Help! Exdp renting out house whilst I'm still in it.

[downbutnotout2018]

I have split with ex but still having to live together. However he has stated letting out the loft room with Airbnb whilst we are still there. Not only is he keeping all the profits. This is also a massive safeguarding risk. He is inviting strangers into our home without my consent. The children are young and we don't have locks on the doors. I have contacted Airbnb but they are being very apathetic. The house is jointly owned by us as tennants in common.

[rightteous]

Oh wow. What a crap situation! Contact a solicitor ASAP and get some advice

[RelapsedChocoholic]

Is it possible to remove the bed from the room, or even just the mattress?

Won’t stop guests immediately but should result in complaints/ refund requests, and that will hopefully either get the listing removed or put people off booking.

[Sunburntnoseandears]

Where do you live op? I can bring this.....
Nobody will cross your door..
Ring the mortgage company tomorrow.

[Di11y]

bang on their door at midnight, disturb them, be messy and generally be a massive pita.

and call 111. didn't think I'd ever say that in seriousness!

[InsertFunnyUsername]

Might not be popular as its not really the guests fault, but i would just make it the worst rated air bnb going. Music/screaming children/turn the power off randomly.

[hadthesnip2]

Sit outside their room and sing "I'm Henry the eighth I am" like Patrick Swayze did in Ghost.

Being serious though. I would call the police next time someone turns up & explain to them. I'm sure they will get the visitors to leave by having a quiet word. In the meantime speak to a solicitor & get something drawn up like a cease & desist letter. Not sure your lender can do anything as you can rent a room out & as long as it's under a certain amount its not taxable.

[InsertFunnyUsername]

See what his advert promotes and do the opposite.

Access to wifi? Turn it off, change password.


Quiet street? Get an all day rave going.

Clean and comfy bedroom? Take all the pillows, lamps etc. It wont take long for the bad reviews and your Ex will realise he isn't going to win this one.

[JustGettingStarted]

I think just loud noises and turning off the hot water should be sufficient

[PancakeAndKeith]

Do you have people staying at the moment?

If not then change the locks and do not answer the door to anyone.
Put a sign on the door saying ‘sorry if you booked this as an Air B&B then I’m sorry but you have been misled. Here is the number of the nearest Travelodge and taxi firm.’

[Doidontimmm]

Is that all not very mean to the guests, it may be their only chance of a night away and it’s possible as they checked in they won’t get a refund. OP I’m an Airbnb superhost, if you pm me your propydeyails I’m happy to contact Airbnb as I will getva quick reply hopefully. I can also report your listing. Airbnb HATE letting guests down so if guests are imminent I’d let them in and calmly explain and call Airbnb while they are there. Airbnb will hopefully find them somewhere else and hopefully look at taking down the listing.

[Doidontimmm]

Sorry for typos!

[PancakeAndKeith]

Is that all not very mean to the guests, it may be their only chance of a night away and it’s possible as they checked in they won’t get a refund.

Well yes but it’s not as bad as the op being forced to allow perfect strangers into her house against her wishes. Not to mention the possible risk to her children.

[Doidontimmm]

The guests don’t know that though & are totally innocent. I’d really advise explaining to them and calling Airbnb together rather than all the mean suggestions.

[AnchorDownDeepBreath]

I would call the police next time someone turns up & explain to them. I'm sure they will get the visitors to leave by having a quiet word.

I'm not sure the police could remove guests who are allowed to be there by the homes co-owner and have proof that they've paid for the accommodation. I suspect once her husband said he was happy for them to stay, the police would leave and class it as a civil matter.

[ColdCottage]

Strip all bedding from their room etc and as above get legal advice.

[Winterlife]

The way to stop it, I believe, is to get Airbnb to take down the listing. If Doido can do that, great. If not, a solicitor’s letter will get Airbnb’s attention.

