Tennant Moved out owing €600

[joeysully]

Well iv got myself into a predicament,

I Have a lease on a house that I'm living in and rent out the rooms in the house to tenants. The landlord is aware of this and it is agreed.

I have been doing this for nearly 5 years now and it suits me as the landlord doesn't call over unless there is a need. everyone pays equal amount of rent to me and bills are split down the middle.

so all was going well until one of the tenants finished college and decided that he was going on the dole and get rent allowance.

I had to contact the landlord in order to do this. This took over a month to get the process started due to me being on holidays and the landlady being away also. so there was a delay in the whole process. This seems to annoy the fella off anyway. He threatened that he wouldn't pay rent until he got his form filled in and I told him that his agreement is with me and not the landlady - The rent is the same and if he didn't pay then he had to go.

So some time passed and I realised that after rent and bills that hadn't been paid he owed €600. I had to lock the door of the house to get him to pay. This continued every month and he turned up with the one months rent after I got cross and upset about it.

So rent was due last week and didn't see it in my account so rang him several times and didn't get an answer.

then yesterday I noticed that his bike was gone. Went up and found his room locked. Got it open and it was cleared. So he has done a runner owing €600 to me which I have paid for his rent and light over his head.

I rang his phone several times and got no answer. Did a bit of searching and found his parents phone number and address. Gave them a call but hung up when I said who I was and when I rang back they said that nobody of that name lives there.

So he wont talk to me - I don't really have a forwarding address except his parents. So what can I do ?

Im feel like a right fool now for leaving him stay for so long without paying up. I still don't know if he did get his back pay on dole or rent allowance.
And I don't think he or his family are short of cash either.
He has been travelling all over Europe representing Ireland in sporting events

 

[donee]

i think we both know, unfortunetley you'll never see your money again

 

[aristotle]

Forget it, you wont get the money. As you stated, you are dealing with these "tenants" rather than the landlord so you are always going to be at risk of this sort of thing.

You should speak to the landlord and see if he will take the hit or a % of it. To be fair if you are there 5 years and the landlord has had such an easy ride then he\she should be willing to shoulder some of the pain. You have been doing a good bit of the landlords job.

 

[joeysully]

Thanks for the replies

What are my options for total harassment of this person?

Is it a good idea - what is allowed / not allowed.

 

[K-Man]

The guy owes yoiu 600 euro - I don't see what's wrong with calling him a few times to get a conversation with him.

People don't like to be called lots as it inconveniences them - worth doing some repeat calling 4-5 times per day (morning, lunch, afternoon, evening) for a while until he actually answers and speaks with you.

Let us know what you decide to do.

 

[Time]

People don't like to be called lots as it inconveniences them - worth doing some repeat calling 4-5 times per day (morning, lunch, afternoon, evening) for a while until he actually answers and speaks with you.

And you will end up getting charged under section 10 of the non fatal offences against the person act 1997. See here.

 

[K-Man]

And you will end up getting charged under section 10 of the non fatal offences against the person act 1997. See here.

I wonder what frequency of contact would not constitute breach of this act then - once a day, once a week ? 600 euro is a lot of money to sit back and make no effort to recoup.