Accidental landlady, or "How I made £200k"

super.landlady

As Sharpy2010 said today on another thread:

Why is it that people can't stand to see other people do well?

prosaver

super.landlady wrote: »

Don't you know that millions of people make a living from running hotels, guest houses and bed and breakfasts, and have complete strangers coming and going the whole time?

My lodgers are far less "random" than hotel guests. They are interviewed and vetted, have to provide references and be in permanent employment, and they give me substantial deposits. The current three are all graduates, one with a master's degree, and all work in professional careers. They have all lived here for over a year and have proved themselves to be reliable, decent, civilised people.

Don't you let anyone into your house, then? No friends? Well, if you DO have friends, then I must remind you that THEY were once strangers to you -- or "randoms"!

how do they prove themself?
why do they only last a year?
and what about all the interviewing for new tenants?(too much hassle

savingforoz

thorsoak wrote: »

WELL DONE YOU!

It's really nice to hear that someone has done well, is happy and content with their lot, and achieved it through their own work.

But of course, you will have to put up with the nainsayers who will grizzle and carp about your "boasting", that you could have done better, that you have caused all the misery in the world, etc etc etc - take no notice of them - you have reached a plateau of contentment - and what more could any of us wish?

Just enjoy...

Well said, thorsoak! And I'm happy for you, super.landlady. Sounds like you have a great life!

If you have any tips you could give ref publishing your books, would you be kind enough to PM me?

The_Drama_Llama

super.landlady wrote: »

You misremembered. I said I bet some people will hate me for receiving IB. I meant in the past. When I re-read my post I realised that the way I had worded it made it seem as though I am still receiving IB, which I have not for the past eight years.

I also realised that I'd forgotten to mention writing local history books, which is pertinent because it explains what I do with my free time, plus I do make some extra income from book sales and public talks. About £2,500 a year. Not much, but pays for holidays etc.

I must have misremembered too...you said you were still receiving IB, but it wasn't your idea, a DWP doctor said you should get it.

flecker

super.landlady wrote: »

As Sharpy2010 said today on another thread:

Why is it that people can't stand to see other people do well?

I'm British; I love to see people doing well against the odds. It's just spontaneous outbursts of self-congratulatory smugness that I don't like.

somethingcorporate

I am not sure how it is any more inspirational than hearing about a person that works hard all their life and then has their mortgage paid off?

I'd rather not have to rely on sharing my house with others to have an income. You make that sacrifice, most people work for a living. I'd rather work!

Good luck to you though, as long as you are happy it really shouldn't matter what anyone else thinks

suited-aces

The_Drama_Llama wrote: »

I must have misremembered too...you said you were still receiving IB, but it wasn't your idea, a DWP doctor said you should get it.

Popcorn.jpg

neas

Its not really inspiring because it means you joined the housing market originally at a 'good time' thats all.

FTBers like you back in 1996 would struggle to get a 3 bedroom house on their salary and with a 10% deposit now.

They would only be able to lodge out one room and thus wouldn't be able to pull on your experience. Grats to you tho if its true. We were tempted to buy a house and lodge a room out (me and my wife) but alas we like our private lives to much so are working off the 100k mortgage debt we have on our home :P.

Still wouldn't want it any other way.

Other inspiring stories like yours are how someone bought 10 or so BTLs in a 'good cheap time' like you and yes are now on their way to having 10 houses providing them rent for their old age... yes great for them but it wasn't their skill that made them the money it was just a 'good time' to do it. Doing it now would be suicide lol. I honestly believe there may be another 'opportunity' in around 4-5 years time. When prices crash if they crash significantly along with high interest rates it will give pause for the market and maybe when interest rates start to go down they will be cheap enough to get 1 or 2 BTls.. who knows.

quintwins

super.landlady wrote: »

Hi Quin. I dumped him way back in '99 after he cheated on me with a girl at uni... LOL. Current boyfriend owns his own place, but has spent every weekend here for ten years. We don't see that much of the lodgers as I have my own office, sitting room, bedroom with ensuite bathroom, so we only really pass them on the stairs and share the kitchen and garden with them.

Why would your b/f not be happy with you living with other people?

I am glad to hear there is someone else that can live on £230pw. Actually with book royalties, fees for talks etc I probably average about £280pw. The household bills total £100pw.

i've lived on less really my hubbys whole pay goes on our rent and any extra goes in the savings, so we live off £160 a week, plus £180 a month cb

i did acually used to live with someone when i started seeing my hubby when he went off to uni, my oh sort of said he didn't want me asking anyone else to move in, saying that a few months later we move into together and got married a few weeks later so i guess it depends on how you want to live as couple

atleast you can thank your ex for giving you that wee push (and loan) to get on the property ladder

super.landlady

Someone sent me a PM to say that, when people are happy in their own lives, they are able to be empathetically happy when other people are able to find similar contentment.

And, conversely, when people hate their lives they cannot bear to see others happy, and will out of sheer jealousy and resentment always jeer at the happy and successful people.

I will henceforth totally ignore people who come on here purely to flaunt their jealousy with nastiness towards someone who has managed to get herself off state benefits.