[ComtesseDeSpair]

As awful as this situation is for you, your best way of resolving it is to try and come to an amicable agreement with ex-p. As tenants in common, he’s free to make his own decisions about his proportional share of the property and doesn’t need your permission for his guests to access it. And yes, you could make things hell for the guests - but you’re making yourself vulnerable to being reported for harassment so do be careful.

Does ex-p have any friends or family members you get in with who you could contact to try and have a discussion about what he’s doing and have him agree to stop?

[AnchorDownDeepBreath]

I've just read their T&Cs, but to be honest, I don't think he's breaching them. He has to have the legal right to let the property, but he does, as you are tenants in common and has the right to use the property proportionately.

7.2.3 Any Listing you post and the booking of, or a Guest's stay at, an Accommodation shall (i) not breach any agreements you have entered into with any third parties, such as homeowners association, condominium, or other agreements, and (ii) comply with all applicable laws (such as zoning laws), Tax requirements, and other rules and regulations (including having all required permits, licenses and registrations).

I think that'd be the only one you could try and argue; but I don't know if you'd be able to suggest you had an agreement without anything in writing, it feels flimsy...

Can you secure your rooms with locks? Is there anyone who would talk to him for you?

[Morticiaismystyleicon]

Get friends/ family members/ to book the room and leave a review outlining the issues? Or tell each and every person on arrival exactly your set up and explain that you're very upset about it, you had one lot of arseholes but most people would be shocked and very uncomfortable with the situation.
If you want to 'do' something maybe put a lock with a padlock on that door and refuse to give him the key? Even if he busts it open it'll look awful. Take out all the bedding/ pillows/ lamps/ lightbulbs after each guest and either chuck or (more sensibly) store at a friend's/ relative's house if you can? Do it every time so he has to replace the lot- assuming things aren't so bad he'd just take them off your or the kids' beds. Hide something stinking in there in a place he won't look? Open tin of sardines or kippers in a takeaway box? Under the bottom drawer in a chest of drawers or something. You may have to smell it but you'll know where it is to remove it and he'll get bad reviews. Itching powder over the bed? Sprinkle earth or smash something up so lots of little black bits and put them in drawers/ windowsill etc so it looks 'dirty' and people will leave bad reviews? Smells could be anything really, empty a load of Neutradol carpet powder under the bed or under the mattress if a divan type- it'll be subtle but terrible once they were sleeping there. Same with Zoflora- insert a squirty bottle nozzle straight into the Zoflora and squirt all the mattress/ pillows/ carpets with it. It smells alright until you're laying with it and then it's headache-inducingly overpowerful.

[Winterlife]

I’m not certain you’re correct, Anchors. Tenants in common have undivided interests in the entire property, not specific parts of it.

[Fontofnoknowledge]

Ok. Practical advice.

Get on to HMCTS website and download a c100 for prohibitive steps order. Pay the £215 or complete the form EX 60 ;help with fees) it will be free or reduced depending on your financial circs. Tick the box 'ex parry' (means without notice to the other party) . Send to the court or much better take it to your local family court. .. you will have the opportunity to tell the judge what is happening and he will give you an order to stop it. If he doesn't then he will have to answer to the court.
I did this. It stopped. Immediately.

Stop this nonsense now !!

[crankyassnoperope]

No way could I fall asleep knowing there was a complete stranger in the house and no locks on my 3 year old's door. NO FUCKING WAY. And a lock would only make it marginally less awful. I would do everything to make them leave, and if the didn't leave I would with the kids. Fuck that for a game of soldiers.

[crankyassnoperope]

Good actual advice from other posters. I'm just horrified by what a monster this guy is, sorry OP!

[Fontofnoknowledge]

Ex parte

[downbutnotout2018]

So I took the kids to the cinema tonight to get away from all this shit. I'm back now. Their car is in the drive and they're in the loft. I'm sure they're a perfectly nice couple from France and they have no idea of this toxic dynamic. Those suggesting direct action - great ideas, but I fear the ex bastard would get nasty. He's really got me in a corner. I think either leaving or getting a court order may be the only way. I have no where to go tonight so it is going to be a sleepless night.