Lodger problem

Talk to him and explain how he is creating a health hazard. Give him time to make amends nut if he doesn't then terminate. He may be neurodiverse - it's harder for some people who are ND to prioritise.

We had lodgers for a few years after the kids left home, some were good, some were “unsuitable”.

One very smart young man looked ideal, when he moved in he said he was a Jehovas Witness, fine no problem there.
4 months later he was growing Cannabis in the en-suite.

Another announced he was a police inspector, he thought it was OK to use as a love nest for his very loud lady friend who you could hear 3 rooms away.

You just can’t tell.

Reported

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PS I had my managers son staying for a while, terrible mistake! I was away for several weeks and came back to a mouse infestation who were all gorging on the many pizza remains which were in the empty pizza boxes all over the flat. We found one dead mouse who looked like he had died from obesity!

He (the lodger, not the mouse!) was asked to leave by the end of the month, I gave him the period rent free so that he could go to AirBnB which worked very well. His mother wasn’t surprised and in fact apologised for his behaviour. 🙄✅

I suspect he gets moved on a lot! On the other hand, did he expect you would do the cleaning and clothes washing? Has he come straight from his parental home where he wasn’t expected to do anything?

You can give him a weeks notice, no need to give a reason and perhaps for your next lodger be very clear what you expect re cleanliness.

Just a thought, is he depressed? Has he come out of a long term relationship and doesnt know what to do now?

I’ve had several lodgers over the years, and the best one, in many ways (!) was someone who was obsessionally tidy and even had everything organised by height and width in the kitchen larder. I was living with my boyfriend, now husband, in his house at the time and never worried about my flat at all while the tidy one was there.

And from now on, if anyone stays with us for a while, from a few days to a few months, I say that we have a cleaner and she will clean their room at least once a week and change the bedding. I factor the cost of her wages into their lodging rate, if we are charging anything.

I hope it goes well. 🌷🌷🌷.

Same here sounds like our grandson who lives with us 🤣🤣 but it’s easier to tell them to clean up than it is with a lodger!

I wouldn’t even give him a warning and a week’s “trial”. It could make things more awkward.
The only right to notice he has relates to how often he pays, which would normally be a week or a month, depending on what was agreed. If he refuses to leave at the end of the period, you can put his stuff outside and change the locks.

tell him in no uncertain terms that he has to 'shape up' and keep everything clean.. give him a chance! to week tria. then out if not done.

Oh yuk! Sounds disgusting! Like you I’d want the room back. I’d give him notice to leave. Good luck op

as far as i know, from when i was a lodger, if he pays weekly, you can tell him to be out in a week's time.
no reason needed.
don't prolong it.
least said the better.

Well, I don’t see any problem here - just EVICT him. He’s become a health hazard!
And what he leaves behind in his unhealthfulness (bed bugs?) may make it hard for you to rent again.

Check your local laws and see if you only need 30 days notice to vacate - or 60 days. If he refuses your local law authority can come in and remove his stuff - even if he’s gone, they’ll put his junk on the road or driveway.

It seems kind of drastic but it happens when people don’t comply with landlords. I think you said you have a “contract” with him? Hope it’s in writing.
Good luck!
USA Gundy

He’s obviously content to have dirty clothes and bedding and unwashed dishes and stale food in his room. Just give him notice as per your agreement or the frequency with which he pays you. No need for all the scaremongering about tenancies and rights

Agree with GSM here. Even landlords of legal tenangs with a contract cannot dictate how their tenants choose to live - unless their lifestyle is likely to attract vermin or damage the property in some way. Evicting a tenant is a very lengthy and expensive process for landlords and can currently take a year or more.

Lodgers don’t have leases. They have licence agreements. They are not tenants

This is true. Lodgers have very few rights. You can however download a lodger contract from the internet and use that.

You can give them notice for any reason or no reason. So long as you do not appear to be discriminating over a "protected characteristic" such as age, disability, etc.

You should give your lodger whatever notice you agreed upon when they moved in. Its up to you whether you tell them a fib (relative coming and you need the room) or the real reason. I notice you mention an uncomfortable wait while they serve out their notice. If the lodger is male and you are a lone female you might feel more comfortable using the "visiting relative" excuse. Just saying.

Say you've seen rats

As a live in landlord, he has no "rights", you can pack his case and leave it on the doorstep. However, tell him straight about the issues you have and see what his response is.

We have the same problem currently. Dirtiest lodge we’ve ever had. I’ve gently asked him to make sure he’s not got any rubbish/recycling/food lying about. I’ve been careful to be tactful and polite but nothing has changed. So I’ve now got to be more direct. In my experience they don’t like to be told to be clean, and you may risk losing them, but there’s no excuse for being dirty. They will shape up or ship out pretty quick.

Surprised lodgers are thought as having leases on a room. If a lease holder on say, a flat, is concerned about the hygiene of the premises surely they have rights to enter to inspect and request a clean up. To me a lodger is just using a room for sleeping, takes part in meals provided to them, with cleaning undertaken by the householder. My DM had lodgers for years, when did lodgers start to have near tenant's rights.

I have had many lodgers and most are a joy but there have been a few I have had to get rid of.

Just give 7 days written notice telling him very clearly why you want him out. Tell him so clearly that if he takes the letter to the Citizens Advice people or anyone else he will be caused embarrassment.,

You may be asked why you have not said anything before and so that is why you must act very fast. Its because you are too English.

Be polite; yes; but dont be too English. Dont apologise.. Dont make fake excuses.

I once told a lodger that that her ways were so bad that if she left immediately I would refund the last months rent she had paid and refund her deposit.. She did. I was so relieved I gave her a badly written cheque that she had to come back about twice. She said that was very annoying. I just laughed in her face.

Having said that I have had lodgers who are so clean and quiet and polite I have let them off rent for the Christmas week or when they go on holiday and had their relatives to stay from all over the world. It has been more pleasure than torment.

Larman50- that sounds like my 20 year olds room!😂

Just give him notice to leave. You don't need to give a reason do you?

I agree with GSM. If you start getting into conversations about his general lifestyle and hygiene, it will all get a bit complicated, and you really don't want that!
Take a deep breath (away from his room) and put up with it for the notice period. You obviously don't have to give any reason, but if it makes it easier, you can vaguely say that you need the use of the room for a while.

He’s obviously content to have dirty clothes and bedding and unwashed dishes and stale food in his room. Just give him notice as per your agreement or the frequency with which he pays you. No need for all the scaremongering about tenancies and rights.

Go and talk to Citizen's Advice.

Lodgers don’t have leases. They have licence agreements. They are not tenants.