having a lodger
Discussion
jamie128 said:
I am considering having a lodger in my house so i can have more spending money, a nice car etc, i have a small brain that thinks if I rent out 1 bedroom of a 2 bedroom house with only 1 bathroom I will make so much money I will be able to buy a big flashy car and girls will like me and they will have sex with me lots.
bucksmanuk said:
I am now on lodger no.14
Is there anything in particular you would like to know?
Yes - where did you hide the other 13!!?Is there anything in particular you would like to know?
Seriously though, very interested in this topic (lodgers.. not just hiding them) A friend did it for a few years and had 3 great females in a row. No bother at all. 2 teachers, 1 nurse.
We've had three to date. Two females, one male. One private, two council provided:
One was an absolute pleasure with whom to share our home and paid in full, in advance and on time, was respectful of our home, cleaned up after themself, always asked if they could have a guest over before doing so.
One ended up leavuing us ~£800 short of rent, barely worked and was noisy into very unsociable hours - often.
One stole from us, lied to us and treated our home like a doss-house and free-guest house for their friends, made premium rate calls to loan-sharks on an itemised phone line, racking up a huge bill and denied all knowledge.
Guess which were which.
One was an absolute pleasure with whom to share our home and paid in full, in advance and on time, was respectful of our home, cleaned up after themself, always asked if they could have a guest over before doing so.
One ended up leavuing us ~£800 short of rent, barely worked and was noisy into very unsociable hours - often.
One stole from us, lied to us and treated our home like a doss-house and free-guest house for their friends, made premium rate calls to loan-sharks on an itemised phone line, racking up a huge bill and denied all knowledge.
Guess which were which.
I’ll answer the questions then!
Not married - no wife to worry about.
The other 13 were dissolved in acid/buggared to death- although I have no idea where the majority are now. Some I keep in contact with, some I really don’t want to.
Some basic rules from (for) me
Use spareroom.co.uk – pay for the bold advertising - it does work.
Find out how much the rooms go for locally. Charge that + a bit.
Charge a bit less for 5 days a week (10%), then you get your house to yourself at the weekends.
Don’t be too greedy with your charging - a month without rent takes some catching up on. You can earn up to £4250 pa on the room without paying tax.
Go on the principle that 20% of the time the room will be empty.
Pick an age range you are happy with, if anything go older than younger. I have only taken 1 under 28 and the bloke was immature to the point where I could have stabbed him at times.
People who have been lodgers before are far better than those who haven’t.
Make sure they know the difference between being a lodger and a tenant.
If they don’t turn up with the full deposit when you ask them to - get rid.
Tell them to choose a day/date when they pay their rent, AND STICK TO IT. No exceptions.
Take cash, cold hard cash, no standing orders, no cheques, just cash.
Young attractive girls are a PITA. I have never had one of these as lodger, but mates have. Stay away.
Trust your gut instincts - if you don’t like them for whatever the reason when they look round, don’t have them staying in your house.
I don’t have rules for lodgers; I tell them if they are a sensible adult, they won’t need any. I also tell them if they want to chance something, just let them try it on.
Your lounge is yours; you are not to be made to feel unwelcome in your own house.
The majority are fine people who really do add something to the house. I have had just the one I really did want out of the house within 3 days of arriving.
Any thing else?
Not married - no wife to worry about.
The other 13 were dissolved in acid/buggared to death- although I have no idea where the majority are now. Some I keep in contact with, some I really don’t want to.
Some basic rules from (for) me
Use spareroom.co.uk – pay for the bold advertising - it does work.
Find out how much the rooms go for locally. Charge that + a bit.
Charge a bit less for 5 days a week (10%), then you get your house to yourself at the weekends.
Don’t be too greedy with your charging - a month without rent takes some catching up on. You can earn up to £4250 pa on the room without paying tax.
Go on the principle that 20% of the time the room will be empty.
Pick an age range you are happy with, if anything go older than younger. I have only taken 1 under 28 and the bloke was immature to the point where I could have stabbed him at times.
People who have been lodgers before are far better than those who haven’t.
Make sure they know the difference between being a lodger and a tenant.
If they don’t turn up with the full deposit when you ask them to - get rid.
Tell them to choose a day/date when they pay their rent, AND STICK TO IT. No exceptions.
Take cash, cold hard cash, no standing orders, no cheques, just cash.
Young attractive girls are a PITA. I have never had one of these as lodger, but mates have. Stay away.
Trust your gut instincts - if you don’t like them for whatever the reason when they look round, don’t have them staying in your house.
I don’t have rules for lodgers; I tell them if they are a sensible adult, they won’t need any. I also tell them if they want to chance something, just let them try it on.
Your lounge is yours; you are not to be made to feel unwelcome in your own house.
The majority are fine people who really do add something to the house. I have had just the one I really did want out of the house within 3 days of arriving.
Any thing else?
