Throwing out my flatmate

LegacyUser

Hi
I cant sleep over this even though Im sure many would consider it a non issue.

Back in september I was looking for a flat but couldnt afford one on my own so I found a two bedroom flat.
The landlord said if I moved in then I could find someone to share it with me, and that I could sign the lease in two weeks and not pay until then so I had someone to share with but if I didnt find someone I would have to sign the lease myself and pay the full rent.
I said that was fine because I knew of someone looking for a place.
Anyway eventually the person I knew was looking for a place decided he would move in without even seeing the place, but he didnt move in until the day the lease was signed so and the landlord couldnt alter it at that stage so I bascially signed it saying me and my new flatmate would split the rent.

We are both students at the same college in scotland on the same course.

That was fine for a while, until one month my flatmate was late with the rent.

I was away at the first of the month so I left my rent money in the flat for him to give to the landlord along with his own. About two weeks later the landlord and her son came to door asking if he was in I said no he was out and asked if everything was OK. The landlord explained to me that my flatmate had asked for an extra week to pay up because he hadnt been paid. But this was now two weeks into the month and he never mentioned a thing to me about it.

Basically I kinda got a bollicking from the landlords son, the landlord is a nice old woman, saying that because the lease is in my name I'm responsible for getting the rent off him. I told them I didnt have a clue about it. To be honest the landlord seemed to want her son to shut up and calm down so I have no problems with her or her son to be honest.

He eventually paid up that night after I text him to tell him that they were around looking.
He told them he wouldnt make a habit of it. and all was fine.

Then in January, unknown to me he asked the landlord if he could pay january's and febuary's rent in one go in febuary, she said that it was ok because he's an english student so only gets his grant in at the start of every term. I had paid my own half of the rent for january on the first.

Anyway, I came home to Ireland at the end of january to see my family and all that I planned to go back for the first of feb to pay my rent and get back to my part time job (Im a student as well) but I got delayed because 1. My grandmother got sick so I had to drive my mother up the country to see her 2. I was delayed another day because of the weather conditions. I immediatley called my landlord to say what was happening on the last day of january as I didnt know I would be late until then. I explained the weather and my grandmother's situation, she said thats grand and would collect the rent on the 3rd. She was totally fine about it, but asked if I had heard from my flatmate at all as she had been trying to contact him to see if he would be around to pay. I said I hadnt heard a thing from him and would see what was up when I got back.

Eventually I got back to the flat and text my flatmate to see if he would be around that evening to pay the rent, he said he was after going away and wouldnt be back until monday. this was on a thursday. When the landlord called around I told her what was up, she seemed a annoyed and said I was going to have to have a chat with him about being on time with his rent.
I agreed I like my landlord shes very helpful and isnt one of these people with loads of properties from the boom.

Anyway Monday came and there was still no sign of my flatmate, the landlord called looking and I told her he still wasnt in, I said I'd give him a ring in case he was just around the corner. She said she'd been trying to reach him for ages to see what the situation was but he wasnt answering. So I gave him a ring there and then to see what happened and got no answer. A few seconds later I got a text saying he was on a plane to Norway!! and wouldnt be back until the 10th (this thursday)

That was the last straw for landlord so now basically he has to go, he owes 2 months rent already and we are coming up to the middle of the second month.
Im not sure to be honest if we are being unreasonable, Im panicking because he is a good flatmate and a nice guy but if I try and get the landlord to let him stay then I'll probably have to have the full rent every month and wait for him to pay me etc.
She is saying that even if he has all the rent for the 2 months owed plus until the end of the lease he isnt allowed to stay after the lease is up (april)

I really am kinda terrified, Im not afraid of anyone but I am afraid of the awkward situation thats going to develop. Im still going to have to live with him for some lenght of time and hes going to know that Im throwing him out aswell!
Whats worse is my girlfriend is now looking for a place to live and Im scared that every one in the college is going to think I threw him out so she could move in.
On top of that Im wondering if I'm being an asshole, I mean really I could probably convince the landlord to let him stay if I wanted.
I dont know what to do or how to handle the upcoming situation, he doesnt know whats happening yet as the landlord is going to come around to tell him while I'm there in person and asked me not to say anything until he hands the money over. Unfortunatley when it happens I will have to be i there in some cappacity.

