Does anyone have experience of lodgers?

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Does anyone have experience of lodgers?
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Mary-Jane

Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 18397
Location: The Fishing Strumpet is from Ceredigion in West Wales

Posted: Sat Jan 26, 13 11:23 am Post subject:

alison wrote:

If you want to get those things done, for any lodger, how long will it be?

Well the kitchen will probably be another month. I've got a temporary one in the outhouse which is * agricultural* at best

I guess I could be working on the bedroom in the meantime...

Nicky cigreen

Joined: 25 Jun 2007
Posts: 9868
Location: Devon, uk

Posted: Sat Jan 26, 13 12:55 pm Post subject:

I have been a lodger and had lodgers in my home.

I would not worry about the small room - the rent should reflect tht - it's own en suite is a dream!

renting a room can work out well and certainly the money helps - we did have a friend as a lodger and it was a mistake as it put a strain on the relationship. Choose carefully - think about things that might matter - like i they are a smoker etc. Be prepared to say its not working if it isn't, and try again.

Went

Joined: 19 Mar 2006
Posts: 6968

Posted: Sat Jan 26, 13 1:00 pm Post subject:

colour it green wrote:

- we did have a friend as a lodger and it was a mistake as it put a strain on the relationship. Choose carefully - think about things that might matter - like i they are a smoker etc. Be prepared to say its not working if it isn't, and try again.

Same here - once let a friend lodge and it spoilt the friendship. How about the University - a Masters or PhD student who is here for a fixed time might be a good start? The accommodation office might have people on their books looking for a short-term let.

gil
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 18415

Posted: Sat Jan 26, 13 1:34 pm Post subject:
Or someone on a temporary / fixed term contract - research fellow, or temp lecturer. Preferably who will go home at weekends, or go and see a partner (though the partner might visit for a weekend). If it's a small bedroom, you really need access to somewhere else to sit, so the comfy chair in the kitchen sounds ideal (and/or a kitchen table to sit at). Or to be allowed to use the sitting room.

Bebo

Joined: 21 May 2007
Posts: 12590
Location: East Sussex

Posted: Sat Jan 26, 13 3:31 pm Post subject:

Mary-Jane wrote:

Bebo wrote:

Will you have somewhere to retreat?

Ummm, sitting room, dining room? But that presupposes they would be happy to watch the TV in their room.

Ours used to be in their rooms a bit, but the sitting room was always available for them, as was the kitchen. We had a separate kitchen / sitting room area upstairs so we didn't have to mingle with them if we didn't feel like it and if they had friends round they had the sitting room / kitchen downstairs to themselves.

But if you've got two reception rooms (which it sounds like you have) you can always go in the other one if they are annoying you.

We always just advertised locally or found people through word of mouth (the other lodges would occassionally found someone when a room was empty and we had a few graduates from where I work as well). Wouldn't bother with an agent unless it was an entire property I was letting and then mainly so that they were responsible for the letting agreements etc. With lodgers I don't think they can get any tenancy rights so you have no difficulty asking them to move on.

If I were you I'd ask the gardener if they want somewhere straight away but on a discounted rent until the kitchen is done. They may jump at the offer.

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Sat Jan 26, 13 3:36 pm Post subject:
Gardening at this time of year probably sucks. Can he also decorate?

RichardW

Joined: 24 Aug 2006
Posts: 8443
Location: Llyn Peninsular North Wales

Posted: Sat Jan 26, 13 3:42 pm Post subject:

Penny Outskirts wrote:

You don't have to pay tax on the income either, under the rent a room scheme.

Just remember there is a limit to how much is exempt & also what level of service you provide. If like has been suggested they have there own separate areas then that is not a lodger so would not be exempt.

linky

Mary-Jane

Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 18397
Location: The Fishing Strumpet is from Ceredigion in West Wales

Posted: Sat Jan 26, 13 4:04 pm Post subject:
Thanks for that Richard. I'll print it off and pop in and see my accountant with it.

Penny Outskirts

Joined: 18 Sep 2005
Posts: 23385
Location: Planet, not on the....

Posted: Sat Jan 26, 13 4:07 pm Post subject:

RichardW wrote:

Penny Outskirts wrote:

You don't have to pay tax on the income either, under the rent a room scheme.

In MJs case, it is defintely rent a room Richard. She can take up to £4250 a year without paying tax.

Mary-Jane

Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 18397
Location: The Fishing Strumpet is from Ceredigion in West Wales

Posted: Sat Jan 26, 13 4:07 pm Post subject:

Bebo wrote:

If I were you I'd ask the gardener if they want somewhere straight away but on a discounted rent until the kitchen is done. They may jump at the offer.

Well I've emailed him and he has responded and seems interested. I thought I'd clear the room out in the next couple of weeks so he can at least see the size of it.

I do see what you're all saying about the discount thing, but the house really and truly needs to have the kitchen finished and the room/en-suite sorted first because of the layout. It would be awkward otherwise...

chez

Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 35935
Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset

Posted: Sat Jan 26, 13 6:36 pm Post subject:

We had various lodgers during our time on Merseyside. Mostly Poles and mostly through the website spareroom.co.uk.

We offered them use of the kitchen and utility - washer, drier etc - and one of the downstairs receptions. Oh, and use of broadband. The other reception we kept for ourselves. It worked out very well, apart from what is now known as 'the shagging in the bath incident' whilst we were on holiday when one chap had his girlfriend visit. The kitchen ceiling was never the same after that; and we later found out that the lady across the road was charging people for tickets to pop across for a cup of tea when he opened the curtains starkers in the morning. Apart from that, it was a very positive experience.

I think there is now a Mon-Fri website as well, particularly directed at working week-type lodgers.

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Sat Jan 26, 13 9:16 pm Post subject:

Chez wrote:

we later found out that the lady across the road was charging people for tickets to pop across for a cup of tea when he opened the curtains starkers in the morning. Apart from that, it was a very positive experience.

do you know any normal people? Seriously, where do you find all these lunatics? You must be attracting them somehow, I never knew anyone with such a high proportion of completely mad aquantainces (this is not necessarily a bad thing. You must never be short of an anecdote at dinner parties...)

gythagirl

Joined: 18 Feb 2010
Posts: 1467
Location: Somerset

Posted: Sat Jan 26, 13 9:43 pm Post subject:

Mary-Jane

Joined: 13 Jan 2005
Posts: 18397
Location: The Fishing Strumpet is from Ceredigion in West Wales

Posted: Sat Jan 26, 13 10:53 pm Post subject:

wellington womble wrote:

...do you know any normal people? Seriously, where do you find all these lunatics?

*Cough* Well, they're members of DS for starters...

VM

Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 1748
Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Sat Jan 26, 13 11:44 pm Post subject:

I've had many, many years experience of lodgers in London and Manchester, but not any more now in lovely Lincs.

What Bebo said about advertising, agency etc.

I've had very good experiences with long term friendships resulting. But I've also had some truly terrible ones - think I may be able to rival Chez for number of seriously weird people encountered in one life - think one does attract them though not sure how!

Perhaps the worst was the guy who told us he'd got cancer when in fact he, er, hadn't got cancer. That went on quite a long time - we had suspicions but it's not easy to accuse someone of not being seriously ill!

My only serious advice is to trust your gut instincts when meeting people with a view to them sharing your space. If something feels off or you just don't like them, don't be afraid to say No. My bad ones have almost all been people I didn't want, but I was too busy wanting to seem like a nice person so said yes when meant no.

Have fun

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