I allowed a man to move in my house and rent a room from me. It has been almost 4 years and he is an alcoholic, pays his rent not faithfully, has been unemployed more than employed. I told him I did not want him to smoke in my house but he chain smokes in his room and has ruined my carpet with burn holes. The odor of smoke seeps into other areas of the house. He is inebriated most of time and is embarrassing so I am unable to have company. I have asked him many times to move out but he won't go. Help. I could write more but you have the picture.

Do you have a written agreement?
If you have one you have to terminate under the rules set forth in the agreement.

If you have nothing call the police. They'll get him out. All you have to do is say that he's tresspassing.

Hope this helps.

If you have been allowing him to stay and accepting his rental payments, then you can't just call the police, he is a valid tenant and you must follow the laws in your area.

With some investigating, you can probably find out most of what you need to know, but were it me, I'd talk to an attorney and find out how much it would cost to have them take care of it.

Ever see the movie Pacific Heights? If not, you need to watch it!

Good Luck!

He is a renter, you can give him a notice ( unless you have a long term lease) to move. If he still will not move you will have to go though the housing court for an eviction.

Do you have a written agreement?
If you have one you have to terminate under the rules set forth in the agreement.

If you have nothing call the police. They'll get him out. All you have to do is say that he's tresspassing.

Hope this helps.


The Police won't do anything, he's a tenant (whether he's paying rent or not). He has to be evicted in accordance with the laws in your area.

You'll have to formally evict him. Have him served with an eviction notice. You'll have to allow 30 days from the time he is served. If he still hasn't left then you can have the local police remove him.