Setting House Rules when renting a room out

sitesafe

mlz1413 wrote: »

Sitesafe did you agree to b/f staying over at all in the first place?
If you did agree were amount of days discussed?

I would talk this through with the lodger and say that you are uncomfortable with the arrangement, say that you do not mind the b/f staying 1 or 2 times a week but want it to be agreed/ you informed beforehand. Say that if the b/f stays over once a week then you won't increase her rent but if it's going to be 2 nights a week you want a bit extra towards the bills - this could be a % of her rent or just a round sum like £10 a week.

Mainly don't feel embarrased about tackling this issue, you have allowed it out of kindness but it is an issue because it has become regular, so you need to discuss it now before it does become 7 days a week!

hi mlz - i did say verbally, 'i realise you have a b/f and i understand you may want him to stay over occasionally which is fine so long as you let me know in advance'; lodger shook her head and said 'don't worry as i'll be at his most weekends' - and so far she is but it's not guaranteed and that is their choice, it doesn't give them a licence to come and go as they please in between and i gain nothing from the space as i work weekends and then have to tolerate her b/f during my weekend (which is mid week) - so the only time i get to truly relax i can't really

i know her argument will be that she stays at his on a friday and saturday night but it's not just about that, instead of one extra person using my stuff i've now got two, and it wasn't him i interviewed it was her!!!

thanks mlz

mlz1413

Her staying at his is nothing to do with you, it's your house and you agreed to let a room to her, I assume her stuff stays in the room every weekend?

If your weekend is mid-week say that he is not to come over then - it's your house.

If she is unhappy then it maybe time to let her go and get someone else, but I really think setting down acceptable and not acceptable should be enough. Remind her you need to know if he is coming over and if he arrives one day without you being informed/asked then make sure to say he can't stay, you will have asked her twice by this point so you need to be firm.

Good Luck!

sitesafe

yes i keep putting it off but must do something sooner rather than later, i feel a bit of a meanie but it will eventually eat away at me and then it might cause resentment and bad feeling....

they are very much loved up and spend all spare time together as they are both young....

they won't like this i am sure but at the moment neither do i

thanks again

Jowo_2

I've browsed a number of advice threads, including this one, to compile sample lodger house rules. Feel free to review and provide feedback.

I'm moving back into my property that was previously tenanted and will have a couple of lodgers instead. I served notice on my immature young graduate tenants when they were rude to the agent, uncooperative about repairs, failed to adequately heat and ventilate the property and were unfriendly to new tenants (whom they selected themselves, I may add).

It was their first tenancy and my first experience of being a landlord so they were ignorant about their responsibilities and I failed to set the ground rules from the off (hence their belief that the agent would pop by in an instance to replace lightbulbs and lost keys for them).

Obviously, I'm aiming to have friendly lodgers that are a bit more clued up about life and know that there's a bit more to living with others than just paying the rent.

I'm aiming to have short to medium term female lodgers. I'm planning to find post-grads from the local unis, professionals moving to London to take up jobs that need interim accommodation before they find more permanent digs, interns, language students and similar. I hope to have a more international house so that the overseas lodgers can explore the city together and avoid ending up with british binge-drinking ladettes.

These rules could seem draconian but on the other hand, I've experienced what happens when boundaries aren't clearly set at the beginning.

• ANIMALS: No pets.
• SMOKING: No smoking in the house or garden.
• GUESTS: No overnight guests and no dinner guests without the previous consent of the other residents. Lodgers are responsible for the behaviour of their guests.
• FOOTWEAR: No wearing of outdoor shoes in the house. Shoe rack is provided in the porch.
• NOISE: No music/TV after 10.00pm in bedrooms without headsets and no loud music or other excessive noise at other times. Observe common courtesy by being quiet at all times and closing doors gently.
• MODESTY: Common courtesy must prevail in dress, language, and the use of window coverings and/or shades in the rooms at all times.
• BATHROOM: All lodgers should limit themselves to reasonable use of the bathroom on each visit – 15 minutes at peak times or at set times if established and agreed by all.

Overall rules of cleanliness and courtesy in the bathroom must be observed at all times and this operates on a ‘clean as you go’ basis (i.e. must be cleaned after immediate use). These include:
I. Cleaning tub and wash basin after each use.
II. Keeping the toilet clean.
III. Keeping the all surfaces dry by stepping out from the shower onto a towel and mopping up all splashes.
IV. Towels and washcloths are kept in individual rooms.
V. Sanitary towels are disposed of in wastebaskets in the bathroom to prevent blockage of pipes.
VI. Store toiletry products in the designated storage area.
VII. Electrical hair products (dryers, curlers and curling irons) are to be used in the bedrooms.
VIII. Prevent condensation and mould by ventilating the bathroom - always use the fan, open window.

