Money Issues With Housemate

Eric Cartman

Ok So Ive been living with my 2 current housemates for the past 9 months, it was grand up until march. Then it started, one of my housemates, well call him C supposedly started a new job, this was fine and i said i would sub him march's rent as he could pay me back when he got paid. april rolls around and he gave me under half the amount of march's rent (200 euro) , so his current debt was 250 euro ,

so like a fool i agreed to pay aprils rent under the basis he was paying me back soon (he gave me an excuse about having to pay some fees to something), so aprils debt was then 700 euro, just towards the end of april he handed me 300 euro and said he would give me 300 the next day (300 a day ATM card limit) , i agreed and he scarpered off and i hadnt seen him in 2 weeks , so i paid mays rent, his debt is now 850 euro and ive just got a massive gas bill (375 euro) that i cant afford to pay , and i need to service my car , he hasnt been to the house now in 2 weeks, making a flighting visit 2 weeks ago to tell me hell have money soon (hes also been sneaking in while im at work , ive noticed stuff moved etc) so hes definitley avoiding me

so C owes me 850 and me + other housemate have figured out he doesnt have a job, what angers me more is ive found receipts around the house for him buying things when he was supposed to be in work (date and times that are working day at 2-4pm) and there all for un-necissary things like more shoes and suit jackets and cinema tickets.

So he does have money (from an unknown source) and hes compulsivley lying to me and my housemate and even his girlfriend.

so boards i need to know

a) how can i make him face up to his debt and pay me
b) how can i do it quickley ,

note . if i dont have rent for june by the 25th of may im boxing up all his stuff and changing the locks, im not paying his rent again . but that doesnt solve the debt issue

im up for any suggestions that are legal and arent expensive to do. I went without food for 8 days last month because of this pr*ck while he was off boozing , and im fed up at this stage

TheInquisitor

Tell him you are seriously in debt because of him, tell him you went without food for eight days. There's nothing worse than moochers like this guy. I would have also paid for a friend for a month or two if they were in dire straights but damn i wouldn't put myself way into the red also. Stand up to him

Eric Cartman

he knows about the no food, as does his girlfriend, he knows about the debt and hes just running away from it by not answering his phones and not coming home when im there

Busi_Girl08

June 25th?
I say act now!!!
Have his boxes ready outside the door, locks changed ASAP.

He's had plenty of chances now, you shouldn't have to suffer anymore.

dudara

Are you the landlord, or could you speak to the landlord about this?

Eric Cartman

im renting , but its my bank account the rent goes through, i havent really wanted to get the landlord involved but i think i may have to , obviously if i changed the locks he would need to know but im still hoping it wont come to that, im putting up ads for a new housemate tomorrow,

what could the landlord do that i cant ? (he lives on the other side of the country so its not a case of him being able to call round)

Eric Cartman

also how does getting a judgment or court order (whatever its called) against him work ? it may come to this to get my money

Sir Oxman

IANAL, but i think unless you have something signed and in writing that he owes you this money, you're stuffed.

I got burnt last year - same thing, trusted a complete moocher/gimp/muppet and no amount of getting at the twat got me my money back.

At this stage, I've chalked it down to experience and will never, ever let it happen again.

Hope it turns out better for you - in the meantime change the locks and box his stuff and end it right now.

Best of luck.

Eric Cartman

right if i was to record a conversation with him admitting he owes me that money would that hold in court ?

dny123456

Dont think so. Unless you tell him you are about to record the conversation, in which case he probably won't say that which you want him to. You're not supposed to secretly record people.

Lollipops23

dny123456 wrote: »

Dont think so. Unless you tell him you are about to record the conversation, in which case he probably won't say that which you want him to. You're not supposed to secretly record people.

very true.
tbh i'd ring the landlord to let him know you're locking this guy out and boxing up his stuff. but i'd defo be boxing up his stuff!

trevo

the lad clearly has a problem and yes he needs to pay you back as soon as. but you need to sit him down with his girlfriend, before he dose something he wishishs he didnt

ILikePoker

This happened to me before. Cut ur losses now and get out of it dont be the only name on contract is really silly. One of life experiences you must just learn from and move on. Maybe you could say if u give half the money u owe to me i let you go for another month and if he agrees take the money then **** him over urself somewhat what i done anyway but dont be only name on contract then flatmates get them added to contract

Eric Cartman

im not the only name on the contract, were all signed the same way, its just my account used for the rent

dudara

I'd advise getting in touch with your landlord then, and telling him the story. He may be willing to use the lad's deposit to pay you, or he may be able to apply pressure that you can't.

In future though, don't pay for anyone else. Only pass on the money that you have. Let the landlord know that person C hasn't paid, and you only have money from persons A and B.

She Devil

Phone your landlord tell him its simple you have been footing the bill for C, and you can't pay it anymore so either he goes without that part of the rent or he tells him to get out then the landlord has to find another person for the room and you and the other housemate arent out of pocket ...

