Serious Question about Renting to a Friend?

Question

Please only serious answers from knowledgeable/experienced people.

I bought a brand new house almost a year ago and my best friend needed a place to stay so I let him have a room AND an extra room for his computer stuff and books and everything. Each room is not huge but he has 2 rooms nonetheless. Where I live he is paying probably about 25% less than what I could get on the room if I was renting to the general public.

He is very messy and I'm constantly cleaning the house and putting away things for him. He leaves food to rot in the fridge for weeks and I am constantly cleaning it and hounding him to help out. Just recently I went on a business trip and when I cam back I did not see him for 2 weeks. Then he sends me an email saying that he wants a discount on this months rent because he 'hasn't been living at the house' and that he was living at his girlfriends. I think this is unreasonable b/c I could be renting to someone else. What should I say? What are your opinions?

Answer 1

It sounds like your friend is taking advantage of you.

Just because he was at his girlfriends for a while doesn't mean he can get a discount on his rent. When I take a vacation for a few weeks, I certainly don't tell my bank that I want a discount on my mortgage.

As for being messy -- he also needs to learn to respect your home and your generosity.

I am hoping that you are good enough friends and that you will be able to have an open discussion with him and tell him how you feel. If he puts up a fight about it, then I would give him a time frame to move out.

Answer 2

His request is unreasonable. He can't get a discount cause he didn't tell you in advance and you were unable to sublet the room he occupies. Just like you said. All discount should have been discussed in advance. So the answer is no.

Talk to him about the messines. Explain it to him that it's unacceptible to you to have your house messy. If that brings no result Just tell him that he should leave for the sake of keeping the friendship. If you can't do that - say that you are planning some remodeling projects for your house (or your aunt will be moving in from another state, whatever you can say to make it sound natural) and give him the timeframe to leave. I mean, make him leave cause he's taking advantage of you.

I probably don't need to tell you now that renting to friends is not a good idea.

Answer 3

You have to decide if you want to keep this "friend" in your life. If you want him in your house (why?) you can still tell him that his stuff was there and if he wants to view the rent as a storage fee, so be it, but he owes it.

If you've decided to toss his user behind, hopefully you had an agreement in writing and tell him he's going to keep his word. You potentially could take him to small claims.

IF you have something in writing, you may have him as a tenant, and you probably SHOULD evict (use the legal remedy) instead of tossing him out because he may be able to sue YOU otherwise. Even without anything in writing, some judges will say there IS a de facto agreement and treat it as a month-to-month, and again, you've got to give 30 days notice.

I'd suggest not getting "personal" and just tell him this arrangement is not working for you and in 30 days he AND his stuff need to be out. You might just want to let what is owed slide to be free of him. He probably will figure he can shack up with his girlfriend AND he will probably also end up being kicked out there and very well may have the nerve to show up at your door. Don't let him in.

You may also need to change the locks. I know I would.

Good luck, this is going to be a big mess.

Answer 4

Email him back saying he still owes the agreed amount of rent, there are no discounts for holiday breaks.
If he gets difficult - and I hope it doesn't you will have to get firm and either evict him to take in proper tenants with a rent book and tenancy agreement or draw up a formal lkegally binding agreement fot him. This could damage your friendship but he is already doing that by trying to take advantage of you.
Its your house - You're the boss.

Answer 5

Renting to friends and family is never usually a good idea. They will always try to take advantage the best they can. I would say you need to write him a letter explaining that you're going to up his payment and he needs to keep the place cleaner, or you're going to find someone else that will. That discount request sounds pretty bad - how could someone expect that?

Answer 6

She sounds irresponsible. i would not hire to her for the easy actuality that she has a undesirable music record. do no longer experience obligated because of the fact she is exceptionally much homeless. the way i inspect it, its no longer your concern and she or he's the right age to guard her very own themes. Its feels like she might bail out out on you faster or later too in case you provide her the prospect. heavily, pass including your gut feeling and don't it. Like I stated in the previous, you do no longer owe her something. Its super to comprehend you have a huge heart, yet some people take different's kindness as a weak point. i'm standard to be a huge sucker too, yet I certainly have grown a backbone in the process the years.

Answer 7

Give him a letter of eviction. If he didn't pay the rent with the expectations of getting a "discount" then you have every right to ask him to leave. It is still your home and tell him you wish him to vacate the premises.

Answer 8

Renting to a friend is a tricky situation. You should probably ask him to leave. I would ask him before giving him the "notice of eviction" that others have recommended.

Answer 9

I think you know the answer: get rid of him.