One day, Jason answered the door just in a t-shirt – hiding his bits behind the door as he poked his head around. Adrian kept his head high, not looking down, but just being aware that the bits were there in his field of vision.
Jason had been texting complaining about the fact that Peter hadn't yet moved out, which was ironic, as Adrian had been trying to get to talk to him to give him his notice.
Jason (9.54am, 7 August): Grear just had to inform my family they got to wait another 2 months to come visit me.
Jason (11.12am, 7 August): I just got informed that your throwing me out from pause teds worker. Thats not right.
Jason (11.14am, 7 August): Can u ring me please im out of credit.
Adrian (11.14am, 7 August): Jason. I came to your room to speak to you yesterday to tell you I will be issuing you with a two month notice to quit the house. Hopefully when I am there the next time we can speak. Adrian.
Jason (11.17am, 7 August): About what. Youve already made up your mind. Just send me my notice in the post. Dont think ill ever meet landlord as nice n understanding as you but there you go. How does the boared n bond thing work.
Adrian (11.22am, 7 August): Jason. We can have a chat soon about bond etc. In the meantime think about starting to clear rubbish at side and rear of house and attic. Thanks. Adrian.
Jason (11.23am, 7 August): Can you ring me please?
Jason (8.11am, 8 August): Hi Adrian sorry to bother you im a little confused n need a little information if im to find a new place. What is the exact reason for my eviction notice because thats the first question the housing people are going to ask me.
On 8 August, we also received a call from the council:
‘Hello, can I speak to Miss Rebecca Lynch, please.’
‘Speaking,’ I replied, not correcting the title (to 'Dr') as I didn’t know if I was speaking to friend or foe and I'm selectively officious.
‘I’m a housing support worker and we’ve had a visit today from Jason Thomas. He says he is a tenant of yours at 7 Hill View.’
‘Yes, that’s right.’
‘Well, he says he’s being asked to leave.’
‘Yes, he is.’
‘Well, can I ask you why?’
‘Actually I’m under no obligation to give you a reason. As his landlord, we can give him two months’ notice to leave, without giving a reason and we’re in fact giving him nearly three months, which is plenty of time to find somewhere else.’
‘Well, I’m only asking in case there’s anything we can do to help him rectify anything so that you withdraw the notice.’
‘That’s not going to happen.’
‘So there’s nothing we can do?’
‘No.’
Of course, I had to be on my guard. I would have liked to have said:
‘Well, he’s smashed a loft window, taken a door off its hinges, started to build a shed in the garden right next to the house, even putting in foundations, which it will now be murder to get rid of having made a complete pig’s ear of it and he’s turned his room into a filthy hovel, so that it will have to be completely redecorated and he’s dismantled the bed and almost definitely ruined a new mattress, wrecked the carpets too – all in his usual paralytic state – and filled up the spare room and attic with all manner of junk and made it necessary for Adrian to make countless trips to the tip to dispose of all the bits of furniture, wood etc. that he must pick off skips thinking he’ll make something out of them, but never succeeding and never paying his top-up rental contribution without numerous reminders and now hasn’t paid for months and he answers the front door with just a t-shirt on and his bits hanging out and he winds up poor Peter as though Jason is holier than thou and as though Peter is the only alky about and, along with the other useless tenants, he continually makes the house filthy and stinking, despite Adrian’s regular visits, cleaning up their shit after them….’
If I’d said any of this I could be guilty of ‘retaliatory eviction,’ and maybe he could take me to court! So, no thank you, I’ll just keep it zipped. With his visit to the council having got him nowhere he texted once more.
Jason (4.49pm, 8 August): May I have my written warning a.s.a.p. Please. x
Adrian (5.17pm, 8 August): Hi Jason. My ‘phone has been off for personal reasons today. I will send the notice at weekend. Adrian.