As for your gas bill if its your name on it then you are liable, my advise is phone them and let them know if you are having probs paying it and tell them why also.

Otherwise as above cut your losses and get rid of the waster

Overheal

Lollipops23 wrote: »

very true.
tbh i'd ring the landlord to let him know you're locking this guy out and boxing up his stuff. but i'd defo be boxing up his stuff!

Maybe, maybe not. If you explain the situation and let the Landlord know truthfully what hes paid and what you paid he may credit you particularly with the rent you spotted for your flatmate. ie. your mates 850 in debt, he's paid 500 so youre out 850, the landlord might recognise that, credit you 850 rent, and tell your man the debt is owed to [the landlord] and not to you.

See he'll gladly take you for a ride but might be quicker to bend to the landlord who will gladly and easily go legal with it if its unpaid.

Reflector

the guy is taking the piss, tell him to pay up or you'll kick him out get someone else in and use the deposit to get yourself some money back.

shellyboo

dudara wrote: »

I'd advise getting in touch with your landlord then, and telling him the story. He may be willing to use the lad's deposit to pay you, or he may be able to apply pressure that you can't.

In future though, don't pay for anyone else. Only pass on the money that you have. Let the landlord know that person C hasn't paid, and you only have money from persons A and B.

Spot-on advice from dudara. Especially the bit about the deposit - however, you'd need to have someone lined up to take the room from whenever yer man's rent lapses, or else the landlord will want to keep it to cover lost earnings.

I'd say speak to your landlord anyway and outline the situation. Make it clear to him that you won't be handling the rent anymore, that he'll have to get it from each of you individually.

If you are all on the lease and there is no personal liability can you not:

1) Take the money for rent off all the other house mates this month into your account, plus whatever "token" 'C' actually pays _this_ month.
2) Take what you are owed OUT of this and transfer the rest
3) Ring the landlord and say the missing money is from Person "C" and not the rest of you.

This way you get your money back, and the landlord knows who to chase?

shellyboo

Deleted User wrote: »

If you are all on the lease and there is no personal liability can you not:

1) Take the money for rent off all the other house mates this month into your account, plus whatever "token" 'C' actually pays _this_ month.
2) Take what you are owed OUT of this and transfer the rest
3) Ring the landlord and say the missing money is from Person "C" and not the rest of you.

This way you get your money back, and the landlord knows who to chase?

I doubt the landlord would see it that way. It was the OP's choice to lend the money, so unfortunately, it's him that's liable to suffer the loss and not the landlord. If the OP hadn't loaned the moocher the money, the landlord would probably just have thrown the guy out - thus not losing any money, never mind two months' rent.

Unless he's a really, really, really nice landlord.

The landlord doesn’t have to know, all he will know is the rent is short THIS month.

However, we are both speculating as we do not know the full arrangement as to what happens when one or more people fail to pay. Each lease is different. If the money is missing and the landlord knows who it is, then it is really down to the lease as to what he can or can not do about it.

I would go with the advice here of talking to the landlord, but do it before transferring the next payment. At least then if it IS a lease where only the non payer is held accountable, then if the land lord is unhelpful there is the back up option of just leaving the actual perpetrator in the lurch.

shellyboo

Deleted User wrote: »

The landlord doesn’t have to know, all he will know is the rent is short THIS month.

Yeah, €850 short... which is more than one month's rent from one person. In order for the OP to 'reclaim' his money from this month's rent, he'd have to not pay his own rent, AND take his other housemate's rent - since it sounds like the moocher won't be paying anything. So he won't have anything to give to the landlord at all... which I don't think the landlord's going to sit still for, tbh.


But like you say, we're speculating.

Yea it is all speculating. I know personally I would never get into a shared contract without i being clear that if the money is short, the only person liable for the shortage is the person who actually did not pay. That was how it was when I was in college myself.

Without reading the contract we can only throw ideas out there for the OP to consider, I have thrown mine out.

dumbyearbook

Dont change any locks, you are a tenant its not your house put a little bolt on the inside maybe so he cant come in at least whilst you are there? ask the owner for advice on this if you change them he'll need/want a set you can only exclude the LL to a certain degree not 100%

If it was a new hoover you needed would you rush to buy that?!

Sorry to hear about your housemate he sounds like a total kno b don't do business with friends ( any debt over 100euro imo is business,,,,,,,,) unless of course yoy can actually trust them

best of luck If I were you I'd make this the LL's problem and call this guys parents or something mortify the payment out of them!

