Can l be in trouble for evicting him

[Stella66]

My ex-partner has been living in my cousin's house for almost a year. Im responsibe for the house, my cousin works abroad. We have a young daughter, so it was convinient for me to have me stay there to help with the childcare. He has been a student and struggling to keep up with the rent, so l was helping him out and agrred that when he completes his course he can take out a loan and pay some of the rent back.
Last weekend he got a loan, packed his suitcase and flew to see a woman he met on facebook without even telling me, or paying for the rent. Im sure he will be coming back pennyless.
Im planning to sell his futniture to recover the rent money. Can l be in trouble for this? He does not have a tenancy agreement, l just let him stay. The furniture was taken on credit, so he will still be liable to pay.

[ummmm]

You have to warn him about them. By letter if possible. I think that applies even if the stuff belonged to him.

It was only last week....it would look like you were just being vindictive. A woman scorned and all that.

[Stella66]

He didnt tell me he was going away, so lm not responsible for the care of his furniture. How much notice should l give him to dispose of the goods.24 hours? I suppose l can email him or send him a text, that way l will be covered, right?

[hc4361]

Don't you owe your cousin rent for subletting his house?
Does your cousin own or rent the house?
Does your cousin believe his house is empty?
What name are the utility bills in?
It all seems very dodgy

[hc4361]

You must give him at least one month's notice.

[jackthehat]

Yes, you are responsible for looking after his property............for a good deal longer than the next 24 hours.

Whether you had the *right* to let him stay in your cousin's place, you let him stay, in any case. He has purchased (via finance) furniture for that property. He has a right to use that furniture up to, and beyond, the point that he finishes buying it from the creditors.

As he has been gone only a week, he could reasonably be expected to remove his belongings after the expiration of another fortnight (that may even be a bit quick, to cover you legally)....

You may be panicking and/or a bit miffed by all of this, but it doesn't mean that you can ride roughshod over the law, I'm afraid.

[Stella66]

My cousin knows he is living in the property, like l said l was paying his rent. He owes me not my cousin. The bills are in my cousin's name. I cant give him a month notice, he just has to go. The keys are all sorted, its the furniture which lm a bit hesitant about, but l feel lm right by selling it, though some of the replies here have scared me a bit.

[jackthehat]

You are *not* right by selling it.....even if you feel that in some way it makes you 'square'.

he's not behaved well, but you have left yourself wide-open to be taken advantage of.

Why is it so important that his furniture is removed so quickly ?

[Stella66]

Because l want him to find it gone when he comes back next week.Then he can make a fresh start.I suppose l can put up for storage and see what happens when he comes. If he calls the police l will give it back.

[hc4361]

You said
Stella66
Question Author
no they dont, he doesnt even know that he lives there.

So does he know or doesn't he? Who's been paying the bills?
Are you paying your cousin rent? Doe he think you live there?

[jackthehat]

So, basically, you want to play mind-games with the father of your child ?

Leave the stuff where it is, tell him he needs to sort the money out he owes you and that he needs to find a new place to live.

Do it the grown-up way and you'll feel better about yourself, in the long-run....you may also find that your daughter has nothing for which to reproach you when she grows up...

[hc4361]

So you know he is coming back? He's your ex but you've thrown a strop because he's gone on holiday with another woman?

[TonyV]

you have no claim on the items that remain in house - they do not belong to you - so you cannot sell them - howver evicting someone without a tenanacy aggreement is a totally differnt thing

[joko]

do you really think he will just go off and 'make a fresh start' after you do this? i would drag you through the courts and make your life a misery if you sold all my stuff...

i know you're angry and believe me we all understand how you must feel...but you have no rights here so dont make things worse for yourself...get back at him in some other way...

[boxtops]

You can't get rid of the stuff, as said, you can't sell it.

If he's not earning,how did he get a loan, how did he buy the stuff on HP? I hope it's not in your name or joint with you, otherwise you will be liable for that too, now he's done a runner....

[ummmm]

Runner or holiday?

[boxtops]

Stella says "I'm sure he will be coming back penniless" - I wouldn't even be sure he's coming back. You don't just book a holiday with any old stranger on FB. If he cares not one jot about doing this, I'd get shot of him - father of your child or not.

[ummmm]

Stella doesn't seem to be thinking straight.