Although he is paid up until the end of his contract, my lodger has vanished. He was renting a room in my house. He has left all his stuff behind (clothes, TV etc), and does not seem to be coming back to collect them. What are my obligations towards him in respect of his stuff? I have a new lodger moving in so will need to clear the room. Should I hang on to it, or bin it? He is not answering his phone, nor answering texts or emails and I have no other contact details for family etc.

he also has a set of my keys....

Thanks

I'm no expert but would think that you would struggle to legally do anything till the end of his contract.

its this Saturday that the contract ends, and the new lodger moves in on the Sunday.

I would assume that if he doesn't put in an appearance to move his stuff on Saturday, come Sunday morning you can move all of his things into some form of storage. I don't think that it would be legal for you do dispose of his belongings until a reasonable time had passed for him to collect them (weeks rather than days).

Could anything untoward have happened to him or is he in the habit of disappearing?

Did he pay a bond? If so, this would be used to pay towards the costs of clearing his room and remedying any damages. Defintely wait until Saturday, then I'd personally box or black bag up all his stuff and for the moment stick it in the cellar or loft. Then talk to citizen's advice or similar - I'm sure there is most likely an official procedure to follow in this cases. He may actualy be in trouble, so it may be worth considering reporting his disappearance.

I have already established that he is not in any serious trouble, but he has just texted me to say he is out of the country until the end of August. When he first vanished I was frantic with worry

So I think getting someone to pack his stuff up and store it is probably the way forward. he did pay a bond, so I will take any associated costs out of that. Seems reasonable enough. he is taking the mick though

Wow, somewhat presumptious of him that you'd save his stuff for his return. I'd be tempted to text him back to inform him you intend charging him a £xx per week storage fee which you will be taking out of his bond, plus £xx per hour for bagging it up and tidying his room in the first place. Perhaps suggest he have a friend come and pick it up asap - tell him the storage fee comes into effect in 7 days time.

Perhaps update your tenancy agreement to contain a clause for this kind of thing!

Ok so now its about 4 months later and he STILL hasnt turned up, I still have his stuff and by my reckonings is about £30k in debt at my address. Despite my sending letters back to the banks, calling them, emailing them etc. the letters keep on coming.

I have had a little contact with him, but nothing about when he is coming back etc. Any suggestions aboutwhat i do with hs stuff? Its taking up virtually all my storage space

Ok so now its about 4 months later and he STILL hasnt turned up, I still have his stuff and by my reckonings is about £30k in debt at my address. Despite my sending letters back to the banks, calling them, emailing them etc. the letters keep on coming.

I have had a little contact with him, but nothing about when he is coming back etc. Any suggestions aboutwhat i do with hs stuff? Its taking up virtually all my storage space

Bin it.

Though I'd be more concerned about how this is destroying your credit rating as this is your address.

Change your locks too.

Ok so now its about 4 months later and he STILL hasnt turned up, I still have his stuff and by my reckonings is about £30k in debt at my address. Despite my sending letters back to the banks, calling them, emailing them etc. the letters keep on coming.

I have had a little contact with him, but nothing about when he is coming back etc. Any suggestions aboutwhat i do with hs stuff? Its taking up virtually all my storage space

I would get some legal advice, especially in relation to the debt. It seems he certainly isn't managing it and may well never re appear, you don't want the debt hanging on to your address!

Maybe one of the people he owes money to wants the stuff! ;)

debt stays with him rather than the address. I have changed the locks, as he went off with my keys.

i am torn as i feel bad about dumping/selling his stuff as things are obviously going badly for him, but at the same time why should put up with this crap?

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debt stays with him rather than the address. I have changed the locks, as he went off with my keys.

i am torn as i feel bad about dumping/selling his stuff as things are obviously going badly for him, but at the same time why should put up with this crap?


Are you sure, have you done an experian?

Might be worth it.

yes spoke to one of the debt collection agencies that are after him. she said that it was nothing to do with me.

he has a playstation3, a PC, the rest is clothes and bedding etc

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I would assume that if he doesn't put in an appearance to move his stuff on Saturday, come Sunday morning you can move all of his things into some form of storage. I don't think that it would be legal for you do dispose of his belongings until a reasonable time had passed for him to collect them (weeks rather than days).

Could anything untoward have happened to him or is he in the habit of disappearing?

I would think that it's perfectly legal to remove them from your property, you're under no obligation to look after abandoned belongings once his contract has expired.
If you're feeling generous, put them in the cellar or something for a month, if not then dispose of them forthwith.

I would think that it's perfectly legal to remove them from your property, you're under no obligation to look after abandoned belongings once his contract has expired.
If you're feeling generous, put them in the cellar or something for a month, if not then dispose of them forthwith.

My comment was posted in May, when the contract was expiring the following day. I am totally in agreement that the reasonable period of storage has now expired and that since you have made all attempts to find a mutually suitable arrangement and this has failed, there is no reason why you shouldn't dispose of his belongings or sell whatever has worth in order to recoup storage and associated costs.

If I were you I'd try and keep some kind of record of the fact that you have tried to contact him, as proof for later on if he claims you didn't try. Not sure how you can do that with text messages unless you save the sent ones, or maybe some form of diary?

Ok so now its about 4 months later and he STILL hasnt turned up, I still have his stuff and by my reckonings is about £30k in debt at my address. Despite my sending letters back to the banks, calling them, emailing them etc. the letters keep on coming.

I have had a little contact with him, but nothing about when he is coming back etc. Any suggestions aboutwhat i do with hs stuff? Its taking up virtually all my storage space

Sell it, you're not obliged to store it for him and it's reasonable for you to recoup your costs.

My comment was posted in May, when the contract was expiring the following day. I am totally in agreement that the reasonable period of storage has now expired and that since you have made all attempts to find a mutually suitable arrangement and this has failed, there is no reason why you shouldn't dispose of his belongings or sell whatever has worth in order to recoup storage and associated costs.

Yeah I saw the date after I posted.
Even so, I think that she was entitled to get rid of it the day his contract ended, not that it matters now, she's been storing it for a 3rd of a year.

It depends on the contract, if it is an assurred shorthold. He needs to give proper notice or you give notice and only after the notice has expired is the contract ended, legally you may have to apply to the courts to remove his stuff.
Been there myself, took ages for courts to act and I could get back into my house, the tenants ended up owing me £6K for ehich they must pay something silly like 20pence a month for ever more. The law is an ass.

He was a live in lodger, they have far less rights than an assured shorthold.

is any of this debt effectively fraud?

why's he out of the country?

would the police be interested in the contents of the pc for any reason?

Its debt he has run up while travelling i think. I think things all got a bit much so he basically "ran away" from reality. I opened some of the letters up (at the various banks request to get account numbers etc.) and it looks like he has beenhaving a fine time in Australia and New Zealand.

as already mentioned by others, i have now had his stuff for over 3 months, I feel bad about binningf it all, but atthe same time dont see why i should put up with this - he is not my responsibility.

Can I have the PS3? Give you £20 for it!

Don't bin it, sell it, at least any of it with any value.

I know how much they are worth! Thats why I am reluctant to get rid of his stuff. and its not £20.