Evicting Housemate That is Renting Out Vacant Room For Prostitution

Lcatalina36 on 07/01/2019 - 23:42
Last edited 10/01/2019 - 20:55 by 1 other user

I’m currently living in a very nice apartment.

However, I found out that a housemate has been secretly renting out one of the recently vacated rooms to prostitutes and their clients (i.e. operating a "love hotel" type business). I believe this has been going on for 1 to 2 weeks.

I don’t want to go into details about how I found out (to preserve anonymity), but point is that I found out.

I’ve told the landlord, who has instructed her to stop using the room for prostitutes. As far as I know, these services have stopped. The housemate and I now actively ignore each other, and I think it’s pretty obvious that I was the snitch.

Here’s my problem. I would like this housemate to be evicted immediately. I obviously feel pretty uncomfortable sharing a home someone who was running a brothel out of the place where I eat, shower and sleep. However, the landlord is dragging his feet on evicting her immediately. The reason is to avoid end up losing money on an empty room while finding a tenant to replace her.

After reading the tenancy laws, I found out that there are sufficient grounds to evict this housemate immediately (for using the premises for illegal activities). Hence, I could involve the authorities to make the landlord evict them immediately. However, my lease ends in a month and I think if I did this, he would just not renew my lease.

I would really like to stay at my current place.

So how should I approach him? Do I try to work out a middle ground, bite my tongue or something else?

UPDATE

Thanks for the responses everyone.

The LL said that she will be leaving by a particular date. However, I'm not celebrating until her crap is out on the street and her keys are on the dining table.

There's some expectation on me to help find replacements. Anyone interested in a room which may or may not have been used for certain services?

In the meantime, I will be sanitizing the common areas and appliances including the washing machine. And until she leaves, I'm going to just hope I don't get stabbed or poisoned.

Home & Garden

Comments

    • Montyjpm on 10/01/2019 - 07:50
      -1

      Would this be the case of the OP being jealous of no action?

  • jjjaar on 08/01/2019 - 08:45
    +4

    Just leave the place at the end of the month. Sure it sounds like a great place for a cheap price, but if you can’t trust your roommate, and they won’t leave, then it’s the only option to keep yourself and your belongings.

    • catalina36 on 08/01/2019 - 12:04
      +15

      I said that "as far as I know, these services have stopped". I'm not at home all day, but yes you're right, people who run illegal brothels are the most trustworthy peoples ever.

      Also there's no lock on my room door.

      • payton on 08/01/2019 - 12:17
        +2

        Also there's no lock on my room door.

        Your underwear drawer and laundry basket are at risk. Expect one or two items will go missing

      • try2bhelpful on 08/01/2019 - 12:49
        +3

        Ask the landlord for a lock, if I was sharing house with someone I don’t know well that is the first thing I would install. If it comes down to it the landlord might prefer her to you; especially as you are the one complaining. Talk to the landlord see if you need to find a new place or if the other person is leaving.

        • skeptic on 08/01/2019 - 18:40

          The landlord would prefer to keep the other tenant to OP, but I'm guessing for a reason other than OP complaining…

          • try2bhelpful on 08/01/2019 - 18:49

            @skeptic: You sound like Tony Abbott winking when the sex worker was on the line. Maybe the lady is a better tenant than the OP

            • payton on 08/01/2019 - 20:17
              -4

              @try2bhelpful: honestly I have NFI as to why Tony Abbott winking once is seen like a crime against humanity
              its a human moment, I mean how many times in the life does one get a call from a working gal?

        • payton on 08/01/2019 - 20:25
          +1

          this. all you need is Landlord's approval and you can buy your own lock and get it fitted
          no need to wait for LL to buy/install/etc
          LL more likely to agree if you agree to return it to its original state upon vacating

      • HighAndDry on 08/01/2019 - 18:34
        +1

        I mean, it's not really your business - it's the landlord's. If he's satisfied it's stopped, that's it.

    • skeptic on 08/01/2019 - 18:30
      +3

      I'm not convinced of this logic. Say you were molested by a priest, would you say the same?

