Ex-Licensee - Mess Left Behind

chewi_81

Hope someone can offer advice on this.

I had a 30 year old lady as licensee signed under an agreement for 12 months in an owner's occupied dwelling.

Miss X broke the agreement and moved out with 8 days notice after I asked if she can pay rent on time (for once) or every 2 weeks if it helps with her managing money. Today is the 10th day of the move out date, a number of her items remains and she still holds the key to the apartment. Garda are refusing to offer advice.

I have one month's deposit in hand
Rent is due for 3 weeks
Bills for previous month is overdue
Room and bathroom weren't cleaned
Mattress (€400) stained as she didn't use bed sheets until I asked
Mattress protector (€70) turned purple
Moulds on windowsill from rotten fruit
€130 damages were done in the bathroom which she had private use
Rubbish in the bins she had private use without bags, again
Dishes not washed for 16 days
Changing lock will cost €70
Loss in apartment fob is €20

She is refusing to reply to any calls, messages or e-mails
Her boyfriend lives up the road but I would rather not disturb as courtesy

What can I do to re-mediate?

Fighting Tao

Change locks, keep the deposit and text her to say that her stuff can be collected within 2 weeks or else it will be thrown out. Mark it down as a learning experience.

James Bond Junior

She is a licencee. 12 months meant nothing. Give her 2 weeks to collect her things, inform Garda you dealt with, clean up and move on.

Mrs OBumble

Absolutely not a garda issue - quit wasting their time.

Clean the place. Get the locks changed. Put her stuff in bags, and text her a time to collect it. Adjust your weekly rate so it's inclusive of bills. Re-advertise. You'll have someone new moved in by Wednesday in the current rental climate.

chewi_81

Thank you all for your reply it is much appreciated.

I always offered contract, rent book and keep the apartment clean, in great condition. Sometimes I wonder if it's worth putting in the effort being good landlord. Bad luck this time I guess.

Guess I just have to take the loss in repairing bathroom and change the lock.

The_Conductor

chewi_81 wrote: »

Thank you all for your reply it is much appreciated.

I always offered contract, rent book and keep the apartment clean, in great condition. Sometimes I wonder if it's worth putting in the effort being good landlord. Bad luck this time I guess.

Guess I just have to take the loss in repairing bathroom and change the lock.

You are *not* a landlord, and she is *not* a tenant- get this out of your head.
She had absolutely no right or entitlement to a contract, a rent book, notice (other than reasonable notice) or anything else. Once you start offering her these things- even while living in the property as an owner occupier- you are a doormat- and she has obviously walked right all over you.

Change the lock. Enumerate the actual cost of remediating any deficiencies. Deduct it from the deposit. Detail precisely the deductions. Return the remainder (if any) to her. Wish her and her boyfriend a happy ever after and live and learn.

If you are an owner occupier and have someone rent a room or houseshare with you- you are most certainly not a landlord and they are most certainly not a tenant- you have to get this core tenent clear in your head- and until you do- I would seriously suggest you not get a replacement housemate.

uck51js9zml2yt

Drop her stuff up to her boyfriends and move on.

splinter65

Alfred Defeated Nutrient wrote: »

Drop her stuff up to her boyfriends and move on.

Do not do this OP. Double bag her belongings and keep record of your attempts to contact her re collecting them.
Change the locks. Don’t bother with the “landlordy” things for the next licensee but do sit down first and tell them that the first week the rent is late that they will be leaving that Friday. Include heating electricity bins and WiFi in the rent. Specify that anything he or she breaks will have to be replaced or repaired at their cost, Have a chat about acceptable noise levels and general “don’t be a dickhead” things. One months deposit returnable on satisfactory inspection of the room. One weeks notice on either side.