Eric Cartman

cheers for all the replys, ive now started locking my room and i got a solicitor friend to help me write up a letter that basically says he acknowledges the debt amount and how it was accumulated . Im going to try get him to sign it so i have some legal protection.

he still hasnt shown up at the house now (its the third week since ive seen him) but he has been spotted around dublin shopping and the like.

but im putting up signs in the local shop for a new housemate and ill see how it goes, if it gets any response im boxing up his stuff and he can f*ck off

BaZmO*

dudara wrote: »

In future though, don't pay for anyone else. Only pass on the money that you have. Let the landlord know that person C hasn't paid, and you only have money from persons A and B.

Also, it might be worth setting up banking online with each others accounts so that you have proof when people pay and don't pay their rent each month.

Eric Cartman wrote: »

cheers for all the replys, ive now started locking my room and i got a solicitor friend to help me write up a letter that basically says he acknowledges the debt amount and how it was accumulated . Im going to try get him to sign it so i have some legal protection.

Do you really think he's going to sign it?

junior_apollo

Tell the landlord.. tell him to take the money owed from his deposit .. change the locks and box up his stuff... if he wants his stuff he will have to contact you in order to gain access to get the stuff.. at which point you can arrange for the landlord to be there that day also (tell him he can get access for his stuff on the 25 June or whenever.. and then give the landlord the same date)... then the landlord can be there to ask him for the rent he owes..

Overheal

Eric Cartman wrote: »

im renting , but its my bank account the rent goes through

So I'm guessing your mate's name doesnt show up on the lease? That can be a bit of a loophole working against you. I know if I missed rent it was my housemate that got into trouble because the bill was in her name. Same with the ESB. And the Internet. Poor girl learned her lesson trying to get rent of 4 other people for 3 different bills all the time...

If thats the case I understand your reluctance because the landlord has every right to turn you down iirc - but you have to at least try.

bangersandmash

Have you contacted your landlord yet OP? It seems like this should be your first course of action. While it you have little formal evidence against the moocher, it is possible that your landlord might be reasonable. He'll probably want to make sure the situation is resolved asap and the vacant room is filled.

At the very least you're going to have to inform your landlord that you may soon be changing the locks to his property.

LegacyUser

def contact the landlord to ensure the landlord doesnt return his deposit. his deposit if big enough may cover the rent, prob wont cover the bills as well. provided he hasnt damaged the property the landlord should give you the deposit towards your loss in his presence. all 3 of you need to meet together sooner than later to sort this

Eric Cartman

cheers for all the advice, keep it coming, so the moocher returned home today while i was at work, my other housemate saw him, he seems to be bundling up his stuff so id say hes leaving . so that might be one issue out of the way.

Now, Is there any way i can legally get my money back ???

LegacyUser

Eric Cartman wrote: »

cheers for all the advice, keep it coming, so the moocher returned home today while i was at work, my other housemate saw him, he seems to be bundling up his stuff so id say hes leaving . so that might be one issue out of the way.

Now, Is there any way i can legally get my money back ???

Why dont you ask him, corner him in front of the others, put him on the spot ring him up, ask him straight out, Wheres my money, call his family home looking for him, what ever, dont let him sneak off now and not pay you,


tell all the people you both mutually know would the other house mates not support you in this, its very unfair that they just let him come back while he is not paying rent or paying you the money owed,


I think the best way to get him to pay is to admit it in front of others and put the guilt trip on him that your in the red now etc.


If you watch a lot of judge judies there are so many where a house mate has not paid rent, and if there is a witness that saw him say he said he would pay you back then she always rules in your favour!

Dardania

Unregistered wrote: »

Why dont you ask him, corner him in front of the others, put him on the spot ring him up, ask him straight out, Wheres my money, call his family home looking for him, what ever, dont let him sneak off now and not pay you,


tell all the people you both mutually know would the other house mates not support you in this, its very unfair that they just let him come back while he is not paying rent or paying you the money owed,


I think the best way to get him to pay is to admit it in front of others and put the guilt trip on him that your in the red now etc.


If you watch a lot of judge judies there are so many where a house mate has not paid rent, and if there is a witness that saw him say he said he would pay you back then she always rules in your favour!

Have to agree with the idea of shaming it out of him. Embarass him, not so much for your money but more your personal integrity - talk to his parents, talk to his girlfriend, stand with a banner outside Sunday mass in his home town - basically publicise it. he's probably hoping this little episode will go away into the dark. I would say sit in the reception of his place of work & do the same, but well...!

Eric Cartman

Dardania wrote: »

Have to agree with the idea of shaming it out of him. Embarass him, not so much for your money but more your personal integrity - talk to his parents, talk to his girlfriend, stand with a banner outside Sunday mass in his home town - basically publicise it. he's probably hoping this little episode will go away into the dark. I would say sit in the reception of his place of work & do the same, but well...!

im actually going to a party at the weekend in his home town, he will be there as will a lot of his friends, his girlfriend and a lot of our mutual friends , i think ill shame him into it there

Dardania

Eric Cartman wrote: »

im actually going to a party at the weekend in his home town, he will be there as will a lot of his friends, his girlfriend and a lot of our mutual friends , i think ill shame him into it there

Perfect :-)

Might I suggest: http://www.tshirtprint.co.uk/design-your-own-shirt

Kipperhell

From reading some of these posts all I can say is some people have strange notions of the landlords role in this. The landlord essentially has no role in this at all. The rent for the property is set whether one person pays or not is the responsibility of the other tenants who essentially signed a joint agreement where they are jointly responsible. If one person stops paying the other two have to pay and in failing to pay all three are liable.

