Rogue Tenant

keeffo2002

Hi All

So recently i let a room to a tenant who seemed genuine. Talked the talk, seemed fairly decent,

He paid the first month rent and deposit. He is from up the country, so he would be going home regular enough he said. His partner had a baby about 3 weeks in, he went up obviously to be with them for 2 weeks. At the same time the bigger room became available in the house, so he wanted it. So he got back down from the baby thing, said he was waiting for wages, then on Thursday said his dad was sick and he needed to go back up. Text me on the Sunday saying his dad passed and he wouldn't be down for another 2 weeks and then he would fix up the rent. Hard to argue it so i said its tough so will wait till he gets down.

He got back down on the Sunday and i olnly saw him on the Monday. I had to bring up rent, which he said he will get paid the following Tuesday and was due rent back and he would square up then. I thought he has had a rollercoaster few weeks and have a bit of trust. Anyway comes Tuesday and he said he needs to get to a bank, but he was heading up the country to work as his job would have them travelling a bit and he needed to pay for accom and then claim back.

I was getting suspicious as there wasn't even token gestures of rent.

Anyway i thought he would be gone on Wednesday evening but he didnt go till this morning.

At this stage i was extremely suspicious as i noticed he wasn't replenishing his food. He said he was going to get takeaway as he wouldnt be back till Tuesday the following week and the food would go off.

I was extremely suspicious so when i got home this evening i checked his room and everything was gone. He basically absconded.

I text him and said i take it your gone. He replied saying he was let go and was given notice and he was working out the notice, claimed he was only told today and was going to call me later. I then said there was a lot of money owed, about 1100, to which he replied he would be back down to settle accounts next week (which is lies as he had nothing to settle only rent and no reason to travel all the way). He then followed up asking how i knew he was gone. To which i explained how something wasnt right and all the cupboards were empty, to which he replied getting nnarky and saying stop lying, that was an invasion of privacy. hes a fairly entitled guy who knew every trick in the book with welfare.

He ended it saying he doesnt lie and then blocked me.

I know where he works as he used that as a basis to get the accom. He owes me basically 800 when i take out the deposit. Can i chase his company. I dont believe he was sacked as most companies would want you away from any work for fear you would sabotage. So i know he is lying, i reckon he got new accom somewhere else and jumped rent.

Question is, what can i do?

I suspect the person who answers the phone will have been sweet talked to say he was fired and the hope i disappear.

Its funny how people feel so entitled, i just want the money owed to me and never see the scumbag again

elperello

Sorry to hear you have been done over.
Forget it.
Move on.
Good side of this is you will probably never encounter a situation like this again.

keeffo2002

elperello wrote: »

Sorry to hear you have been done over.
Forget it.
Move on.
Good side of this is you will probably never encounter a situation like this again.

I know, but i suppose should i contact the company directly and report it, he shouldnt be allowed do that and if i had a company i wouldnt want my companys name being used as reference to someone like that

aristotle25

No you cannot chase his company and don’t attempt to as that’s really not on.

Just chalk it up to experience, let him go, he sounds like the type of person you just won’t get anywhere with.

kippy

No good dead goes unpunished as they say.
Move on. And learn.

punisher5112

Are you LL just letting a room or a tenant sub letting???

You could bring a case for due rent etc....

_Brian

keeffo2002 wrote: »

I know, but i suppose should i contact the company directly and report it, he shouldnt be allowed do that and if i had a company i wouldnt want my companys name being used as reference to someone like that

I would definitely contact the company and ask for his boss.

wirelessdude01

What has his employer got to do with him doing crap outside of it?

punisher5112

keeffo2002 wrote: »

I know, but i suppose should i contact the company directly and report it, he shouldnt be allowed do that and if i had a company i wouldnt want my companys name being used as reference to someone like that

No but nothing stopping you bumping into him by accident at the job...

aristotle25

If you want to go down this route..

https://www.citizensinformation.ie/justice/courts_system/small_claims_court.html

_Brian

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

What has his employer got to do with him doing crap outside of it?

When some scammer cheats you out of €1000 everything has to do with it.