When I had my first house I worked for a big company, so after a few months when I felt I was ready for a lodger I contacted Personnel (HR these days). A company that size was always having new graduates starting, or people relocating from another site, so it was no problem to get first one, then two, lodgers. The fact we all worked for the same company meant there was a much higher chance of getting on.
I got a useful contribution to the mortgage and Personnel was able to 'place' two people, so everytone was happy.
I got a useful contribution to the mortgage and Personnel was able to 'place' two people, so everytone was happy.
jamie128 said:
First of all i dont care about my spelling its a forum not a university assignment, so grammer police shut up.
I was wondering if there would be a type of person who wouldent be around much?
Do you take any notice or are you determined to come across as completely thick?I was wondering if there would be a type of person who wouldent be around much?
bucksmanuk said:
I’ll answer the questions then!
Not married - no wife to worry about.
The other 13 were dissolved in acid/buggared to death- although I have no idea where the majority are now. Some I keep in contact with, some I really don’t want to.
Some basic rules from (for) me
Use spareroom.co.uk – pay for the bold advertising - it does work.
Find out how much the rooms go for locally. Charge that + a bit.
Charge a bit less for 5 days a week (10%), then you get your house to yourself at the weekends.
Don’t be too greedy with your charging - a month without rent takes some catching up on. You can earn up to £4250 pa on the room without paying tax.
Go on the principle that 20% of the time the room will be empty.
Pick an age range you are happy with, if anything go older than younger. I have only taken 1 under 28 and the bloke was immature to the point where I could have stabbed him at times.
People who have been lodgers before are far better than those who haven’t.
Make sure they know the difference between being a lodger and a tenant.
If they don’t turn up with the full deposit when you ask them to - get rid.
Tell them to choose a day/date when they pay their rent, AND STICK TO IT. No exceptions.
Take cash, cold hard cash, no standing orders, no cheques, just cash.
Young attractive girls are a PITA. I have never had one of these as lodger, but mates have. Stay away.
Trust your gut instincts - if you don’t like them for whatever the reason when they look round, don’t have them staying in your house.
I don’t have rules for lodgers; I tell them if they are a sensible adult, they won’t need any. I also tell them if they want to chance something, just let them try it on.
Your lounge is yours; you are not to be made to feel unwelcome in your own house.
The majority are fine people who really do add something to the house. I have had just the one I really did want out of the house within 3 days of arriving.
Any thing else?
can you make the lounge yours lol? i thought you had to share the whole house really Not married - no wife to worry about.
The other 13 were dissolved in acid/buggared to death- although I have no idea where the majority are now. Some I keep in contact with, some I really don’t want to.
Some basic rules from (for) me
Use spareroom.co.uk – pay for the bold advertising - it does work.
Find out how much the rooms go for locally. Charge that + a bit.
Charge a bit less for 5 days a week (10%), then you get your house to yourself at the weekends.
Don’t be too greedy with your charging - a month without rent takes some catching up on. You can earn up to £4250 pa on the room without paying tax.
Go on the principle that 20% of the time the room will be empty.
Pick an age range you are happy with, if anything go older than younger. I have only taken 1 under 28 and the bloke was immature to the point where I could have stabbed him at times.
People who have been lodgers before are far better than those who haven’t.
Make sure they know the difference between being a lodger and a tenant.
If they don’t turn up with the full deposit when you ask them to - get rid.
Tell them to choose a day/date when they pay their rent, AND STICK TO IT. No exceptions.
Take cash, cold hard cash, no standing orders, no cheques, just cash.
Young attractive girls are a PITA. I have never had one of these as lodger, but mates have. Stay away.
Trust your gut instincts - if you don’t like them for whatever the reason when they look round, don’t have them staying in your house.
I don’t have rules for lodgers; I tell them if they are a sensible adult, they won’t need any. I also tell them if they want to chance something, just let them try it on.
Your lounge is yours; you are not to be made to feel unwelcome in your own house.
The majority are fine people who really do add something to the house. I have had just the one I really did want out of the house within 3 days of arriving.
Any thing else?
jamie128 said:
can you make the lounge yours lol? i thought you had to share the whole house really
I sort of do....I don't watch telly at all, but there is one in their room. Therefore the desire to sit in the lounge for the whole of the evening isn't there. I have done this for the past 4 lodgers and it keeps them away a treat.
They can sit there and read, but that’s about it. I am out and about or in the workshop for the rest of the time.
bucksmanuk said:
I sort of do....
I don't watch telly at all, but there is one in their room. Therefore the desire to sit in the lounge for the whole of the evening isn't there. I have done this for the past 4 lodgers and it keeps them away a treat.
They can sit there and read, but that’s about it. I am out and about or in the workshop for the rest of the time.
you put a tv in thier room and that keeps them out of the living room? sweet lolI don't watch telly at all, but there is one in their room. Therefore the desire to sit in the lounge for the whole of the evening isn't there. I have done this for the past 4 lodgers and it keeps them away a treat.
They can sit there and read, but that’s about it. I am out and about or in the workshop for the rest of the time.
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