Setting House Rules when renting a room out

sitesafe

hi, i've just had a lodger for the first time and her partner stays 2 to 3 nights a week (i did say i didn't mind occasionally but i feel it's being taken advantage of now) but it does annoy me when i get home from work and they are there cuddled up on the settee, and you can hear them kissing, albeit just pecks i feel a bit uncomfy, wish i'd thought about that one! also would like to be able to sit in the lounge in my dressing gown but can't really do that when the lodger b/f is there!

didn't even think about the food thing until she used the arm of my settee as somewhere to balance her dinner plate, i asked that she used trays or table in future and she said she would but hasn't. have also noticed food (but not hot) being taken upstairs without checking that this is ok. before she moved in i put in brand new bed, carpets etc..

think i will be having a little review meeting as some issues like the above are unforeseen if you haven't had a lodger before.

also if you don't have a partner and they do you do tend to feel outnumbered in your home when their partner is around!

good luck - and by the way, you're being very generous doing the bedding every week for them!

pickledpink

sweetpee wrote: »

My aunt has had lodgers for about 20 years and at present has two staying there. She has always had house rules and they do work.

They are:

NO pets
NO Smoking
No Guests staying overnight
No Dinner Guests
No TV or Music on after 10.30 pm unless they have headsets
No Phone Calls (unless urgent) after 10.30 pm - she doesn't want to hear talking from next door while she's trying to sleep
No cooking strong smelling or spicy foods
All food must be eaten on kitchen bench and dishes washed up immediately once finished
All lodgers must supply their own bed linen (they prefer this anyway), their own towels, and buy their own loo paper/washing powder and liquid
All lodgers must clean bathroom and kitchen after use
Lodgers do NOT have use of the lounge but she provides TVs in the rooms for their own personal use
Between the hours of 10.30pm and 7am they must walk quietly and close the front door very gently if they have come home late
No wearing of outdoor shoes in the house - all shoes must be left in porch
They all agree on a set time in the morning when each person can use the bathroom - but they cannot stay in there longer than 15 minutes as everyone has to use it as they all leave for work in the morning
Any breakages must be replaced or paid for immediately
The heating only goes on once the temperature drops to a certain level (not sure which, but she has a barometer) and comes on Mon to Fri for one hour AM and 3 hours pm (7-10)
Weekends the heating stays on longer but not sure of the timings on that

She also keeps a little distance between herself and them as she finds if she is too friendly they'll often take advantage.

It works for her and all her lodgers have always been very decent.

Are they allowed to pass wind? Or do they have to half a mile up the road to let rip?:whistle:

Bogof_Babe

I don't think there is anything too unreasonable about those rules, given that she is sharing her house with the lodgers so it is right that they should respect her wishes as to how the household is run, for the benefit of everyone concerned.

I've said before that if people want the freedom to do their own thing regardless, they should rent a flat where they are the only occupant. In someone else's home you abide by their wishes, or find somewhere else to stay.

christineperseus

Would they be allowed to receive post at YOUR address?
This could affect your credit rating if they have a poor one.

wileycat

christineperseus wrote: »

Would they be allowed to receive post at YOUR address?
This could affect your credit rating if they have a poor one.

As i believe, credit rating isn't done by address any more

If its someones main residence you cant really say no, if its they're second I'd say no permament changes of address for things etc, but other things wouldn't matter.

wileycat

pickledpink wrote: »

Are they allowed to pass wind? Or do they have to half a mile up the road to let rip?:whistle:

How about passing wind after 10.30pm LOL

If you have a second room downstairs, I'd definitely consider making it more of a space you or the lodger could use as a lounge/sitting room so you can get away from them etc.

poppysarah

You've got to have house rules laid out that you can live with and stay happy by. Otherwise the cash benefits of a lodger aren't worth it.

scousethife

Deffinately have a "no lesbian activity" rule!

If they insist on lesbian activity send them round to our house please

~Beanie~

sitesafe wrote: »

hi, i've just had a lodger for the first time and her partner stays 2 to 3 nights a week (i did say i didn't mind occasionally but i feel it's being taken advantage of now) but it does annoy me when i get home from work and they are there cuddled up on the settee, and you can hear them kissing, albeit just pecks i feel a bit uncomfy, wish i'd thought about that one! also would like to be able to sit in the lounge in my dressing gown but can't really do that when the lodger b/f is there!

didn't even think about the food thing until she used the arm of my settee as somewhere to balance her dinner plate, i asked that she used trays or table in future and she said she would but hasn't. have also noticed food (but not hot) being taken upstairs without checking that this is ok. before she moved in i put in brand new bed, carpets etc..

think i will be having a little review meeting as some issues like the above are unforeseen if you haven't had a lodger before.

also if you don't have a partner and they do you do tend to feel outnumbered in your home when their partner is around!

good luck - and by the way, you're being very generous doing the bedding every week for them!

I can relate to this one!

I've recently got a lodger although she was a friend before she moved in, she split with her husband and I took pity on her. She left her husband for another person and when she first moved in, I did state that I didn't want 'John' staying overnight. The reasons are as you say, I can hear everything (small open-plan terraced house) and would like to wander around in my pyjamas without bumping into strange men! I also felt uncomfortable when I came home from work and they were snuggled up on the sofa together.

Anyway, she split with him and is now single. She bought a bloke back last week and although I was upstairs in bed reading, I could hear everything they were saying in the living room. She came up and asked if he could stay the night and I said no - I didn't know him and wouldn't feel comfortable leaving him in my house when I went to work, apart from hearing kissing etc. Also my bathroom is downstairs and I didn't even dare come down for a wee in case I caught them in a compromising position!

I am slightly worried now that originally I only said that 'John' couldn't stay over (being the boyfriend at the time), I think I should have specified no men at all! Other than that, it works well, I don't mind her having visitors or inviting people for tea whilst I'm at work. We share the shopping / cooking and all is good on the whole.

It is just the guest thing that potentially the problem so you really need to make it clear at the outset what is acceptable. I have been in this situation before when I shared a house with someone and they bought people back, I couldn't do anything about it as it was shared. This is MY house and I can set what rukes I like!

neverdespairgirl

sweetpee wrote: »

<rules snipped>

Blimey, she'd have been right at home as an old-fashioned seaside boarding house landlady!