      "The priest's molestation has stopped, why are you still so set on convicting him? Mind your own business. Or are you just bitter he didn't let you in on the action?"

      Stopping a behaviour does not excuse you of the consequences.

      • HighAndDry on 08/01/2019 - 18:33
        -5

        Did…. did you just compare effectively running a love hotel with molesting kids? First of all, what's wrong with you?

        Secondly - OP was never personally harmed by this, this was basically a regulatory/zoning issue more than it was even a civil torts, much less a criminal, issue. And again, even if it were, OP wasn't the victim.

        And it's not OP's property. OP is a tenant as much as the other woman is a tenant. To me it just smacks of someone trying to act all superior and moralising over someone else.

        • try2bhelpful on 08/01/2019 - 18:45
          +3

          I’m with you on this one. FFS comparing consensual sex, albeit with commercial overtones, to child molestation is about as low as you can get. If she has stopped then the OP needs to learn to move on or move out.

        • skeptic on 08/01/2019 - 18:50
          +5

          Wait, so is OP supposed to mind his own business and pretend nothing occurred. That is terrible advice!

          I believe your accusations are reaching. You've thrown several personal attacks at OP, based merely on OP's preference of not wanting to cohabit with a tenant whom invites prostitute friends or business partners and their clients without the consent of the landlord.

          And my point still stands - stopping a behaviour does not absolve you of the consequences.

          • HighAndDry on 08/01/2019 - 18:51
            -2

            @skeptic:

            based merely on OP's preference of not wanting to cohabit with a tenant whom invites prostitute friends or business partners and their clients without the consent of the landlord.

            I mean, he's free to have his preferences. He's not free to force those onto others. I'm not criticising him for his preferences. I'm criticising him for feeling entitled to have others bow to his preferences.

            stopping a behaviour does not absolve you of the consequences.

            Sure, but the consequences for this was basically getting a stern talking-to from the landlord. It's up to the landlord if they want to proceed with evicting the other tenant, and so far they don't seem to be going that route. It's not up to OP to exact these consequences - see what I mean by they seem to want to lord over others?

            • catalina36 on 08/01/2019 - 20:16
              +7

              @HighAndDry: It's not my preference to not want to cohabit with a tenant who uses the premises for illegal purposes. It's my RIGHT to not have to.

              • payton on 08/01/2019 - 20:20
                +3

                @catalina36: i agree its an unwritten law in that you don't invite some randoms into a shared place without express agreement from the other tenants
                your friends and people you know, thats cool, but not a revolving door of Johns and rands

              • HighAndDry on 09/01/2019 - 10:09

                @catalina36: Sure, and it's no longer happening so your rights are fine now.

          • try2bhelpful on 08/01/2019 - 19:09

            @skeptic: Why shouldn’t he get past what has happened if she has stopped? Why is this terrible advice, as it sounds like the OP didn’t suffer any actual personal injury here. There are plenty of worse things the other tenant could’ve done. Given the OP is trying to cost the landlord money by trying to force the other tenant out I would be looking for two new tenants; if I was him.

            • skeptic on 08/01/2019 - 21:37

              @try2bhelpful: I'd be thanking my tenant if they had the honesty to inform me of dodgy activities that could ruin my investment's future income.

              There are plenty of worse things the informant could have done… like cop some bangs in return for keeping their mouth shut and minding their own business!

              • try2bhelpful on 08/01/2019 - 21:42

                @skeptic: I doubt this will "ruin my investment's future income" - I think this is hyperbole quite frankly. If she was cooking meth that would be a different issue - that stuff gets into the fabric of the house. Shagging doesn't have the same effect.

                • skeptic on 08/01/2019 - 22:27
                  -1

                  @try2bhelpful: It is certainly not hyperbole.

                  dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3761776/Brothels-hold-answer-investors-looking-break-Sydney-s-property-market.html

                  Brothels could hold the answer to investors looking to break into Sydney's property market.

                  These properties and their seedy past could offer opportunities for buyers looking to purchase a home in the city at a much cheaper price.

                  'The prices of these properties are not only reliant on their current use but also on their previous uses and how it's perceived by buyers,' Chris Momitsas, director at CJM Property Group told Domain.

