Hello. I live with my pensioner mum (her house) and recently she has taken in a lodger. This lodger who I'll call Annex is British but normally lives abroad and comes here every few years. This is the second time she has stayed with my mum (she has incurred rental debts from last time which are still outstanding). Annex hasn't paid any rent in the three months she has been here this time but promises my mum to pay this (and the debt from before) later when she receives money from family abroad. Annex has family nearby but doesn't want to go there despite an open invite as she would feel obliged to help out with housework. My mum doesn't know any details about Annex apart from her first name and hasn't asked either. My mum is very trusting and naieve of anyone which is how Annex was first able to move in. Recently via my insistance my mum has asked Annex to leave but Annex became very agitated and demand 4 weeks notice be given (one of which has passed). If I try to talk to Annex, she grows very hostile and walks away, saying she'll only speak to my mother with whom the original agreement was made. No written note of this agreement exists, btw. My mum doesn't seem worried but I am. What worries me most is that we know nothing about Annex and she has the run of the house including her own key. I'm worried she's just going to drag more time out of my mum until she needs to leave the country again. Essentially my mum doesn't see the bad some people can do and has come to take pity on this person who (I feel) knows this and manuipulates my mum further to extract more compassion.

I would like to know if I have any legal recourse here. Am I able to ask for a copy of her passport legally? I would like to ask Annex some background details (like her name! and address abroad, including UK family address) just for my peace of mind but I'm quite certain she'll say no. Am I then able to call the police and ask them to extract this information. Is this a case of taking advantage of an elderly lady? And if so, can you tell me more about it please.

Thanks for any advice you can give me.

Hi pidgeon,
the problem here i think is that the property belongs to your mum and if she see`s fit to let someone stay then that is really down to her, as for background checks, this can only be done with their permission, everyone, including visitors to our country have the same human rights, which also covers privacy. If you can not explain your concerns to your mum you could try contacting age concern to see what they say.

I think you and your mum should know her name at least! I agree with surfar999 that it is down to your mum to decide who can stay, but what if she gives your address as hers for credit purposes etc? It wouldn't sound quite right, if you will have to say that this person lived here from time to time over a period of few years, but you don't know her name. Would it?