Take in a lodger... official MoneySavingExpert.com discussion

After many years of Hosting Foreign Language Students I decided last month to rent to a Lodger. Unfortunately he has spun me a story yesterday that he cannot pay me rent (1 month in)due to Student loan problems so I have said he will have to leave at the end of the month. I am having to use his deposit for this months rent. This leaves me a bit concerned that I have none of his deposit to back up any problems.

Can anyone give me some advice how to get round this problem please as I want to try again? The only problem I have is that I cannot show any prospective lodgers the room as he moved a 2 bedroom house into my single bedroom!:mad: Also as he advised his plan was to put everything into storage but now says he has not the money to do so what can I do if anything is left at the end of the month?

ps Can anyone tell me i there is a way to keep track of the threads I post on?

I've had lodgers for a few years now and it's been good and bad. For example:

35 year old male managing director.....good job, mature, etc etc Great lodger? NO. I found a decomposed frog in his room after he moved out and a smell so bad I had to replace the carpets.

Best mate that i'd known for a few years...... Good lodger? NO. Tried it on with 2 guys I was seeing at the time (not at the same time may I add. That came later in the year :rotfl: )

22 year old newly qualified teacher......Good lodger? Perfect!! He's quiet, well behaved, looks after himself, comes and goes as he pleases, socialises with me and the boyf but doesn't invade our privacy, pays his rent on time every month. Never had a problem at all! (Apart from the so called best mate coming on to him too, the wh*re :rolleyes: ):rotfl:

A good website I used to find lodgers was: http://uk.easyroommate.com/index.aspx

hth someone....

lady_noluck wrote: »

Best mate that i'd known for a few years...... Good lodger? NO. Tried it on with 2 guys I was seeing at the time (not at the same time may I add. That came later in the year :rotfl: )

22 year old newly qualified teacher......Good lodger? Perfect!! He's quiet, well behaved, looks after himself, comes and goes as he pleases, socialises with me and the boyf but doesn't invade our privacy, pays his rent on time every month. Never had a problem at all! (Apart from the so called best mate coming on to him too, the wh*re :rolleyes: ):rotfl:

hth someone....

Do you think I could get her number?

I can second the best mate bit. Tried sharing a flat with one. Not a good plan. You know how they say if you like sausages then you shoudln't watch them being made? Well if you like your friends you shouldn't live with them.

K

hi all, whats the situation if you let a room to a lodger and give them their own 'mini kitchen' so its more of a bedsit but with shared bathroom?

I shared a house with a friend before getting married and it worked out fine. The deal is to find someone quite chilled out.

Since getting married we have taken in another lodger, a younger guy at college. It is different because we cook for him etc but it has worked out quite well. We also had another friend staying in another room for a while as well which was a little busy.

The key with the rent a room scheme is that you cannot add in expenses on top of rent to avoid the tax threshold. The threshold is on gross receipts from the lodger. Personally I think that this is a stupid rule as it just encourages people to start working with cash and not declaring it. The wonderful thing about the rent a room scheme if you are paid PAYE is that you don't have to opt into it, or out of it, or declare it, just avoid the threshold and crack on.

The council tax single person discount and insurance issues are definitely worth working out for your case, but don't let a bit of red tape put you off.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/Taxes/TaxOnPropertyAndRentalIncome/DG_4017804