What to do about flatmate paying rent late?

[moaningminni]

My DS shares a uni flat (London) with his friend. They get on well and I'd say are good mates.

They're 7 months into the lease and every single month has required nagging by DS to the flatmate for the rent money. They are joint and severally liable, and DS is the 'head tenant' so he is the one who has to transfer the money every month.

Every month he gets a different excuse as to why the rent is late. It ranges from, oh my bank won't transfer on a bank holiday, to my parents are away with work, my dad forgot to transfer me, I've spent too much so I can give you 80% now and the other 20% in two days time.

DS has been very clear that this needs to stop, and they've had several frank conversations about it. All of which lead to profuse apologies from the (frankly disorganised) flatmate.

The flatmate is now almost two weeks late paying the rent. It seems to be getting worse every time. The flatmate comes from a wealthy family (his dad was recently in a news article where it detailed that he'd made several million pounds in the last year--financier)

DS is on a tight budget so the £1000 rent money missing for parts of every month is stressful and worrying to him.

Sorry first posted this in money, but realised it would be better under property

Can the flatmate show how sorry they are by setting up a standing order for the money to transfer five days before the due date (so there's never an issue with the money not going till after a bank holiday). Then it becomes their problem to make sure there are sufficient funds to cover it, not your DS's.

This is the first of many difficult conversations your DS will have to have in his life about money, so it’s good you can educate and empower him through the first one.

Your DS needs to speak to him, point out the ongoing pattern of late rent, explain that your DS is not in a financial position to ‘carry’ him for even one day over the rent day from now on. And that being late puts all the students at risk.

And then ask what the other flatmate intends to do about it. Your DD could offer some solutions, like him paying all the $ upfront now, or paying an extra month in advance now, so he is always ahead.

Then wait and see what the flatmate does.

I assume there are 5 months left on the lease. You DS can play hardball, not pay and then warn the flatmate they could get kicked out, or put up with it and get through the next 5 months, and the go their separate ways at the end of it.

I doubt the flatmate will change. It sounds like he expects everyone to have money and just can’t understand your son not having enough to float him for a few weeks. I would encourage your son to get out of this arrangement when the lease ends, as I suspect the friend just won’t change.

“If you don’t pay on time you have to move out so we can save our friendship. Next time it happens you are on notice of a month and I am advertising immediately. I will use your deposit for the rent you owe. Get it together mate. Oh btw, I heard Julie is looking for someone….”