UK Landlord Forum / Life

I'm sorry for just joining. and asking a question, but i couldn't find an answer on the internet.

I advertised a room to rent in my house. A woman texts me, comes to view. tells me she likes it, and asks me to wait till pay day a week later for deposit and rent.

One week later she shows up with 350 for deposit, and tells me she will be about 2 weeks before moving in.

Then she texts and tells me shes coming next sat. Saturday arrives, i stay up all day cleaning etc. She doesnt show, or does she text.

She texts the day after, and tells me, she be coming next week.

Do i just wait forever, i spent money getting the room sorted, and its left me in a mess financially.

Can i keep this deposit, cause shes not honured her agreement?

Thanks, any advise would be appreciated

What does the contract you both signed say about the money?

Quote from: Riptide on April 13, 2014, 06:41:58 PM
What does the contract you both signed say about the money?

This is gonna sound terrible, but its the first time ive ever done this, and i just presumed that if someone paid they would show up...

I just wrote on a piece of paper, deposit of £350, received for room, signed and dated it, ouch

It doesn't sound terrible, it sounds pretty standard.  We all learn by our mistakes it can just be expensive sometimes doing it that way. 

As far as you know you've done nothing wrong. 

Worst case scenario would be you having to pay the money back.  A 'deposit' can mean so many things. 

The best course of action for you would be to call their bluff and if they do show and question the deposit and no longer want to stay, you need to tell them that the deposit was none refundable and then take it from there, see if they accept it and then be prepared to possibly back down if they take it further.  As the end of the day you have nothing in writing, they have nothing in writing either.

Quote from: Riptide on April 13, 2014, 08:13:03 PM
It doesn't sound terrible, it sounds pretty standard.  We all learn by our mistakes it can just be expensive sometimes doing it that way. 

As far as you know you've done nothing wrong. 

Worst case scenario would be you having to pay the money back.  A 'deposit' can mean so many things. 

The best course of action for you would be to call their bluff and if they do show and question the deposit and no longer want to stay, you need to tell them that the deposit was none refundable and then take it from there, see if they accept it and then be prepared to possibly back down if they take it further.  As the end of the day you have nothing in writing, they have nothing in writing either.

Thanks for replying, it means a lot. I guess for me, if i said i was moving in somewhere, i would show up, or at least text or ring to give a reason why not. The fact that she did neither, rings alarm bells, that that aint the person you wanna have in your house.

I dont know whether i should just text her, and tell her the deposit is lost, after waiting close on a month, and no show yesterday, or just say its been re advertised, and its gone, and see what she says to that

Quote from: JUSTME777 on April 13, 2014, 08:28:53 PM
I dont know whether i should just text her, and tell her the deposit is lost, after waiting close on a month, and no show yesterday, or just say its been re advertised, and its gone, and see what she says to that

I wouldn't do that personally.  I'd let sleeping dogs lie.  The longer they put off contacting you the stronger your position.  They may be sitting there thinking it's been ages now and they may have come to the conclusion that their money is lost.  Either way they don't seem too concerned about their £350.  I wouldn't start lying about having the room occupied etc as lies often become unraveled.  I think you should re advertise the room again though, get someone else in, get another £350 deposit from someone else then if you have to pay the original person back at least you'll have the £350 to do so.

I presume you're setting this up on a lodger basis rather than a tenant basis.  You need to hit the net and get the full details of the correct procedures that should be in place from start to finish.

Good luck.

Quote from: Riptide on April 13, 2014, 10:06:10 PM

Quote from: JUSTME777 on April 13, 2014, 08:28:53 PM
I dont know whether i should just text her, and tell her the deposit is lost, after waiting close on a month, and no show yesterday, or just say its been re advertised, and its gone, and see what she says to that

I wouldn't do that personally.  I'd let sleeping dogs lie.  The longer they put off contacting you the stronger your position.  They may be sitting there thinking it's been ages now and they may have come to the conclusion that their money is lost.  Either way they don't seem too concerned about their £350.  I wouldn't start lying about having the room occupied etc as lies often become unraveled.  I think you should re advertise the room again though, get someone else in, get another £350 deposit from someone else then if you have to pay the original person back at least you'll have the £350 to do so.

I presume you're setting this up on a lodger basis rather than a tenant basis.  You need to hit the net and get the full details of the correct procedures that should be in place from start to finish.

Good luck.

Thanks for your help.yes i am doing this on a lodger basis. I have a four bedroomed house, with me living there on my own, since my son moved out, and i have mortgage arrears and problems to sort out.

I have done tons of reading up, and i also bought a book, so i thought i was pretty much covered. I guess theres always something you miss, such as this, ha.

Anyway. thanks for your help. x

I would only add the personal view.

It sounds to me like this lady might be having personal issues, perhaps with domestic violence or just straight relationship problems.

She needed a "bolt hole" to be able to resolve this.

Your deposit should be considered counselling and just re-let the room.

Just being practical here, do you really want to share your home with someone who is so unreliable? Lodgers and landlords need to get on socially and that means they need to be aware of each others needs. I would say you have had a lucky escape so move on and re-let the room. Your choice to give back some or all of the deposit as clearly you are genuinely out of pocket.

Quote from: David M on April 14, 2014, 03:36:22 PM
Just being practical here, do you really want to share your home with someone who is so unreliable? Lodgers and landlords need to get on socially and that means they need to be aware of each others needs. I would say you have had a lucky escape so move on and re-let the room. Your choice to give back some or all of the deposit as clearly you are genuinely out of pocket.

Thats the first thought, that went through my mind as well. I get really funny about people not replying, as its just common curtesy, and if they haven't got that, it doesn't bode well.

Thanks for replying, and re-enforcing my thoughts. x

Quote from: boboff on April 14, 2014, 06:33:01 AM
I would only add the personal view.

It sounds to me like this lady might be having personal issues, perhaps with domestic violence or just straight relationship problems.

She needed a "bolt hole" to be able to resolve this.

Your deposit should be considered counselling and just re-let the room.

Thanks. I do agree, but i'm not sure what you mean by my deposit used as counselling?, do you mean i should give it back, as she clearly needs it? x