What to Do When Housemate Took off without Paying Rent and Bills

Lwhatsmyusername on 25/01/2018 - 11:07
Last edited 25/01/2018 - 15:12 by 1 other user

Hi everyone,

I need some advice.

My housemate has taken off without any warning. He'd disappeared for a few days and I've just found out that he'd taken all his clothes with him too. I tried to call his mobile but went straight to the message bank. Sent message to his FB, WhatsApp and Instagram but no reply. He still owe me rent and bills.

He was referred to me by a friend and silly me I didn't take photo of his driver licence or passport nor ask for a bond. I have contacted my friend who is currently living overseas. My friend and the housemate are both from the same country. The housemate is on a working visa and trying to apply for PR.

What can I do?

Many thanks.

Home & Garden

Comments

  • John Kimble on 25/01/2018 - 11:08
    +14

    Drink

  • Quantumcat on 25/01/2018 - 11:26
    +19

    Nothing, learn your lesson and ask for a decent sized bond next time :-)

  • mbck on 25/01/2018 - 11:39
    +5

    watch 'Taken', get inspiration and just do it.

    • mbck on 25/01/2018 - 11:39

      not killing…finding the guy…sheeez

      • whatsmyusername on 25/01/2018 - 11:41

        :)

        • mbck on 25/01/2018 - 11:42

          for real though, not much you can do…no leads (not even a voice recorded). BUT you've learnt your lessons, so you can avoid this in the future.

        • whatsmyusername on 25/01/2018 - 11:44

          @mbck: haha I have his ABN and business FB page though if that helps

        • onetwothreefour on 25/01/2018 - 11:56
          +2

          @whatsmyusername: give him a bad review on Facebook and move on.

        • Quantumcat on 25/01/2018 - 12:43
          +2

          @whatsmyusername: Yes what onetwothree said, if you take any other public action (like messaging his friends or family) it will just come back much worse for you

  • [Deactivated] on 25/01/2018 - 13:36
    +4

    Remember - he knows where YOU live.

  • Findo on 25/01/2018 - 14:03
    +3

    Bikies would actually be a sensible option right now. Did you have a rental contract drawn up at all?

    • whatsmyusername on 25/01/2018 - 14:29

      Hmmm not really. He just moved in to replace my previous housemate.

  • Euphemistic on 25/01/2018 - 15:18

    How much does he owe? a couple of hundred is a life lesson. Over a grand is worth chasing.

    • whatsmyusername on 25/01/2018 - 15:58
      +1

      It is over a grand

      • myusername on 25/01/2018 - 16:43
        +1

        username checks out lol

        good luck getting it back this type of thing has happened to me on multiple occasions over the years.

        did you get any form of bond off him when he moved in?

        • whatsmyusername on 29/01/2018 - 09:28

          LOL re: username

          No bond at all. It was paid for by the previous housemate who asked for it back after he'd moved in. Didn't think to ask for a bond from the new housemate. Big lesson learnt.

        • myusername on 29/01/2018 - 11:11
          +1

          @whatsmyusername:
          best of luck mate

  • Halo375 on 25/01/2018 - 15:55
    +3

    Depending on how much it is you might want to take them to a small claims court. There's some information here but I don't know how relevant it is: https://www.gotocourt.com.au/legal-news/recover-small-debt-i…

    I would think that this person might consider paying you IF they knew that this court action could lead to them not being given permanent residency. I DO NOT KNOW IF THAT IS TRUE - but it could be a pressure point to investigate.

    • whatsmyusername on 25/01/2018 - 15:59

      Thanks mate. Will look into it

      • Beven2008 on 27/01/2018 - 15:52
        +1

        Go to court if it is a criminal case. I am not sure whether this is a criminal case or a civil one. His PR application will be affected if it is a criminal case an he will try to settle it

  • chumlee on 25/01/2018 - 21:45
    +6

    Bluff him on facebook and say you will contact Immigration and cause issues for him unlesss he pays up

    • Candour on 26/01/2018 - 07:09
      +6

      do not bluff. tell him clearly that you will report him to immigration. with a deadline to pay. tell him you will make a police report. do these things if he does not pay up. keep him 'posted' on FB etc of what you have done. he may be unpleasant. it is nasty when unethical people renege on the kindness of strangers.

      • whatsmyusername on 29/01/2018 - 09:35

        He has blocked me from his FB account… I haven't posted anything on his FB (and still don't plan to). He blocked me after I'd sent a message asking if he was ok as I hadn't seen him at home for a few days. He left his food and grocers in the fridge so I didn't suspect anything. After he's blocked me and my calls to him went straight to his voicemail, I checked his room and realized that he had taken all of his belonging with him.

    • DiscoJango on 26/01/2018 - 12:03
      +4

      why bluff. just straight up call immigration\the police\his university\employer and advise them that this is the type of individual they are dealing with. permanent residency to a thief and criminal? i dont think so. bye bye. why give a criminal any second chances, especially someone so low as to run off without paying rent and bills.

      • whatsmyusername on 29/01/2018 - 09:34

        Totally agree. That's what I'm thinking of doing.

        • Candour on 29/01/2018 - 13:34
          +1

          do so and let the friend who recommended him know what youa re doing so he can get this grub to pay up. we trust others and then they cheat us. some ozB members then mock us. not very nice. just don't let the knockers here get to you

    • kiitos on 26/01/2018 - 14:56

      I agree with this, though I imagine without proof of any arrangement they could just deny it.

      • whatsmyusername on 29/01/2018 - 09:32
        +1

        I have a message from him saying that he will pay me rent soon (this is when he couldn't pay the rent and a few weeks before he took off).

  • batfastard on 26/01/2018 - 07:30
    +3

    A wise man once told me, if you lend someone 100 bucks and never see then again, it was probably worth it.

    He told me this a few years ago, so taking into account CPI increases and variables regarding the lender's level of unpleasantness, the 'worth it' threshold must be pushing the $1000 mark in this instance.

    • whatsmyusername on 29/01/2018 - 09:34

      I'm trying to take the whole situation that way :D

  • [Deactivated] on 26/01/2018 - 13:35
    +1

    Post about them on Facebook housing groups

  • Zachary on 26/01/2018 - 16:26
    +1

    wow made an account just to post this gg….

    lol rip

  • DemocracyManifest on 16/03/2019 - 17:43

    Cut your losses and if you are in a financial hole go to a provider which provides electricity bill relief and get it written off. Done. Bugger the courts.

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