                • Montyjpm on 10/01/2019 - 07:54

                  @try2bhelpful: It would be damaging the bed right?

        • catalina36 on 08/01/2019 - 20:14
          +13

          HighAndDry you are deliberately missing the point of the comparison to distract readers.

          I don't think skeptic's objective was to suggest that child molestation and operating an illegal brothel are comparable in terms of the severity of the crime. Rather, the objective was to show that they are both crimes which can occur over a period and then stopped. Stopping the crime now, doesn't suddenly make the past criminal acts OK.

          • try2bhelpful on 08/01/2019 - 21:40

            @catalina36: Using these as comparisons is inappropriate. If she was just bringing home a whole bunch of guys to shag every night would be similar.

            • payton on 08/01/2019 - 21:44

              @try2bhelpful:

              bringing home a whole bunch of guys to shag every night

              and this is acceptable how?

              • try2bhelpful on 08/01/2019 - 21:54
                +2

                @payton: It is certainly much more acceptable than a priest molesting a child. The other point is that if she was just shagging a whole bunch of guys then there is no issue he can go back to the landlord about - but the effect is the same.

            • catalina36 on 08/01/2019 - 22:37
              +3

              @try2bhelpful: Gees maybe I gave you too much credit.

              Ok we'll replace the child molestation example with say someone secretly stealing $5 a week from your bank account. They've been doing it for the past year but now they've stopped.

              And since it was only five dollars so you weren't really affected - in fact you didn't even notice it. So everyone should just go on their merry way now?

              • try2bhelpful on 08/01/2019 - 22:48
                +1

                @catalina36: However you are out $5 if the money was stolen. The OP isn’t out anything but his outrage that he has shared his property with a lady of negotiable affection. The fact that you guys were even putting child molestation in the same comparison is completely objectionable, so don’t come back with your “too much credit” rubbish. As I said before the OP should move on or move out.

                • catalina36 on 08/01/2019 - 22:53
                  +1

                  @try2bhelpful: I am the OP

                  Ok how about if they hacked into your account to take money from your account but replace it later (with interest).

                  • try2bhelpful on 08/01/2019 - 23:04
                    +3

                    @catalina36: Point is still there, especially as you are the OP. What she did was no direct illegal offence against you. Hacking into my account would have been an offence directly against me. I stand by my comments.

                    • catalina36 on 08/01/2019 - 23:13

                      @try2bhelpful: Doesn't need to be a direct illegal offence against me for her to suffer the appropriate penalties (immediate eviction is permissible for "using the premises for illegal purposes").

                      I'd say we should punish poachers but it's not like they did any direct illegal offence against me.

                      • try2bhelpful on 09/01/2019 - 07:54
                        +4

                        @catalina36: Every example you are using here involves a physical loss either to yourself or, in the case of poachers, a loss to the life of the animal. There is no physical loss anyone has experienced with the co-tenant running a brothel. You may not be comfortable with the situation but she has not stolen anything from you nor caused injury of death to another creature. From what I'm reading the landlord is not exatly "thanking" you for saving the future value of his home, given he has not taken immediate steps to request her to leave, and you are concerned you may be manouvred out of the place once your lease is up. I'm not sure the landlord shares your "righteous" views, especially as she has now stopped. Go to the authorities - if they are bothered to investigate, given the issue is no longer ongoing, she will probably get a fine and told not to do it again.

                        So if you found out that your co-tenant had breached any other business code would you be demanding their eviction; or is just this one?

                        • catalina36 on 09/01/2019 - 09:24
                          +1

                          @try2bhelpful: You keep dismissing the validity of an example by picking up some irrelevant characteristic about the example which differentiates it from my situation.

                          With the child molestation example, that wasn't valid because it was "too objectionable".
                          With the bank account example, that wasn't valid because that's a "direct illegal offence against me"
                          With the poaching example, that's not valid because "there's a physical loss to myself or animal".

                          A crime is a crime. All crimes must be punished.

                          How about driving a car with a suspended licence? That one is not objectionable, not a direct illegal offence against anyone, does not involve physical loss to myself or animal.

