Renting a room in our house out for the first time

Jensplat · 13 July 2007 at 1:32PM

I just wondered if anyone could give me some advice please....

My husband and I are going to rent out one of our bedrooms to help to pay the mortgage. I have arranged for someone to come and view it on Monday - we had a brief phone call as I was on my way out to work so all I learned about her is her name and that she works.

When she comes I have no idea what to say!!! I don't want to ask too many questions incase it looks nosy but I obviously want to know about her as she will be sharing our house five days a week!!

Can I ask where she works, what she does etc ? Can I ask her age? If she has a boyfriend (incase he ever stays over).. etc etc....

I would be grateful of any suggestions of questions from landlords and tenants so that I can go about the "meeting" confidently.

Thanking you in advance

robmcdougal90 · 13 July 2007 at 1:41PM

you can ask them anything you like, youre letting this person into your home and you need to make sure that they wont be a danger and they will respect that, if they dont like the questions they obviously have something to hide

webbo1406 · 13 July 2007 at 1:54PM

Hi,

Werent a room out for exactly the same reason. We always ask for a reference from an employer... they are only too happy to do that. So long as you have a contract stating your house rules and what is included in the rental of the room you should be OK. Also get one months rent in advance. Things to think about.... is she cooking in your kitchen? Sort out maximum fridge space.... we had one guest who took over the fridge, we had to tackle her straight away about it.... it's the little things that can cause grief...
good luck..

seven-day-weekend · 13 July 2007 at 1:59PM

Also be clear on whether you allow them to sit in the 'family' room to watch TV, or whether they are expected to watch it in their own room.

We always used to say that the lodger was allowed in our sitting room 'by invitation only'. We shared the rest of the house.

pcwilkins · 13 July 2007 at 2:08PM

Ask everything you want to know. If she doesn't want to tell you then she's not the kind of person you want in your house. And if your nosy about her, she will feel more comfortable being nosy about you, which she needs to be. She needs to find out whether she wants to live with you just as much as you need to find out whether you want her to live with you!

If you don't ask whether she smokes/takes drugs/plays the saxophone you may regret when she's moved in! Although having said that I believe that lodgers have practically no security of tenure.

I lodged with a family with 3 children for a few years and it worked out well --- kids were ok most of the time and I think I only lost my temper with them once...

Peter

Jensplat · 13 July 2007 at 2:16PM

Would I have to have an official tenancy agreement or can I write my own contract type thing...?

pcwilkins · 13 July 2007 at 2:20PM

Doesn't have to be "official". Best to have something written stating the "rules" and responsibilities. When I lodged it was all verbal and we kind of made the rules up as we went along.

Peter

jobbingmusician · 13 July 2007 at 2:27PM

About the boyfriend issue - I always used to specify that people were allowed to have their BF/GF to stay for up to 3 nights in any one week. Any more than that and I expected extra rent, for use of heat, light etc.

And I did sometimes specify how many loads of washing were allowed a week, to prevent lodgers taking over the w/mach!

You should also spell out that the key of the house is for the lodger's use only - you don't want them giving your key to their unknown friends. (You can relax this one when you know them better - it is sometimes acceptable for the very well known BF/GF to borrow a key).

Sometimes you might need to spell out a clothing rule - dressing gowns to be worn around the house sort of thing. Helps from both sides.. if your lodger is new at this, she might be reassured that there won't be any naked or scantily dressed landladies or husbands around the place

Having said all this, I rented out rooms for many years as a single female, and never had any serious problems

Most lodgers became good friends!

[Deleted User] · 13 July 2007 at 2:37PM

I rent out rooms, and did suffer a psycopathic lodger from hell but lucky was only there for a short time before moving work contract so just stuck it out. But how do you legally chuck out people that you rent a room too do you have to apply to the courts or can you simply provide notice and thereafter change the locks? Luckily everythings ok now+ i do license agreements but am interested if anyone has experience of this for future ref.

pcwilkins · 13 July 2007 at 2:43PM

Yant1 wrote: »

But how do you legally chuck out people that you rent a room too do you have to apply to the courts or can you simply provide notice and thereafter change the locks?

Lodgers have no security of tenure so you can require them to leave at any time without prior notice. Except of course if you have agreed beforehand to give some notice. No court procedure applies.

I think you would have to let them have their belongings before locking them out!!!

Peter

[Deleted User] · 13 July 2007 at 3:19PM

If thats true then thats fantastic news! I definatly have no quarms with letting them have there possessions LOL I normally ask for a address of a relative now so if worst comes to worst i could drop off there possessions at teh relatives

Renting a room in our house out for the first time

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