• KITCHEN: Overall rules of cleanliness and courtesy in the kitchen must be observed at all times and this operates on a ‘clean as you go’ basis (i.e. must be cleaned after immediate use). These include:

I. Wiping down all surfaces and appliances to remove stains, crumbs and spills.
II. Washing and drying up of all items used and putting them away.
III. Dish-washer – full loads only.
IV. Prevent condensation and mould by ventilating the kitchen and reducing steam – use cooker hood, put lids on pans, open window.

• UTILITY ROOM: Overall rules of cleanliness and courtesy in the use of this room and the washing machine, drying and ironing appliances must be observed at all times and this operates on a ‘clean as you go’ basis (i.e. must be cleaned after immediate use).

These include:
I. Washing machine - Full loads only.
II. Not storing the iron or board in bedrooms when not being used.
III. Prevent condensation in the house by drying clothes in the utility room.

• BREAKAGES: Any breakages must be replaced or paid for immediately.
• ALCOHOL AND/OR DRUGS: No drugs are permitted on the property. Do not admit to the house anyone who is under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• HEATING: No additional heaters to be used in the property and heating controls (thermostat/timer) are not to be changed.
• MAIL: Acceptance of mail at the house is restricted to those that reside at the property. All other mail will be returned to sender.
• KEYS: Loss of keys - £30 to replace lost keys, plus full locksmith charge to replace lock, if required (estimated at £100).

Bogof_Babe

Are you saying they are not allowed to consume their own alcohol responsibly in your house? Seems a bit draconian if they like a glass of wine with their dinner.

Jowo_2

Bogof_Babe wrote: »

Are you saying they are not allowed to consume their own alcohol responsibly in your house? Seems a bit draconian if they like a glass of wine with their dinner.

Nope, It's not going to be teetotal environment. The proposed rules are no drugs and lodgers should not be letting in any guests that are drunk or on drugs. I guess I could make that clearer.

superfran_uk

At the end of the day, you can provide whatever rules you like. I certainly wouldn't move somewhere I couldn't watch tv in my room past 10pm or have friends to dinner/staying over, but then again the only 'lodging' experience I've had was for 6 months with someone who got on with my boyfriend (who stayed every other weekend) and liked having my friends over.

On the other side of the coin, I know that myself and my partner would be so much better off if we rented out one of our rooms, but the thought of sharing with a stranger just doesn't appeal at all! Even if they stuck to all of those rules it would still be unbearable no matter how nice they were!

Jowo_2

superfran_uk wrote: »

At the end of the day, you can provide whatever rules you like. I certainly wouldn't move somewhere I couldn't watch tv in my room past 10pm or have friends to dinner/staying over, but then again the only 'lodging' experience I've had was for 6 months with someone who got on with my boyfriend (who stayed every other weekend) and liked having my friends over.

There is no ban on TV after 10 (but a request to use headphones), nor a dinner guests, they just require permission in advance, so 2 out of 3 of your observations are incorrect.

I could re-write the clause to remove the requirements to use headphones and hope that they are sensible about volume and provide headphones as a courtesy.

Remember this is a short-term let aimed at foreign nationals or those seeking more permanent accommodation. If the arrangement is working well, I would be happy to extend the contract and revise rules.

The rules that restrict overnight stays that you enjoyed with your long-term partner are present on my rules to prevent them from thinking that they can invite their friends and family to come from overseas and stay for lengthy periods and have a cheap holiday at the expense of crowded bathrooms and the property full of strangers. I would consider amending it to occasional guests of 1 or 2 nights with permission in advance.

People in serious relationships generally don't want to live with live-in landlords anyhow.

BitterAndTwisted

Jowo, I realise you must have spent a lot of time thinking about them but your rules are much, much too detailed. All that "at all times" nonsense makes you sound like a control freak and it would put me right off. And as for not smoking in the garden, I think that's much too harsh. Are you going to add in any clauses about what your lodgers are allowed to wear or think?

And admit it, you're planning on printing this crap up and pinning notices on the backs of the bedroom doors, aren't you?

roses

God, and I have been told that I am uptight. I am nothing compared to some of you lot!

I like lodgers to treat my house as if it were their own.
- I have had male lodgers who like to bring home ladies occassionally, that doesn't bother me
- I have no problem with lodgers using the living room
- Eat what they like where you like as long as they clean up afterwards

What does bother me is:
- people who turn the heating up to 27'C and leave it on 24/7
- people who use a lot more consumables ie toilet roll, kitchen roll more than me
- people who NEVER empty a dustbin when it is full

That is the stuff I have rules about.