Lodger worries

Browntoa

I just told my lodger that I was sorted...lol

I put all her valuables in my safe

HarriettPotter

Yay come and live with me! Surely another money saver is the perfect lodger?!!!

H

Willsnarf1983

hampshire!

Will

skintchick

I got my lodger off Gumtree.

Personally, I advise keeping your lives separate - I cannot imagine shopping with my lodger. We cook and eat separately so we're not tied to each other. we share a house, not a life.

Ground rules are a very good idea - I am regretting not setting any as six months on I do all teh housework.

try and find someone who lives a similar life to you - I go to bed early (usually) and don;t go out a huge amount, so someone similar has been a bonus, as she isn;t waking me up coming in at 2am.

I think gut feelings are good indicators - I interviewed a lot of people and could tell immediately when I'd met the right person.

It is a Godsend financially, and I only wish I'd done it sooner!

Snich

I found lodgers via a couple of the free flatshare websites. I know friends who have found housemates doing similar. It all worked very well for me. I made sure I got a deposit and first month's rent up front, encouraged them to set up a standing order for rent and also made a contract. Yes, that's a lot of work and feels a little assertive (and therefore a bit scary) but completely worth it. Act like a professional and you will do better. I also get them to set a separate standing order to cover bills money. I used to make a list of all the bills (most of which were standard amounts per month) and divide them up. I found you never had to worry about excuses from people or those *awkward* conversations.

I have only ever had one bad experience with a lodger and she was a friend of a friend, who I didn't get a deposit off. She was a monkey, damaged the room and was a complete pain in the bum to kick out! I didn't follow my own rules and got burned. Sometimes strangers are easier!

Good luck. It's great financially to have someone to help out. I would do it again without hesitation.

Snich x

AndyR_3

skintchick wrote:

Personally, I advise keeping your lives separate - I cannot imagine shopping with my lodger. We cook and eat separately so we're not tied to each other. we share a house, not a life.

I guess it depends on how well you get on with them. Because my lodger is also my best friend, it's natural that we shop/eat together. We do both have seperate lives too though.

Make sure you agree to share the housework though...and make sure they're happy using viniger to clean everything

lynzpower

LOL to vinegar comment Andy!

No completely agree. As it is weve only got a tiny kitchen so a lodgers cupboard is out of the question. Additionally, I've done this before and If I make a lovely meal Im not happy for my lodger/mate to be moaning over a pot noodle, they will have some of my slow cooker delights! I think shopping together avoids all this and they "they havent bought any toilet paper for ages" moans that Ive had in umpteen shared houses.

I do have a contract which Ive knocked up (Ive called it Agreement to temporarily lodge) and while I'm not sure how "legally binding" it is, I reckon if its signed by both parties I'll be fine. If anyone wants a copy of it, PM me and Ill email it over to you

Hope this helps xx

skintchick

AndyR wrote:

I guess it depends on how well you get on with them. Because my lodger is also my best friend, it's natural that we shop/eat together. We do both have seperate lives too though.

Make sure you agree to share the housework though...and make sure they're happy using viniger to clean everything

Nope, I'd never have a friend as a lodger.

If it were a houseSHARE that's different, but when you are owner-occupier and you are the landlady, then I say keep it separate.

I'd hate to have to phone home to say I'd decided to go out so don't cook for me/leave it in the oven, and to be on the receiving end of smilar.