Lodgers Responsibilities

tessy_t

I'm after some opinions please, I am renting a room from a couple in a large house with two bathrooms, one is for their private use and the other is for myself and another lodger who is male and I am female. I have been living in the house for 3 months and at first the bathroom was cleaned by the landlord regularly and then it got to being not so regular, 3 weeks at one point which I thought was pretty disgusting and I didn't feel like it was my responsibility as they are receiving £800 pound a month rent from myself and the other lodger combined and I saw it as their duty. I should explain that this is not covered in the contract or by house rules, it has not been mentioned..until today!
I broached the subject of the bathroom cleanliness with the landlord and he told me it was not his responsibility and that he had only been doing it as a gesture. I told him that I disagreed and that I have myself been a landlord with lodgers and I have always kept the bathroom clean and would be embarrassed to have it used in any other state. I also told him that he should see the rent as part of his income and therefore should in return keep the bathroom clean.

It also bothers me that myself and the other lodger only rent the rooms from Monday to friday and the landlord only works part time so I feel like it is the least he could do to ensure he keeps his tenants happy and his extra income!. I would like to hear other thoughts on this, even if you do diagree.

C_Mababejive

AFAIK lodgers have no legal rights and it really is a case of if you dont like it,move.

bris

If you don't want to use a dirty bathroom then clean it, the LL wont care, he doesn't have to use it. Letting it get to disgusting state say's more about you than it does the LL, you wanted opinions, don't expect them all to be one sided.

tessy_t

Your right, and I am already looking.

The room I am renting was empty for several months prior to moving in, so it will no doubt be his loss.

tessy_t

bris wrote: »

If you don't want to use a dirty bathroom then clean it, the LL wont care, he doesn't have to use it. Letting it get to disgusting state say's more about you than it does the LL, you wanted opinions, don't expect them all to be one sided.

I didn't say it was a disgusting state, rather I found it disgusting that it had been 3 weeks between being cleaned. Luckily myself and the other tenant are quite respectful. And like I said in my originaly post, I welcome opinions..thanks:O)

HAMISH_MCTAVISH

tessy_t wrote: »

I welcome opinions..thanks:O)

In general terms, I always understood lodgers were responsible for cleaning the areas of their exclusive use. ie, bedroom and bathroom (if it's not the landlords bathroom also). And for tidying up after themselves/cleaning any dishes, etc, they use. And the landlord would usually be responsible for the rest of the house, and for providing the cleaning materials.

Depends on the individual situation though, and can vary a lot. Should be clarified in advance next time.

G_M

It is entirely a matter for agreement. There are no legal obligations other than those the parties agree.

When new 'landlords' come here asking for advice regarding taking in lodgers, I and others always advise that matters like this need to be discussed/agreed, ideally in writing, from the start.

who pays for communal items:loo roll, washing up liquid etc
can lodger invite guests round? Overnight? several nights a week?
who cleans where?
what bills are included/excluded?
acceptable noise levels/times
etc

In this case, either you come to a negotiated agreement with your LL, or you accept it's his home, his rules, or you move.

It also bothers me that myself and the other lodger only rent the rooms from Monday to friday and the landlord only works part time

So what? You knew your working hours when you moved in. His are none of your business.

I would like to hear other thoughts on this, even if you do diagree.

You're living in someone else's home. Treat it with respect and clean up after yourself. Certainly clean the parts (your room and sole bathroom) you use exclusively, but also do a fair share of cleaning the kitchen and other areas if you use them.

I've had lodgers in the past. If they expected a cleaning service as part of the deal, I'd have asked them to leave forthwith. I'd rather have no lodger and no rent than a demanding lodger who should really be staying in a hotel where maid servise IS part of the deal.

Having said that, some LLs not only clean, but provide, and clean, bed linen too. But it all needs agreeing up front.

Cyril

I think its ridiculous you expect someone else to clean your bathroom . As a grown adult I would expect you to keep your own areas clean and tidy no matter how much rent you paid.

Also on a personal level I wouldn't want someone else in my private space moving things etc.

If you do require additional services other than renting a space you need to make it very clear in your next place.

blessings3

So agree with the above 2 -your a lodger and an adult - its not a hotel - get over yourself :P

BitterAndTwisted

Normally lodgers would be expected to clean the spaces which are for their exclusive use and share the responsibility for the cleaning of the other parts of the property.

It would have been sensible to have discussed the cleaning issue with your landlord as you're a Monday-to-Friday lodger but I don't see anything wrong at all in being expected to keep that shared bathroom clean between yourself and the other lodger. Honestly, it's a five-minute job if you both clean up after yourselves when you use it. You're not staying in a hotel!

tiggerjj

Surely to be a lodger they can not have any "exclusive use of any rooms, otherwise it could be argued that an AST is created?
Also one of the ways in which a landlord can make sure that the lodger can not try and claim that an a AST was created was that they (landlord) had access to all rooms for 'cleaning' etc.

However I have a lodger and to be honest we live more as housemates and we take turns to clean the bathroom/kitchen etc. I tend to do the rest of the communal rooms myself, and she does her own room