So (jesus I just realised how long that was!!!) I really could do with some advice on the matter

Idunnolol

It's not your fault he can't pay his rent on time.

LegacyUser

You've done nothing wrong OP - this guy is a grown man and if he's not paying his rent (the most basic thing you do when renting, never mind bills etc.) then he has to guy. I'm sure he's a nice guy like you said, but he needs to realise that he can't rely on other people to shoulder his responsibility.

If the landlord will be the one telling him he's out, then that's fine - he'll know it's her decision and not yours. He needs to cop on, he's taking advantage of you in a major way - man up and call him out on it!

Danniboo

Firstly if you signed the lease in your name to cough up the full amount of rent then it is your responsibility to pay the rent on time although you're landlady does seem to be pretty understanding that this guy isn't coughing up. You say he's a pretty decent guy and okay in most other ways, could you not give him a final warning, as decent housemates are few and far between. Or have you already told your girlfriend she could move in? Also do you know that he genuinely doesn't have good reason to miss the rent, ie sick grandmother, bad weather????

lau1247

He doesn't sound that decent.. OP, not your fault on both issue that you highlighted, he is responsible for his own action and whether your girlfriend move in or not it is irrelevant as he is kicked out due to his lack of responsibility

Danniboo wrote: »

Also do you know that he genuinely doesn't have good reason to miss the rent, ie sick grandmother, bad weather????

maybe but i wouldn't hold my breath.. on the plane on the way to norway?? if he has money to spend staying in norway, he should have no problem forking out rent in the first place..

Cheap Thrills!

OP.

You're going to have to toughen up. He didn'y pay his rent, he's getting kicked out. He knows that so relax the cacks.

He's pushing his luck as far as he can. He knows it might work out or it might not.

This is his problem, not yours.

He won't be suprised to be kicked out but he will probably pretend to be.

That's what chancers do!!

Blazer

basically he needs a kick up the ass..
I was the same when I moved out at 18 (19 years ago) and discovered that the landlord allowed me a bit of leeway in paying the rent and I took advantage of that...never having to manage money before in my life I'd go on the piss and then discover I'd no money for rent...I'd pay her in bits and drabs and didn't see anything wrong with it..of course I wasn't seeing the bigger picture and copping on that landlords have bills/mortages to pay as well..
of course I was completely immature and once I copped the hell on I always pay my bills then on time..

But the fact is only one person is responsible for his/her actions and that's themselves.
If you come in and save the day for him he's not going to learn a lesson here...best thing for him right now is to kick him out ..believe me once he realises his mistakes he won't hold a grudge against you for it..

MissHoneyBun

What a total jackass. You live somewhere, you pay your bills. End of. This guy is seriously taking the proverbial. OP, you don't need the stress and life is too short to be dealing with unnecessary shenanigans from the likes of this muppet -get rid basically.

Overheal

The only mistake you seem to have made here was signing a document with you as the sole leasee, in writing. Im not sure where the binding agreement is for him to stay for the full term of the lease and pay all the applicable rent. Theres the verbal agreements though, so Im sure he's due to pay this up one way or another. Though thats not to construe legal counsel.

One option you could try in this situation is have the lease re-worked, with his signature, yours, and your girlfriends, re-negotiate the rent to be paid by each party on the condition he agrees in writing to pay what is already owed.

Otherwise give him the boot and/or follow the Landlord on this. People in college will think what they will. But I think you should talk to your friend and let him know everything that is going on here. Don't leave him in the dark and one day find out you decided to kick him out. Let him now as early as possible that the option is being seriously considered.

johnboysligo

I would text the flatmate.
"is there anywhere I can leave your stuff"

Ive never been to Norway but Ive heard its a fairly expensive country if he can afford to take a trip like that instead of paying the rent he can afford to be homeless for a week or two.

worriedflatmate wrote: »

Hi
he is a good flatmate and a nice guy

really? you think hes a good flatmate and a nice guy? really? sorry op but how the hell can you think that?
He skipped out on his bill(s) for two months and left for Norway which is a really expensive country btw.
Do NOT stick your neck out for this child. He has responsibilities to you and your landlord to pay his rent. You shouldn't feel one pip of guilt about telling him to pack his bags, he will find some place else to live quick enough and never make the mistake of diqking around with rent again.

I can understand how awkward it would feel to tell him this but its his own fault, you shouldn't have to tell him to pay his bills before he goes on holidays.