                          But you're going to find something wrong with this example now too.

                        • saintmagician0 on 11/01/2019 - 00:05

                          @try2bhelpful: I don't understand why you find this so hard to understand, is "un-necessary risk" not a good enough reason?

                          Most people would dislike a housemate who keeps leaving the door unlocked, because of the increased risk of theft, even if the theft hasn't happened. Most people would dislike a housemate keeping the oven on and leaving the house, because of the increased risk of fires, even if no fires have happened as a result.

                          The more traffic you have in your house, the more likely someone is going to decide to steal something, or accidentally break something, or leave the door unlocked when they leave. Sure, those things all may not have happened yet, and they may all happen even if your housemate wasn't running an illegal brothel out of the spare bedroom, but that's what risk is. What happens if someone else dobs in the housemate for running an illegal brothel out of the spare bedroom, and the police coming knocking at 3am, I sure as hell wouldn't want to be there.

                          These are perfectly reasonable reasons why someone would want to kick out the housemate. The fact that there may be legal grounds for eviction just means a legal eviction is probably the easiest way for this to happen.

                          • HighAndDry on 11/01/2019 - 10:08

                            @saintmagician0:

                            Most people would dislike a housemate who keeps leaving the door unlocked,

                            OP can dislike the housemate. OP just doesn't have a right to force them to be evicted.

                            The more traffic you have in your house, the more likely someone is going to decide to steal something, or accidentally break something, or leave the door unlocked when they leave.

                            So OP should be able to force the eviction of people who have lots of friends to invite over?

                    • Other on 10/01/2019 - 13:43
                      +2

                      @try2bhelpful: It is completely irrelevant if she did it against op or not.

                      She committed an illegal act, period.

                      Op wants to stop illegal act - Op IS 100% in the right.

                      • HighAndDry on 10/01/2019 - 18:19

                        @Other: The "illegal act" has already stopped. From the OP:

                        I’ve told the landlord, who has instructed her to stop using the room for prostitutes. As far as I know, these services have stopped.

                        And again, it's illegal in terms of a contract breach or zoning breach, not in terms of being a crime.

                • whitey on 08/01/2019 - 22:56
                  +1

                  @try2bhelpful: Lol, the OP is who you are arguing with.

          • HighAndDry on 09/01/2019 - 10:11
            -2

            @catalina36: There's nothing to show she was "operating an illegal brothel" as opposed to just leasing out the room on a short-term basis (much like airbnb).

            There's no crime here - if there were, I'm sure you'd have gone screaming to the police already. This is purely a tenancy/zoning issue.

            • Other on 10/01/2019 - 13:46
              +1

              @HighAndDry: How do you know? - perhaps Op found advertising, which suggests there is actually criminal activity occurring, and don't want nosey OzB's trying to find it.
              (like those weird ass people who take their families out on outings to murder scenes (without family knowledge) and then blog about how they searched the area on those "I am a detective" websites, & yes people actually do that - sickos).

              Why would he go to the Police? He might just want her out and not annoying him by inviting 100's of horny men into his house, rather than having her arrested.

        • idonotknowwhy on 09/01/2019 - 11:56
          -1

          Did…. did you just compare effectively running a love hotel with molesting kids? First of all, what's wrong with you?

          Can't +1 this point enough. What the (profanity) is wrong with people??
          And what's worse, you have 5 downvotes and he has 5 upvotes so far…
          This means it's not just a single lunatic but that other people are relating to them…

  • whitey on 08/01/2019 - 22:52
    +6

    It is quite legal to run a Wholesale business from home, but not a Hole-Sale business.
    Hide your toothbrush and anything else that can be "tampered" with till you get a lock on your room.

    • catalina36 on 08/01/2019 - 23:00

      I haven't cooked food here since. I rinse my toothbrush pretty thoroughly now, and then it's all blind faith from there.

      I'm about to throw out all the food in my fridge just now in fact.

      • Roman Sandstorm on 09/01/2019 - 10:15
        +7

        I'm about to throw out all the food in my fridge just now in fact.

        What? Because there might be…. 'hooker cooties'?

