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-   -   How do I get the guy living on my couch out of my house (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=357903)

  • May 25, 2009, 10:27 PM
    inkfairy5
    How do I get the guy living on my couch out of my house
    Here is my situation
    A friend of my boyfriend has been living on my couch for several months now in between a 20 day jail stent. He has not had a job or paid rent since he has been here. His temper runs hot and cold all the time. There have been issues in my home since he has been here between he and I and between my regular room mate and I and my boyfriend and I. the issues with him have me at my breaking point I have made several minor request since he has lived here that he has not followed a few examples although minor: don't feed my animals don't open the front door every 10 min and just stand there with it open so my cats don't get out. He has ignored all of my request and the latest confrontation with him he had me cornered in my bedroom with no way out except to jump out of the window. Like I said I am at my breaking point and don't know what to do. This Saturday I gave him notice he had to be out by the end of June trying to be fair. Later Saturday evening he again not respecting my wishes had my front door open for what ever period and now one of my animals is missing and this low life has no remorse. I have read other posts, answers and links on this board but I feel my situation is different. He is not on my lease or any of my utilities but has gotten 2 pieces of mail here from probation, I live in a 2 bedroom apt where my roommate and I are on the lease only. We do not want to get our land lord involved because its not his problem but don't want him here any more. What can I do to get him out sooner than June 30?
  • May 25, 2009, 10:59 PM
    zippit

    You'r going to have to get the police involved,don't be cruel make sure he has some money and an idea of places he can go it would be good if everyone does it colectively.then make sure you have some protection for a few days,chalk it up as a lesson learned I don't even let my kids hangout too long its hard to get rid of someone.I know of a case where I boyfriend went to jail and left the girlfriend behind and the man can't get rid of her even with the cops he has to evict her its taken three months hopefully this isn't your situation
  • May 25, 2009, 11:52 PM
    inkfairy5
    Ty for your response
    I called the police tonight and all they could tell me to do is file a restraining order against him. I'm not trying to go to that extreme I just want him gone as quickly as possible and my home back to some type of normalcy
  • May 26, 2009, 06:00 AM
    excon

    Hello ink:

    Zippits advice is exactly WRONG!! If you've been reading, you KNOW that you must go to court to evict him. That's the law.

    I don't believe you'll get a restraining order.

    excon
  • May 26, 2009, 07:00 AM
    inkfairy5
    Your right I'm not going to get a restraining order its too extreme and unnecessary. I spoke to the police again today and had a chance to further explain my situation apparently him living on my couch is a good thing. They told me since he has no actual bed room and no physical ties to the home I can have him removed immediately by an officer and I won't have to go to court as long as I don't hold what few belongings he has in my hall closet. Thank you for the advice and the police are on their way! :D
  • May 26, 2009, 07:09 AM
    excon
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by inkfairy5 View Post
    but i feel my situation is different. he is not on my lease or any of my utilities but has gotten 2 pieces of mail here from probation

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by inkfairy5 View Post
    the police are on their way!!:D

    Hello again, ink:

    The cops are WRONG. Where did you find them? At the doughnut shoppe?? No wonder!! Living on a couch as opposed to living in a bedroom, is NOT a legal determination. It's frankly jelly doughnut stupidity. Cops should NOT practice law. If they put him out illegally, YOU are the one subject to an illegal eviction lawsuit.

    I doubt, of course, whether that's going to happen, but I stand by my original advice.

    excon
  • May 26, 2009, 07:11 AM
    zippit

    Purhaps the "cornered in the bedroom" was exaggerated if you'r not willing to do anything substanstial to get rid of this loser,if someone cornered me in my bedroom that was freeloading off me he would be out right then if I had to lie to the police thanks ENCRON
  • May 26, 2009, 07:15 AM
    LisaB4657
    excon is 100% correct as usual. Since this guy received mail there he would be viewed by a court as a resident and has to be evicted according to law. If the police remove him and he wants to make trouble he can sue for illegal eviction. The advantage here is that he may not want to start up with the police because of his history and he may not have much knowledge of landlord/tenant law.

    Good luck.
  • May 26, 2009, 07:15 AM
    ScottGem
    excon is correct to a point. My question is does he get mail addressed to him at your address and/or does he have any ID giving your address as his place of residence. {edit: Whoops, I missed the 2 pieces of mail from the OP}

    If he does not have either of those, then I would feel comfortable with calling the police, but ONLY after asking him to leave and giving him a chance to do so.

    A lot depends on how big a town you live in. In most places, getting someone out of your home is a civil matter which the police don't get involved in. But in a smaller community they may.
  • May 26, 2009, 07:31 AM
    inkfairy5
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by zippit View Post
    purhaps the "cornered in the bedroom" was exaggerated if you'r not willing to do anything substanstial to get rid of this loser,if someone cornered me in my bedroom that was freeloading off me he would be out right then if i had to lie to the police thanks ENCRON

    The sittuation was not exaggerated I can see how you would think that though because there are people out there that would lie just to get their way and you don't know me from the next guy, but like I said in my first post he my boyfriends friend. There are going to be times when we are out at a bbq or some other type of function where he may be and to have the restraining order will only cause more discomfort for him and myself. I'm not trying to kick the guy while he is down or go to extreme measures. I live in I guess a medium size town with what I think is a good police dept.