If nothing else it will let his boss know what he is at and hopefully it will affect his job.

Addle

keeffo2002 wrote: »

I know, but i suppose should i contact the company directly and report it, he shouldnt be allowed do that and if i had a company i wouldnt want my companys name being used as reference to someone like that

Did you check the reference?

OldMrBrennan83

Go to the company. You won't see any of the money but if there's a chance you can screw a harsh lesson into him then it'd be well worth it.

IAMAMORON

Your not going to get a penny. Anyone that uses lies such as family deaths etc are extremely dodgy and also unscrupulous. I would let it go. He is already through with you in his head, you cannot get blood from a stone, you just get unlucky with chunts sometimes.

antix80

That is such a ridiculous story op.

Learn your lesson and move on. You may even be found to be breaking the law by contacting his employer. It won't do you any good anyway, you won't see that money.

Next time charge a month's rent and a month's deposit upfront, don't let rent go overdue, and don't refund the deposit til they move out.

Sonny noggs

antix80 wrote: »

That is such a ridiculous story op.

Learn your lesson and move on. You may even be found to be breaking the law by contacting his employer. It won't do you any good anyway, you won't see that money.

Next time charge a month's rent and a month's deposit upfront, don't let rent go overdue, and don't refund the deposit til they move out.

And change the locks.

keeffo2002

antix80 wrote: »

That is such a ridiculous story op.

Learn your lesson and move on. You may even be found to be breaking the law by contacting his employer. It won't do you any good anyway, you won't see that money.

Next time charge a month's rent and a month's deposit upfront, don't let rent go overdue, and don't refund the deposit til they move out.

I know i wont see the money, but he used the company as way of getting to rent the house. I have emails he sent.

Not sure how its illegal considering he scammed me. Not sure by asking a company is he really sacked against the law but as others said it will show the company the type of guy they have employed

road_high

This is precisely why people get a months deposit and a months rent in advance. Regardless of new babies and dead fathers. Helps weed out the scam artists.

road_high

keeffo2002 wrote: »

I know i wont see the money, but he used the company as way of getting to rent the house. I have emails he sent.

Not sure how its illegal considering he scammed me. Not sure by asking a company is he really sacked against the law but as others said it will show the company the type of guy they have employed

How can you be even sure he worked there? Everything else was a lie so ...

dobman88

An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind.

Dont sink to his vindictive and cowardly level. Just chalk it up to experience and move on. You'll drive yourself mad if you let it get to you.

keeffo2002

road_high wrote: »

This is precisely why people get a months deposit and a months rent in advance. Regardless of new babies and dead fathers. Helps weed out the scam artists.

I had got the months deposit and rent, but the baby and father thing happened very close together. I looked it all up, the baby and father were genuine, checked facebook and rip notices so that did match up.

However, he saw an opportunity to avoid his debts and jumped ship which is totally scummy.

keeffo2002

road_high wrote: »

How can you be even sure he worked there? Everything else was a lie so ...

he used get dropped off by the company van

keeffo2002

dobman88 wrote: »

An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind.

Dont sink to his vindictive and cowardly level. Just chalk it up to experience and move on. You'll drive yourself mad if you let it get to you.

i've accepted i wont see the money. however he shouldnt be allowed to get away with it scotfree. I dont see whats wrong with questioning his 'sacking', if its genuine then he was telling the truth, if was lying he would be exposed not only to me but the company would be slow to trust him. Call it vindictive but no crime should go unpunished

keeffo2002

antix80 wrote: »

That is such a ridiculous story op.

Learn your lesson and move on. You may even be found to be breaking the law by contacting his employer. It won't do you any good anyway, you won't see that money.

Next time charge a month's rent and a month's deposit upfront, don't let rent go overdue, and don't refund the deposit til they move out.

how is it ridiculous?

His story about the baby and father passing away wasn't lies. I did my checking and i am satisfied those events did happen.

