Lodger/no deposit

[Sopisssedof]

I've just had a lodger leave for mh issues (suicide attempt). When they came back from hospital I took their keys immediately and we then arranged for them to collect their stuff. I packed up their stuff and they're gone.

Their room is disgusting. Stains on the carpet and stains (curry?) On the bedding.

I didn't take a deposit. What is my recourse for the damage?

Ffs. Suicide attempt and all you can think of is curry stains? What is wrong with you?

The room is the thing you think is disgusting?

I have to assume this is a troll.

Really? If this is true you sound cold and heartless.

Goodness. Have some compassion.

Hopefully your lodger quickly found somewhere else to stay after you evicted him/her immediately upon discharge from hospital.

Jesus Christ are you for real? Did you evict them because they had a suicide attempt?

No afterward. As soon as they got back from hospital I asked for the key back. I packed up their belongings and they collected them a few days later. The room was a total mess.

Wow you deserve the top medal for compassion!!! That's disgusting...you've evicted someone whose just come out of hospital from an attempted suicide!!

Don't take too much notice of the comments on here, I would have done the same. If you didn't take a deposit, you need to write off the damage. Take a deposit next time. It does two things, gives you recourse for damage, but also means they are savvy enough to have saved a bit, or at least can access funds so more likely rent will be paid.

You could probably lie and claim off your house insurance.
I wouldn't though. I hate it when people make fraudulent ins claims

Put it down to experience and charge a deposit next time.

And give the lodger a break ffs!

Heratnumber7 That would be fraud and a criminal act. How can you even think that is anywhere near acceptable?

@Heratnumber7 if you hate it so much why recommend someone else to do it?

@Sopisssedof did u ever check on your lodger? We're there any signs something wasn't right...just as a duty of care as a human being to ask once in a while how they are? Had they stopped paying rent? See it as a learning curve and take a deposit if you decide to let out again!

Please let this be a troll. Reported.

Either clean them yourself, pay for a professional deep clean or else replace them - next time take a deposit. Simple solution.

Yes you just need to take a deposit.

Ignore those posters who say you should have more compassion. You are not responsible for the behaviour, safebeing and welfare of other adults.

You could try claiming through the small claims court, but I think if they’re suicidal it’s unlikely the poor person will be able to hold down a job currently, therefore you’d just be adding unnecessary stress to what’s already an awful time for them. Personally, I’d take this on the chin, use it as a learning curve, and always take a deposit for the future!

Get the carpet professionally steam cleaned (those bad boys are amazing, and can lift truly awful stains/marks), maybe £40, and new bedding, less than £20. Have some compassion, mh issues could easily happen to us all at some point.

@NotSuchASmugMarriedNow1 Ignore those posters who say you should have more compassion. You are not responsible for the behaviour, safebeing and welfare of other adults.

Wow so you think not asking someone if their ok once in a while who lives in your home with you is not their responsibility thing to do?? I would be horrified to know that someone was feeling that low and made an attempt on their life (especially if they were living with me) and I hadn't done anything about it!

What happened to just people being that little bit nice to each other once in a while? Can't believe how self-centred some people can be...it's a bloody room that can have a deep clean and be rented back out...their lodgers life has been turned upside down and will take a very long time to recover especially as they have been turfed out of their living space!

I'm sure the OP has been showing compassion and asking the lodger if they are OK and if there is anything she can do to help. That's not the issue. The issue is the damage that's been done to the room.

Sparkly I didn’t recommend it. I said I thought it was wrong. But people do it.

How much do you think the damage caused will cost you to repair?
Have you actually discussed it with your ex lodger?
Did you do an inventory of the space when they moved in?

@Heratnumber7 "You could probably lie and claim off your house insurance"

That's what you were inferred!

Hence @Jonbb telling you that's fraud!

@NotSuchASmugMarriedNow1 well she sure as hell isn't sounding it in her post!

"I've just had a lodger leave for mh issues (suicide attempt). When they came back from hospital I took their keys immediately and we then arranged for them to collect their stuff. I packed up their stuff and they're gone."

Sparkly - that's what you inferred, not me

("Infer" means to deduce or conclude something from evidence and reasoning rather than from explicit statements).

If you mean that's what I implied then you'll see that further in my post I said I hate it when people make false claims.

You're right, it's fraud, and it's what pushes up premiums for everyone else.