    To asnwer a question he has gotten 2 pieces of mail from probation but does not have an id that says he lives here.
  • May 26, 2009, 07:36 AM
    zippit

    What does your boyfriend think about the situation,it should be him heading up the effort to find his friend a way out
  • May 26, 2009, 07:38 AM
    ScottGem

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by inkfairy5 View Post
    to asnwer a question he has gotten 2 pieces of mail from probation but does not have an id that says he lives here.

    Since this is the Real Estate LAW forum, we have to deal with statutes. You haven't told us where you are so we can't quote specific statute. But most areas would hold that he is a resident and, as such, needs to be formerly evicted. If the formal eviction process for your area is not followed, then you would be giving him grounds to sue you for an illegal eviction.

    By the way, you don't mention if you and/or your boyfriend have asked him to leave. A polite request to find his own place may be all that's needed.

    Another thought is to talk to his PO and see what they can do about finding him a place.
  • May 26, 2009, 07:40 AM
    inkfairy5

    Lisa,
    That's where my confusion comes in with the land lord/ tenant laws. Because I'm technically not a landlore and he isn't technically a tenant. What other resources can I read in case he decides to take it further. I do know he had some rights like I would not have been able to lock him out throw his stuff on the front lawn or prevent him from getting what little stuff he had in my home. Also since I'm not the landlord I'm also confused as to my rights

    Thank you everyone that has replied to this
  • May 26, 2009, 07:44 AM
    inkfairy5
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by zippit View Post
    what does your boyfriend think about the situation,it should be him heading up the effort to find his friend a way out

    On Wednesday he said he has washed his hands of him. He is done trying to help him because every piece of sound advice we have given him he has refused to take and made the situation worse for him which is what landed him on my couch. Last night when I texted him to come get him or I'm calling the police he said he didn't want him in his home either and for me to do what I needed to do.
  • May 26, 2009, 07:45 AM
    excon
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by inkfairy5 View Post
    thats where my confusion comes in with the land lord/ tenant laws. because im technically not a landlore and he isnt technically a tenant. s

    Hello again, inky:

    I'm not Lisa, but I'm not busy at the moment.. You ARE his landlord, and he IS your tenant even though no agreements have been signed or even contemplated between the two of you. But, by virtue of the fact that he's THERE, and that he received MAIL, means that, according to the law, he's a TENANT, and needs to be evicted according to your states landlord/tenant laws.

    We have copies of them right here at the top of the real estate page on a sticky note.

    If the cops are already coming, I don't know what you can do now. I guess I'd let them do their thing, because I don't think you can stop them now. If you try, they'll be pissed at YOU, and that ain't good.

    excon
  • May 26, 2009, 07:48 AM
    zippit

    I think its your boyfriends responsibility to rectafi the situation
  • May 26, 2009, 07:50 AM
    LisaB4657
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by inkfairy5 View Post
    lisa,
    thats where my confusion comes in with the land lord/ tenant laws. because im technically not a landlore and he isnt technically a tenant. what other resources can i read incase he decides to take it further. i do know he had some rights like i would not have been able to lock him out throw his stuff on the front lawn or prevent him from getting what little stuff he had in my home. also since im not the landlord im also confused as to my rights

    thank you everyone that has replied to this

    Since he has received mail at your address, and especially since it's the STATE that has that address for him, for legal purposes he is a resident. Technically that makes you his landlord. Yes, I know that you currently rent from a landlord. That means that you are a sublandlord and he is your subtenant. You have to follow the landlord/tenant laws for evicting him. That means giving him a written notice that his tenancy is terminated and he must move out within xx days. The time depends on state law but in most states it is 30 days. If he hasn't moved out within that time then you have to file a lawsuit for eviction.
  • May 26, 2009, 07:51 AM
    LisaB4657
    I just re-read your original post. If the notice you gave him on Saturday was a written notice, then if he hasn't left by June 30 you can file a lawsuit for eviction.
  • May 26, 2009, 07:52 AM
    inkfairy5

    Scott,
    I live in New Jersey on the cusp of camden county and gloucester county. To answer your other qoustion I did ask him to leave sat before one of my cats went missing I gave him till June 30 but he showed no remorse for letting my cat get out and freaked out on me last night so I told him to leave again and he refused to. That is when I called the police last night and they told me to get the restraining order. I called them again today and the officer I spoke to today also said I didn't have to go to that extreme and they would have an officer come out and remove him
  • May 26, 2009, 08:01 AM
    inkfairy5
    Thank you all again this is all very useful information and I can't thank you enough

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