        They opened your frozen beef mince, slobbered on it, and then resealed and refroze it? Or spat in your orange juice?

        Is there wholesale disgorgement of bodily fluids occurring inside your fridge?

        Are you suggesting that your pimp/madam housemate and/or her guests have somehow adulterated your food? As a part of their… unsafe? unclean? unsavory? practices?

        Perhaps I would carefully wash the continental cucumber, but I'm sure there's no issue with the Deep Spring mineral water or the Bega tasty Cheese.

        • catalina36 on 09/01/2019 - 10:50
          +8

          Hahaha lol

          Nah just worries about potential retribution from housemate. I'm a known snitch now.

        • ChatCPT on 11/01/2019 - 13:57
          -2

          Roman Sandstorm she already mentioned this. read before you speak

      • frewer on 11/01/2019 - 16:28

        Can get an ultraviolet light bulb, it may freak you out.

    • try2bhelpful on 08/01/2019 - 23:08
      +1

      I would be more concerned if my house mate was a frat boy with this sort of thing than a hooker. She is likely to be more professional, the frat boy is much more likely to be a compete twat.

      • AddNinja on 09/01/2019 - 08:50
        +14

        Perhaps, but the sex-industry, especially when unregulated, is rife with abuse. I would be very much concerned if a flatmate was running a brothel inside a shared domestic premises. The concerns about hygiene and safety are completely reasonable - given that the flatmate ignores rules regarding running businesses inside a home, why would you feel confident they are showing good judgement elsewhere?

        I understand that sex-workers are judged negatively in Australia, and that this is probably what is triggering your pro-flatmate views, but that doesn't mean the flatmate gets a free pass for running a brothel out of a bedroom.

        • bluesky on 09/01/2019 - 16:32
          +1

          the sex-industry, especially when unregulated, is rife with abuse

          Some of the abuse make one’s hair stand up, just reading it : I was kidnapped in London and trafficked for sex.

          These sex workers are punished multiple times; by the traffickers, and then by the authorities – all the while staying in a hell they cannot escape.
          In Northern Ireland, based on testimonies of the lucky ones who managed to escape:

          The Human Trafficking and Exploitation Act, passed in 2015, made Northern Ireland the first and only place in the UK where the act of buying sex is a crime. The act of selling sex, by contrast, was decriminalised.

          I would imagine some modified form of this act – criminalising the buying of sex from unlicensed/unregulated parties – would stop some of this misery. So the buyer has the responsibility to ensure they are buying from licensed regulated places. But I confess I do not know all the angles to this issue, and still finding out about it.

      • Other on 10/01/2019 - 13:51

        @try2bhelpful You seem pretty chill - Can I start a brother up at your house? Just give me you address. Note: There might be random dug taking and needles left around by the brothel workers or customer but 'ehhh (can you actually promise Op that won't happen? Perhaps you would be happy to pay a deposit to Op in good faith that it won't happen?).

        • HighAndDry on 10/01/2019 - 18:20

          Think you might want to work on your reading comprehension mate. No one is defending using the room as a short-term love hotel - that's already stopped and rightly so.

    • VerticallyIntegrated on 11/01/2019 - 17:44

      if it’s gonna be that kind of party I’m gonna stick, my dick, in the mashed potato

      beastieboys

  • timmy_tam on 08/01/2019 - 23:17
    +3

    just move
    im sure it'll be easy enough to find another similarly nice place somewhere else

    theres too much bad angst in the house, break free and start fresh somewhere else

    • alikazi on 12/01/2019 - 17:03

      Yes, moving out is the best option. Paying any amount of rent and living in a constant state of anxiety is not a way to live. OP should move out for her own peace and also realise that the owner will actually have a hard time keeping a replacement since the replacements will also find out what's going on in the house and complain or move out. Then it's the owners problem whether its worth it for him to allow this operation continue in his house, potentially causing him legal problems or a damaged house.

      • HighAndDry on 14/01/2019 - 11:01
        -1

        OP's anxiety is her own issue. I don't see her paying the landlord for psyche therapy.

  • bluesky on 09/01/2019 - 00:41
    +6

    So how should I approach him? Do I try to work out a middle ground, bite my tongue or something else?

