriving.

Thanks again for the quick responses. I have told my daughter we are coming to stay to support her and to tell this “ friend “ that. I cannot believe the cheek of this person…. she is spending hundreds of pounds on gym membership / hair cuts / dinners out etc…. has borrowed money from my daughter ( which she has paid back )…. but is claiming she can’t afford to rent her own place !! I know London is expensive but she earns a good salary .

This is nuclear, but I'd think about phoning the police just to put the shits up the freeloader friend.

Friend obv has form for taking the piss and not adhering to the social contract so I can't see her going without a fight. I'd scare her.

its a good idea for you to go and stay while she is in hospital(and help the friend pack!).

You could also approach the landlord and ask them if you can change the locks, let them know what is going on. They won’t want an unwelcome guest in their property, and there might even be a clause in the contract sayings guests can only stay for a set number of nights.

It's not a legal requirement to tell or get the permission of the LL to change the locks btw

Just change them before Single White Female gets back in!

I'm echoing others that say she has no legal rights to stay without a signed agreement. She hasn't contributed financially so is just a trespasser/ unwanted guest at this point and will need to be removed by force if she doesn't leave of her own accord.

Agree with PP to box up her stuff when she's at work and change the locks.

I wouldn't give her to the end of the month, I'd be telling her to leave now or if feeling charitable then the end of the weekend. Tell her to say you are coming to stay Monday as she's ill.

OP, this is awful, what kind of 'friend' ruthlessly exploits because your daughter is ill and compromised/less able to fight back.
I hope you can stay as calm as possible but get this woman out and keep a close eye on her incase she tries anything!

It’s always best to get the landlords permission and the tenancy agreement might say as much. The landlord isn’t likely to refuse as it’s to their benefit to keep the property secure. And they will have to be told at some point, so why not before you do it?

Thank you all so much for your quick responses. I thought I was being harsh and I know my daughter feels upset but guilty about all this. She really doesn’t need the stress in her current state of health. I feel determined and clear about what I need to do now. I can’t thank you enough.

I really wouldn't leave the "friend" alone in your DD's home if she has to go to hospital.

I think DD needs to move up the date she has to leave. Being unwell is a good reason for this