Shady friend :(

[marka5300]

Ok, I rented a flat in London with 3 other guys, although the landlord only knew there was 2 in total (accepted by the estate agents for us to proceed with this). I covered my friend on the contract while the other 2 did the same.
Then my friend was expelled and went back to France after 3ish months at the flat. We agreed before he left that he would pay 2 further months for the flat before I left myself and the other 2 found new flat mates.
Altogether, from rent he owes me £900 plus £300 when I helped him finacially before he left, including his eurostar back to France (£200)! So £1400 and that still is a little short.
I have emailed his dad several times and sent a letter to his house in France but have been completely ignored. Can I win this case? Even though he lives in France now? Considering the only backup I have is word of mouth. Please help! thanks

[Kermit]

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[girl with sharp teeth]

Let me get this straight, you sub-letted a room you were renting to a mate and now he's done a runner and is living abroad?

In that case I'd say you have very little chance of getting your money off him. Sub-letting is usually forbidden in tenancy contracts so you were probably in breach of yours. I'm also guessing that there was no formal contract agreed between you and your mate so you have no evidence.

You could put in a civil claim for the money using the county court system to try and obtain a county court judgement (CCJ) against your friend, however, you might not win considering the above, and also even if you did win, it would be nigh on impossible to enforce the judgement if he is living in France.

Normally with a CCJ, if the defendant ignores the judgement and refuses to pay there are a range of things you can apply to the court to do, such as sending the bailiffs round, putting a charge on property, having money deducted directly from salaries and so on. But as he is not living in this country, you don't have those options. Sorry.