    You are the one who reported this to the landlord in the first place. If he is happy with the status quo, and has not taken further action, you have already gotten your answer. I would just find a new place, and move.

    I can understand your fears, and you should be able to choose the people you run into and associate with on a daily basis. Moving out is a hassle, but in the larger scheme, may be worthwhile.

  • Aneurism on 09/01/2019 - 01:59
    +2

    Any discount for ozbargainers ? :)

  • mattyman on 09/01/2019 - 02:59
    +5

    I don’t want to go into details about how I found out (to preserve anonymity), but point is that I found out.

    "Hmm this one's close to me. I might make a booking."

  • Hirolol on 09/01/2019 - 05:54
    +3

    Seems like most of the comments are just jokes.
    It’s a shame because this is a serious issue.

    I would just try and get her evicted.

    If you get her evicted that means there will be one more room vacant.
    If your landlord was so concerned about losing income then I don’t think he will evict you by not renewing your lease as that means he will have 3 vacant rooms.

    • HighAndDry on 09/01/2019 - 10:14

      The landlord makes decisions on who to evict. OP has no right to force the landlord, and if he keeps being a pain he'll end up being the one who has his lease not renewed.

      • skeptic on 09/01/2019 - 13:42

        Speaking of "rights", what is your take on whether the other tenant had a right to rent out the vacant room behind the landlord's back for prostitution?

        • HighAndDry on 09/01/2019 - 14:09

          They didn't. Which is why when the landlord told them to stop, they had to stop. Also why the landlord can evict them, but it's up to the landlord, not up to OP.

  • DarkOz on 09/01/2019 - 07:09
    +4

    Where do you live? I want to move in!

  • hotdish on 09/01/2019 - 08:27

    Call the Australian Border Force and tell them you suspect prostitutes are here illegally and/or forced into to sex work (modern day slavery). Then inform both the housemate and owner you've done this.

    Sex workers aren't illegal dependingbl on the State but working here on tourist visas is.

    • canyoudoitcheaper on 09/01/2019 - 20:03

      What makes you think they aren’t Aussies?

      • Montyjpm on 10/01/2019 - 14:49
        +1

        They were moaning in accents

    • Other on 10/01/2019 - 13:53

      Why tell landlord and tenant??? - just report it to border force.

  • AddNinja on 09/01/2019 - 08:51
    +2

    Tell the landlord that you are seeing guys hanging around the house at all hours - including door knocks from strangers. So if he is not going to evict her, that you want a video security system at the front door. Then just put a sign on the front door notifying people that all people entering the property are videoed and that footage may be passed onto the police. One way or another, I think this will fix things.

  • Herbse on 09/01/2019 - 09:32
    -4

    Just move. You dug yourself a hole by snitching without thinking of the consequences.

    Yet another ozbargain "I made a mistake and need help weasling out of it" thread

    • Noophe on 09/01/2019 - 10:17
      +12

      Weaseling out of things is important to learn. It’s what separates us from the animals .. except the weasel

  • Homr on 09/01/2019 - 10:38

    Following

  • Fier2 on 09/01/2019 - 11:38
    -2

    If i was the landlord i would have kick both of you out because at the end of the day both of you didn't respect each other privacy.

    • SnakeCasablanca on 09/01/2019 - 14:26

      Exactly. As a landlord myself it is not about the money. It's more about having people beholden to me who I can judge according to my morals / preferences. Hahaha.

      • Fier2 on 10/01/2019 - 15:33

        If you are a landlord and you rent rooms out, you will expected people to respect each other. Respect start from not using the premises for other purpose. Respect start from not spying on each other and live together quietly. If the landlord haven t kicked out the other person then it s none of op business. You're happy, you stay. If you're not, you leave. You don t need to harass the landlord over it as he/she took note over what happened and might wait before taking actions.

  • yoba on 09/01/2019 - 12:11

    just checking if topic starter settled on freebies / coupons with his roommate's biz yet?

    • payton on 09/01/2019 - 12:50
      +1

      Discounted coochie is not the best coochie, its a spit bucket

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