h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I want to ask all the friendly people here for advice on how to get rid of two of my flatmates (which legal steps can be undertaken) They have not paid rent for 3 and 6 months respectively, and our landlord now wants to kick us all out! The problem is that we are all in the contract together, so we are liable for their rent! There are three of us who pay regularly, and the landlord says he will let us stay if we get them out and get new people in...

hmmm, have you told these two flat mates whst the landlord has said?

I'm afraid I don't know the German law. But is there a form of 'legal aid' - a government service, or sth like that - that you can consult?

Failing that, could you try the Jura Dept at the Uni? Maybe one of the students could look it up for you.

If the landlord is on your side...I know it's drastic, but the paying members of the flat could just throw all their stuff out, and change the locks.

We can try some form of legal aid, I suppose... Problem is I, or my parents, may end up having to pay their debts!

surely their parents should though.

One of them's over 30 and working, I don't think his parents can be held responsible anymore...

oh! if hes working what does he spend his money on if he isnt paying rent?

New computers, trips to Greece, beer, who knows! He also doesn't appear to have many customers at the moment...

hmmm, i think it would be best if you got someone experianced involved. maybe you could ask the landlord to send a letter to each person asking for seperate payments?

Good idea, but we already pay seperately! He knows who the culprits are, but we're all somehow legally responsible or something. And they want to kick us out next month!

still living with my family, im probably not much use how about you find two new flat mates, you then wait intill you get kicked out then the two culprits are out of the way move back in with the two new people. it may be a bit far fetched.....

I wish I were still living with my family Would make things a lot easier. This is my first flat, I just moved out in April!

oh right, not really a good start thrn is it. if it gets too much for you im sure your family would have you back.

Sure, but they're three or four hours away by car, bit of a long commute to Uni...

oh,you would have to have very early starts then. am i actually helping, or should ileave post space for other people?

Oh, don't go, any bit helps If nothing else, you might keep me sane! But I'm off to bed soon, have to go confront everyone in the morning

okay good luck with that, you may want to hide the sharp things incase it gets a bit heated! g,night

Law of the jungle. There are more of you than there are of them. Change the locks and stack their possessions neatly on the pavement outside. Except confiscate their computers and other valuables and say, if you don't pay up we will sell them to pay your share of the rent because we like this place and we want to stay.

It's a whole lot easier posting this as a suggested course of action rather than doing it, of course...

Yes, it might get nasty actually trying that... I'm not sure I dare, sounds stupid, but one of them's a well-trained, tall athlete, and could probably beat all three of us in a fistfight If all else fails, we can probably have one dragged off by the police for possesion of the "souvenirs" for which he goes to the Netherlands regularly...

Sounds fair enough to me, I'm a complete coward when it comes to fisticuffs. Do you know any other tall, well-trained athletes who may intercede on your behalf?