The landlord is no authority on this and there is a clear divide between you and him. You may wish to contact him and make sure he doesn't give the deposit back but I doubt the landlord will give the deposit back without talking to the other tenants.

As a landlord I can tell you I wouldn't even entertain getting involved in a dispute like this. It is completely the responsibility of the group to insure payment of rent. The only time this is different is when the landlord rents the rooms separately which this doesn't appear to be

Overheal

^ in a joint agreement, but are you talking about where there are the signatures of all tenants on the lease? I mean if so thats me stumped and Eric you'll have to hope your landlord is doing really well in this recession to hand back money.

Lollipops23

defo confront him at the party, although will he be thick enough to turn up knowing you'll be there?it's a lot of money he owes you, so don't give up to handy.

Eric Cartman

i think hes watching boards, he showed up an hour ago, told me hes moving out, signed my legal acknowledgment of debt, and agreed to pay back 200 a month.


so now i just need a new housemate

Dardania

Eric Cartman wrote: »

i think hes watching boards, he showed up an hour ago, told me hes moving out, signed my legal acknowledgment of debt, and agreed to pay back 200 a month.


so now i just need a new housemate

we got the scrote on the run ;-)

fair dues on getting that agreement signature out of him, but I don't know if I'd be that leniant / trusting - in fairness this will be not the first time you've trusted him. Demand your money now?

Overheal

Agreed to pay back 200 how? Verbally?

the_syco

Eric Cartman wrote: »

agreed to pay back 200 a month.

Verbally without a witness? Not worth sh|t. Unless it's written down and witnessed, I doubt you'll see that money.

Overheal

Thats what im saying.

And now that he's moving out it will be that much harder to track him down if and when he fails to pay you back this money.

InFront

I would just say that these are difficult times and there are lots of people who are finding themselves in a financial situation they haven't been in before. It sounds like he might be reading boards and you may have embarrassed him into signing the document or realising his own stupidity. Either way, it looks like you are getting your money back and I hope you do. But just remember guys, this fellow doesn't really want to be in this situation, who does?

On a somewhat related issue, I am mates with a guy who lost his job last January and I figure must be on the dole, though he doesnt know his mates know. Whenever I meet him for lunch he's dressed for work and we chat about, among other things, his job that doesn't exist any more. he tells me things that are happening at work that I know cannot be the case. Like I said these are very different times for a lot of people and they are finding it hard to adjust. I don't know this might apply in your (ex) flatmates case.

My point is to the OP, you've been understanding so far. just try give this guy a little bit more leverage now that he has committed to paying you back. I don't think it would be a good idea to confront his family or pursue all of the money immediately - at this point in time.

BaZmO*

the_syco wrote: »

Verbally without a witness? Not worth sh|t. Unless it's written down and witnessed, I doubt you'll see that money.

Read his full post again!

the_syco

BaZmO* wrote: »

Read his full post again!

Eric Cartman wrote: »

i think hes watching boards, he showed up an hour ago, told me hes moving out, signed my legal acknowledgment of debt, and agreed to pay back 200 a month.

Signed the "legal acknowledgment of debt", but it doesn't say that he also signed the 200 a month thing.

InFront wrote: »

My point is to the OP, you've been understanding so far. just try give this guy a little bit more leverage now that he has committed to paying you back. I don't think it would be a good idea to confront his family or pursue all of the money immediately - at this point in time.

From the dudes (who owes money to the OP) bebo page, the dude has been out drinking on a regualr basis, buying stuff, and then can't afford rent?

Overheal

Its called being young and stupid. But all the more reason to enter a written agreement for the debt and the repayment terms.

Eric Cartman

the repayments are on oral terms, but i know where his parents and girlfriend live so i can find him, and he understands that if he misses even 1 installment i will be goign to district court.

Also all repayments will be done through a bank not in cash so i have proof

Dardania

Eric Cartman wrote: »

the repayments are on oral terms, but i know where his parents and girlfriend live so i can find him, and he understands that if he misses even 1 installment i will be goign to district court.

Also all repayments will be done through a bank not in cash so i have proof

does he now have a source of income? If I were you i'd try to get the episode closed out much quicker...as fast as his circumstances allow

Overheal

On the deposits I advise him to make the comment something like "Rent Repayment" so it shows up like that on your statements and his.