He saw the opportunity with someone being decent and giving him a chance to pay and he saw the euro signs and obsconded

dobman88

keeffo2002 wrote: »

i've accepted i wont see the money. however he shouldnt be allowed to get away with it scotfree. I dont see whats wrong with questioning his 'sacking', if its genuine then he was telling the truth, if was lying he would be exposed not only to me but the company would be slow to trust him. Call it vindictive but no crime should go unpunished

Well for a start if they're any sort of company they will refuse to discuss employee details with a randomer over the phone. And if they ask him why someone is calling to ask questions about him, do you think he will tell them or will he make up some story about you? I really think it's a lot more hassle than it's worth.

You're clearly hurt by what's happened and it's totally understandable cos what he did was pure scummy and a horrible way to treat someone that took him at his word. I feel bad for you and you have every right to be upset and angry but I would just let it go for your own sanity.

keeffo2002

dobman88 wrote: »

Well for a start if they're any sort of company they will refuse to discuss employee details with a randomer over the phone. And if they ask him why someone is calling to ask questions about him, do you think he will tell them or will he make up some story about you? I really think it's a lot more hassle than it's worth.

You're clearly hurt by what's happened and it's totally understandable cos what he did was pure scummy and a horrible way to treat someone that took him at his word. I feel bad for you and you have every right to be upset and angry but I would just let it go for your own sanity.

yeah i hear what your saying and i agree.

What i was planning to do was just to email and say something like does XX still work with you as he advised he was let go and is not living in the area any longer. He had outstanding rent and i was trying to recoup this. He had given your company as his employment to secure the accommodation.

the_syco

keeffo2002 wrote: »

So recently i let a room to a tenant who seemed genuine. Talked the talk, seemed fairly decent

keeffo2002 wrote: »

To which i explained how something wasnt right and all the cupboards were empty, to which he replied getting nnarky and saying stop lying, that was an invasion of privacy. hes a fairly entitled guy who knew every trick in the book with welfare.

Is he a tenant, or a licensee?

Pawwed Rig

I couldn't let this go tbh.

IAMAMORON

keeffo2002 wrote: »

yeah i hear what your saying and i agree.

What i was planning to do was just to email and say something like does XX still work with you as he advised he was let go and is not living in the area any longer. He had outstanding rent and i was trying to recoup this. He had given your company as his employment to secure the accommodation.

And achieve what ?

The company is not obliged to pay his rent. Who do you plan to get in contact with at his company? Email who exactly?

If you do manage to get through to someone he works with he will simply shrug his shoulders, deny he has even heard of you and change the subject.

OldMrBrennan83

IAMAMORON wrote: »

And achieve what ?

The company is not obliged to pay his rent. Who do you plan to get in contact with at his company? Email who exactly?

If you do manage to get through to someone he works with he will simply shrug his shoulders, deny he has even heard of you and change the subject.

That's grand it could well happen, but it doesn't take much to make the call anyway. Might as well.

keeffo2002

the_syco wrote: »

Is he a tenant, or a licensee?

Licensee, sorry easier sometimes to say tenant

Mjolnir

IAMAMORON wrote: »

And achieve what ?

The company is not obliged to pay his rent. Who do you plan to get in contact with at his company? Email who exactly?

If you do manage to get through to someone he works with he will simply shrug his shoulders, deny he has even heard of you and change the subject.

This.
If his employer gave you any personal information they hold on him, and yes his employment status is included, to some randomer they don't know. I would guarantee you they'd be breaking gdpr of some kind. Unless you correspond with someone of rather low intelligence they won't answer you.

Purple Mountain

Did he get a verbal or written reference from this company or did he just tell you he worked there and you took him to be honest and genuine given the company status?
You have his deposit. You have a month's rent in advance.
I'd chalk it down to experience.
You won't see the money again and it's not his employer's business what he does outside of work unless they are giving him a character reference to landlords or homeowners.

keeffo2002

IAMAMORON wrote: »

And achieve what ?

The company is not obliged to pay his rent. Who do you plan to get in contact with at his company? Email who exactly?

If you do manage to get through to someone he works with he will simply shrug his shoulders, deny he has even heard of you and change the subject.

