Q. I am renting out my own home to a ‘so called’ friend, Alice, under an assured shorthold tenancy while I am working in Scotland. I took a small deposit from her of £500 but did not do anything with it. My job in Scotland is ending sooner than expected and so I will need my property back at the end of her current six months term.

Alice has now told me that she is not willing to leave, that I cannot evict her as I did not protect her deposit and that if I try to make her leave she will go to court claiming a £1,500 penalty for failing to protect the deposit.

I am horrified. I cannot afford court proceedings and I need my home to live in. Surely these rules do not apply to me as I am not a professional landlord?