I rent out 2 rooms and one of the lodgers has tried to commit suicide in the property 5 times over the last month the last time being almost successful however was brought back to life via resuscitation.
I have been staying at my boyfriends while the council try and rehome her into supported accommodation however are now telling me she is too high risk to rehouse and it is illegal for me to evict her even though she is on an excluded licence agreement.
My other lodger won’t stay there either if she is there and neither do I feel able to because of the risk.
They are now trying to say this property is not my main residence as I haven’t been there much. It’s crazy. I pay all the bills and the property is owned outright without a mortgage. I grew up in the area and do not own any other properties in the area but do own a property in Ealing which I rent out.
The girl in question came home last night and took her essentials and left the key and her Dad took her back to the family home; she has not returned since.
I have told the council and they don’t care; just keep telling her to return back to my home. The mental health service too despite the incidents keep sending her away.
Any advice? I can’t have her return; she will be carried out in a body bag if she does. She requires constant supervision.
What the Council are saying is that your lodgers are no longer licensees, but probably have an AST due to you not living there. They may be wrong about that depending on the circumstances. Where have you been staying if not there? Has your Ealing property been let throughout the period in question? Are you registered at your home to vote, with a GP, to receive mail, with a driving licence/passport?
This property in question is 2 hours from Ealing and where I was raised and where all my family live and friends. My Ealing property has been rented for the whole period of the lodger agreement plus more and I can evidence this. I have a boyfriend where I stay sometimes but I definitely don’t live with him and my things aren’t there (it’s only been a few months of dating) and therefore live in my home in question and come back forth from my room in the house regularly. I work for myself and travel around a lot seeing clients and have been away on vacation over the period for a week and to see family in Ireland but other than that have been home. I lived in the property in Ealing for 2 years however realised that area wasn’t for me and I missed being near family and so haven’t lived there since October 2023 when my property in my home town had its renovation finished (6 month
Renovation) and I moved in and rented out 2 of the rooms to help cover my renovation costs. I haven’t moved everything over yet- I forgot to move electoral roll but all my other things are at my home of course. She only moved into a room late November 2023 so she hasn’t been with me long. The council approved the lodger excluded licence agreement and paid her deposit and rent and she has paid since with funding from them. I don’t have any other properties just these 2. She has been a difficult high risk person for a long time I have now found out however failed to tell me and they did not disclose either. It’s been very stressful her being in my home and I can’t live like this. I can’t sleep at night and don’t feel safe.
OK, well from what you say I think you could put together a case that you are a resident landlord and the lodgers are still licensees. You would need to assemble as much evidence as possible. I would suggest you get the advice of a specialist landlord and tenant solicitor, (not a regular high street type). If they agree then I would suggest you ask them to write to the Council with their rationale for why this applies as this could help to head off any challenge. The reason for this is that you will then be able to terminate the licence without a court order and with just a month’s notice to the tenant, (assuming they pay monthly) and you don’t want to be sued for unlawful eviction.
What an awful position to be in. You’d think as she’s safe in the arms of her family the council would change their approach. How traumatic for everyone involved. So costly for you, as well. Something in this system is broken when as a LL you end up having to pay so much for peace of mind. I’ve got no advice, as I’m a private tenant but just wanted to express my empathy for your situation.
Me too I feel for u what a shocking situation. I will ask my sister where she thinks u stand. She is a social worker. One time my tenant was attacked by her boyfriend and the police would not remove him from my property, instead I was advised to find alternative accommodation. Bonkers in the end I called her mum who came and removed her from the property. Where is the protection for women
Very difficult situation and hope it gets resolved well for you and the lodger. One thing I do with new lodgers is make sure (before they move in, usually when they sign agreement) I have contact numbers for family/next of kin and work contacts too in case of emergency. This won’t help you now - but something to consider in future.
This is just awful, I feel for you, the Councils are bankrupting us, making us into care takers and Nannies and charities. Personally I would serve notice, tell her family to arrange a time to collect her items or say you will charge storage - per day equivalent to the rent you should be receiving. Can you call the police and get a restraining order so that she cannot come near you or your home saying you do not feel safe etc. We are also at the mercy of a Council telling us to get 2 more attempts to get an Electrician in to a property despite the last Electrician leaving due to the tenant threatening to stab him. I really hope you can sort this you must be very traumatised - in divorce the advise is never leave your home - I would suggest the same applies here - do whatever you can to remain in your home.
I don’t have much to add other than what has already been said, but wanted to offer my sympathies. What an awful situation to be in and what a horrendous disservice these councils are doing to us!
Oh so sorry to hear this. Did you have a Lodger’s Licence …very simple and correctly worded gives you the right to evict if any terms are not upheld…they do not have same protection as AST renters.
That said maybe we all need to be adding a clause about mental health conditions, and ensure that we have address and contact details of family/close relatives so in event of problems they kick in —remove possessions and person.
That’s so bad that the Council did not notify you of adverse health but did it not ring alarm bells that they were paying? With Councils going bankrupt mainly because of Social Care/Mental Health costs they appear to be wriggling and passing the buck
Hope it gets resolved and works out OK for all concerned
I was co tenant in a very similar situation. In the end the girl was given a months notice and myself the option to stay, Though my LL wasnt in residence you have more control by being there.
The council and the psyche team did nothing. She had caused damage but that was ignored too.
I had to call the police one night after her 3rd attempt as she had locked me out was and I got in by sheer luck a window was open to find her threatening me(eerily in dark) and her bf on his way to beat me. The police held her for 24 hrs thats it. She broke the back door and smashed things. The best they could do was offer the really helpful advice of I should leave as soon as.
So dont worry she has family they can deal with her, think about your other lodger who may not find it a hoot or easy to find a new place (like me I didnt)
