Advice Needed - Student Son's housemate threatening violence !

[MyUserName]

Balls, he's backing down to a coward.

He might be a coward but that does not mean he is not potentially dangerous. Even a coward can confront you with a few mates and a potato peeler, especially if they know where you live.

It is not the same as when we were younger, two guys might throw some punches one wins and one looses and that is the end of it etc. When I was active fighting was almost universally one on one, if friends joined in then or others might join in and even the numbers, weapons were a sign of cowardice or insanity.

Now it seems acceptable to mob people, use weapons and severely hurt people (a mate was jumped by 4 guys whilst making a phone call outside a pub and he will spend his life in wheelchair now, he did not provoke them they just wanted trouble). If this guy retaliates it will not be a one on one unarmed fight, it is likely to be an ambush with impossible odds resulting in potentially life changing injuries.

Are you seriously recommending to Platypus that he gambles his son's safety like this?

[NigelJK]

In the first year the Uni Accommodation people have a large say as to what accommodation is acceptable to Freshers. Most will only let Halls of Residence to Freshers for instance. They also administer a list of properties that is sent to freshers to select their accommodation. For the landlord this is the ultimate gravy train and if they on it they'll want it to stay that way. So get your offspring + mate to talk the them to apply some pressure to the landlord. If they can collect some evidence of the bad behavior all the better. The Landlord can suggest to the miscreant that if his behavior does not improve he will be getting his eviction notice under the terms and conditions of the short hold tenancy agreement (quite legal AIUI). In the game of 'get the accusation in first' be sure you get yours into the one that can actually do something ...

[mudskipper]

The proper contractor approach is of course to buy the house they're living in, and then evict the scrote.

You jest, but daughter is sharing a 4 bed house - they're each paying about £85 a week exc bills (for a 12 month lease). That's £17,680 a year. A 4 bed house in Selly Oak can be had for < £150k. Sounds like an excellent investment.

[sasguru]

You jest, but daughter is sharing a 4 bed house - they're each paying about £85 a week exc bills (for a 12 month lease). That's £17,680 a year. A 4 bed house in Selly Oak can be had for < £150k. Sounds like an excellent investment.

I'm always interested in BTLs and had that thought, but students will wreck the place and/or cause the sorts of headaches you see on this thread.
Better professional renters - I always used to make them get a letter from their employer as a ref. Never had any problems

[MaryPoppins]

You jest, but daughter is sharing a 4 bed house - they're each paying about £85 a week exc bills (for a 12 month lease). That's £17,680 a year. A 4 bed house in Selly Oak can be had for < £150k. Sounds like an excellent investment.

Lots of hassle though. She could have come and stayed with moi!

[SueEllen]

Not that I condone it, but perhaps action could be targeted at mummy instead of boy?

That's where the solicitor and police come in.

Every threat to either of the two normal boys needs to be reported to the police and a crime reference number obtained each time.

In the meantime help from the student union and landlord should be sought. If the situation can't be resolved with their help, a letter threatening the trouble maker with appropriate legal action will.

'Mummy' will get a solicitor back but I doubt she would be happy to be stuck paying rent for a whole student house.

[SueEllen]

Lots of hassle though. She could have come and stayed with moi!

Trying to get a cheap babysitter?

[MaryPoppins]

Trying to get a cheap babysitter?

Foiled again.

[Old Hack]

Are you seriously recommending to Platypus that he gambles his son's safety like this?

He sounds like a bully, this kid. It sounds like his mother has supported him throughout his life, and supports him being a bully. It sounds like the OP's son should stand up to him. The on thing bullies thrive on, is fear. Remove the fear, or even give him some fear, you disarm the bully.

In life, no matter how you dress it up, some people only understand violence. They do not understand reason, and see it as a weakness. Some people will see you trying to sort this out over a cup of tea as a weakness, and they'll address the issue accordingly.

What doesn't surprise me, is that the ones on here I believe are noodle armed choir boys, seem to think a chat will sort it out. I'd like to know how well that worked for them at school.

[mudskipper]

Lots of hassle though. She could have come and stayed with moi!

I'll send her round with her washing.