The Student Room Group

Flatmate problems

I’ve been living with my two flatmates since November last year and our lease (which is a joint tenancy) expires at the end of this month. I got on with them both really well until a couple of months ago when things started to sour for various reasons.

Last week one of my flatmates announced that she wasn’t going to pay the last month’s rent and is just going to let our landlord take her portion of the deposit instead. I explained to her how selfish I thought this was considering it was a joint tenancy agreement (meaning all the tenants are collectively liable for the rent). And how consequently myself and my other flatmate might end up losing more of our share of the deposit if the landlord choses to withhold some of it for whatever reason. Furthermore, her monthly rent is £30 more than what she put down as a deposit. I also pointed out that she was under a legal obligation to pay all of her rent, but she is adamant she won’t pay and insists that what she is doing is ‘standard practice’. My other flatmate isn't happy about this either but refuses to confront her about it.

I'm pretty sure this isn't standard practice at all...what should I do about this?
Reply 1
Try and persuade her some more... and if its a big worry check out the legality of it... when you signed the joint tenancy agreement did you agree to pay equal amounts?

Also your landlord might be sympathetic towards you if you speak to him/her or ask your landlord to speak to the girl. Kind of tough I guess, since you have to live with her. If she actually doesn't have the money because she's skint you could ask her to go talk to your uni - I know ours has grants if you have problems like that.

And taking it out the deposit when your leaving soon shouldn't make too much difference now - if she pays she'll get the deposit money back in a month, so it coudl only be a problem if she is running at her overdraft allowance or something.

Hope it sorts itself out :smile:
Reply 2
Speak to your landlord directly and tell them the situation.
Reply 3
wesetters
Surely her deposit is twice a months rent though ?


Not always. I paid just under a month's rent as a deposit for my current place, and a month and a half for my next. It seems to depend entirely on how much of a bad day they had when writing the contract. :tongue:
Reply 4
Thanks for your replies. I just contacted my landlord and explained the situation, thankfully he was very understanding. Her deposit was £300 and her monthly rent is £330, so I'm going to have to get the £30 out of her somehow. We all pay different amounts - I pay £300 and my other flatmate £270. She is actually very well off and can easily afford to pay; she's just being incredibly selfish and difficult. Luckily I'm not living with her next year - I'm moving into a flat with someone else!
Reply 5
Guy
Last week one of my flatmates announced that she wasn’t going to pay the last month’s rent and is just going to let our landlord take her portion of the deposit instead. I explained to her how selfish I thought this was considering it was a joint tenancy agreement (meaning all the tenants are collectively liable for the rent). And how consequently myself and my other flatmate might end up losing more of our share of the deposit if the landlord choses to withhold some of it for whatever reason.

The landlord can't claim any more off your deposit for such things.

It's actually a very sensible idea, loads of people do it - otherwise you end up with landlords nicking your cash; and there are a world full of dodgy landlords out there.

Unfortunately there is a rather unpleasant legal presumption in favour of the possessor if you ever raise an action in court to reclaim a deposit.

So I really can't fault her.
Reply 6
good riddance then. nothings worse than living with someone you cant live with