Anti-social/abusive behaviour from fellow housemate in an HMO
HMO Licensing

NWBricks
NWBricks
1 Thanks
8 Posts
3 years ago
0
This is under HMO Licensing, as there appears not to be an ASB category? But I suspect what I'm about to write is all too familiar in the hidden world of HMO living...

I'm a private LL and have a friend, newly moved into an HMO (1 month ago).
Without discussion, he is now being confronted with aggressive, offensively toned 'notes' from one of the housemates about nominal 'issues' around the property he perceives to be a fault. Not cleaning after him (denied) and having 'no respect', as a result of the perceived no cleaning, for example!
He has also been confronted with the same message verbally, to which my friend walked away rather than get drawn into a slanging match, born out of the aggressor's apparent persecution complex and chip on shoulder.

This is more than a clash personalities, so while my friend feels having a 'chat' about it, or getting some kind of warning issued from the agent (LL absentee) might be feasible, it's unlikely he'll take it on board. Instead, he'll more likely turn up the bullying and intimidation tactics on my friend, who has appealed to his fellow housemates for support, to no avail. It's clear, and I suppose understandable, that they're unwilling to get involved and make themselves targets.

Q- Galling though it might be, to let this bully get away with it, (and probably not for the first time), my friend feels leaving is the most practical for his mental health.. already battered by a housemate in his previous HMO, bringing his girlfriend into the house without consultation or LL permission during the first lockdown, and the useless LL who then permitted her to stay!

Naturally, he doesn't want to stay in the property any more, but if he leaves, he doesn't want to be billed for the balance of his initial fixed term (say 4 months), when his leaving is not his fault.. what do members suggest?

Many thanks

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