He can deny it, I'll put in enough to show its genuine and how he has absconded from his responsibility. I will take my time and construct the email content to make sure it hits the point and precise. I just feel scammers shouldn't be left to do this and have no repercussion. That's the reason they do it

TimeToShine

TBH OP you got off lightly, his deposit covers an extra month so you're down what 2 or 3 weeks worth of rent? Chalk it down and move on.

keeffo2002

Mjolnir wrote: »

This.
If his employer gave you any personal information they hold on him, and yes his employment status is included, to some randomer they don't know. I would guarantee you they'd be breaking gdpr of some kind. Unless you correspond with someone of rather low intelligence they won't answer you.

I am willing to send the email, even if I get no response, it will have the effect that they have dishonest employees who need to be trusted in the environment they work as they can be around valuable stock and goods

keeffo2002

TimeToShine wrote: »

TBH OP you got off lightly, his deposit covers an extra month so you're down what 2 or 3 weeks worth of rent? Chalk it down and move on.

Down about 800 in total so not peanuts by any means

keeffo2002

Purple Mountain wrote: »

Did he get a verbal or written reference from this company or did he just tell you he worked there and you took him to be honest and genuine given the company status?
I worked as a secretary in a company and got a call one day from a distressed woman who told me one of our employees owed her money and wasn't answering her calls.
She wanted me to pass on the message to him to call her.
I felt very sorry for her but I told her that under no circumstances was I getting involved because it was none of my business what an employee did in his spare time and wasn't my place to get involved.
You have his deposit. You have a month's rent in advance.
I'd chalk it down to experience.
You won't see the money again and it's not his employer's business what he does outside of work unless they are giving him a character reference to landlords or homeowners.

He told me at first he got a job there. Paid up the rent and deposit. Had their uniforms, got dropped off by their Van's, so I reckon it's safe to say he was employed by them

As I said earlier, even if I get no response, it will have the effect as they are trusted by clients to work in their stores with a lot of valuable stock and goods freely available to pocket

stdidit

keeffo2002 wrote: »

He can deny it, I'll put in enough to show its genuine and how he has absconded from his responsibility. I will take my time and construct the email content to make sure it hits the point and precise. I just feel scammers shouldn't be left to do this and have no repercussion. That's the reason they do it

My initial reaction was that you should so something about it, but don't forget that he knows where you live. If you do send that email and it does effect his employment, there is no guarantee on how someone like him would react..

Purple Mountain

He didn't really use his employment to dupe you though.
You're lashing out in the wrong place OP.
Go the redress route of you really want the money back.

dudara

keeffo2002 wrote: »

He told me at first he got a job there. Paid up the rent and deposit. Had their uniforms, got dropped off by their Van's, so I reckon it's safe to say he was employed by them

As I said earlier, even if I get no response, it will have the effect as they are trusted by clients to work in their stores with a lot of valuable stock and goods freely available to pocket

You need to stop this as you are running the risk of defamation. He left you in the lurch, but that doesn’t automatically make him a thief, which is what you’re inferring. Dangerous territory for you if you go down that road.

Xterminator

Hi Op

being a landlord is a business. you are taking this personal.

you need to weight up the risks of this course of action vs the benefits, and take the wisest course of action for you business.

dont bother

OldMrBrennan83 wrote: »

That's grand it could well happen, but it doesn't take much to make the call anyway. Might as well.

dont ring them up asking about the rent....

ring them and tell them you are a landlord and "yourmans name" has put them down as reference, and you were ringing to check if he works there, as you ring the jobs of all prospective tenants.

play it that way, ring the HR section of his work (if they have one) otherwise, the boss of the company, and ask them "is so and so employed here currently, as i am checking references of my prospective tenants".

if he has told work that he has moved out of your place where he used to be collected in the company van, play dumb, and say "im not aware of that" - he is looking to rent from me and i am checking a reference - it will tie in with any story he has told work about having to move.

do it that way and you will find out easily whether he is currently employed there or not.

do not mention rent owed etc.

Graham

Mod Note

thanks the input folks. As the OP won't be replying I'm going to lock this thread.