So, I've decided to become a Landlady..

lilab_2

Just to say, that my lodger provides all her own food. The rent is purely for her room and use of the house, utitlies etc.
Food, drinks, washing powder, toiletries etc are all at her expense. She has a shelf or two in a kitchen cupboard for food and a shelf in the fridge and another in the freezer.
I don't go into her room as it is her privacy and not for me to go in. I don't think you should do that either as you wouldn't like it in reverse. After all she is paying for it. If you want to go in you would need to ask first. Changing someone's sheets is also a bit personal and I wouldn't do it.

Bills are included in the rent. Landline she doesn't use as she has mobile, but if you have itemised billing then if it is used by your lodger then you can sort that out quite simply.

Also I would agree on the use of the washing machine. Limiting it doesn't seem fair to me. You can ask that the economy cycles are used, but twice a week is a bit harsh in my opinion.

theartfullodger

Basic rule of being a Landlord: Only start if you are prepared to use all legal means to get tenant/lodger out, if need be, and if you are emotionally & financially prepared for the "tenant/lodger from hell". If comfortable with both of those, go ahead.. If not, find another source of income.

PS In Scotland you need a court decree to get a lodger out (if they don't go when asked..), Engerland is much easier (reasonable notice, change locks..),

missile

I would suggest you ban ALL overnight guests. You can vet your new lodger, but it would be unreasonable to vet thier friends and would you be happy if he/she brings some low life dope head into your home?

princeofpounds

The snooping in the room and the exceptionally petty washing machine rules give me pause for thought on whether you are actually ready for the reality of letting someone live in your property.

Snooping is not polite, and whilst I agree that you should be able to inspect on occasion (and can at any time as a live-in landlord) it should be infrequent and preferably after a polite request. The last time someone changed my bedsheets I was living at home with my mum.

As for 2 loads in the washing machine, you do realise that prevents even quite normal lights, darks and delicates washes? And whilst I understand it's not the sort of lodger you are likely to take in any half-active man with some sports kit is likely to fully max out on those requirements.

Perhaps you would be better suited to commuting lodgers if you live in the right sort of area? Mon-Fri is quite common.

lostinrates

princeofpounds wrote: »

Perhaps you would be better suited to commuting lodgers if you live in the right sort of area? Mon-Fri is quite common.

was going to suggest this myself. DH...is a man...and I think I only know male monday to friday lodgers...the pay off being they are professional, spend little time''at home'' and don't usually mind a single bed. DH might want three washes a week though (even if everything were all whites or coloureds bedding and towels bulk up a wash to two when combined with pants and shirts, and most people have a mix of whites coloured and then darks...socks). He has lodged in places he knows his room is used at weekends....by a child with weekend stays with parent or by LLs guests, and the sheets are changed. Nothing personal is left...just the odd bits of clothing/toiletries/radio etc so nothing to be snooped on.

hazyjo

Agree about the washing maching and bedsheets as others have said above. I'd hate mine changed - am quite capable of doing it myself. It's not a hotel, it's their own private space but in your home. I'd hate feeling like I lived at my parents again. Would like to be able to leave my room like a bombsite now and again if in a rush or when trying on six million outfits without worrying about anyone coming in and seeing my mess!

Jx

lilab_2

If you don't like your space being too invaded and live near an airport, renting to cabin crew is excellent. They are often away, but still paying rent. When they come back, particularly from long-haul, they sleep. Most of my neighbours do this and it works very well.

brownedoff_2

Hmm.. this is starting to sound a bit scary now..

Ok I’ll rethink on the notice then, any suggestions? I’d like to have a definite notice period so that I can put it in writing at the start, even if its not a legal requirement.

I know I’m taking a risk as to who I let the room to, but generally you only tend to hear the minority of cases when things go badly wrong, I’m sure there are lots of potential people out there who will be the ideal lodger… I’m a born optimist

The Monday to Friday thing is appealing and would solve the problem of the single bed too. It would be nice to have the weekends back to myself. Can I ask if he pays pro rata? I’m not planning on doing this forever and need to charge a reasonable amount to help me with my outgoings.

I take on board about the changing linen, but should I be prepared to provide it?
I’ve been reading on different sites and had got the idea from there, although with hindsight I can see how that would look and completely agree. I’m sure as you say, a polite amicable request to check now and then shouldn’t offend. As for snooping? That was the furthest thing from my mind, I would want them to be in the room at the time and would respect their privacy as I would expect them to in return.

Reading the comments about the washing machine actually made me laugh.. I currently have an astronomical electricity bill to pay from my previous supplier and am verging on OCD about using anything unless I absolutely have to (I sit here by candlelight lol..) so I’m quite prepared to be flexible on that too.

I live less than 5 mins from the local airport and the hospital so that opens up a lot of scope for advertising.. I really don’t envisage having a problem letting… even with my OCD tendencies :rotfl:

lostinrates

brownedoff wrote: »

The Monday to Friday thing is appealing and would solve the problem of the single bed too. It would be nice to have the weekends back to myself. Can I ask if he pays pro rata? I’m not planning on doing this forever and need to charge a reasonable amount to help me with my outgoings.

Monday to friday lets are normally near centres of employment and its difficult to compare them to normal lets because they really are old school lodgers more often than people who treat it like a flat share. Minimum I've seen is about 80-100 pw for a london zone two location.

00ec25

brownedoff wrote: »

The Monday to Friday thing is appealing and would solve the problem of the single bed too. It would be nice to have the weekends back to myself. Can I ask if he pays pro rata? I’m not planning on doing this forever and need to charge a reasonable amount to help me with my outgoings.

(normally) if you go the Mon - Fri route you set a monthly rate and there is no need to pro rata it. Everyone then knows where they stand, the lodger has to pay £x per month whether they are there or not and you do not have to count the number of nights occupation.

I have seen some who stipulate that if the lodger stays over at the weekend there will be an addiitonal charge. Clearly this gives some flexibility for the lodger and might attract more people, then again my personal view when I was working away Mon - Fri was I could just as easily get a normal Mon - Sun lodging for the same price (in reality cheaper) than a Mon - Fri only one, and it was thus up to me whether I stayed at the weekend. It did not cost me anymore or any less to do so. I valued that flexibility, but then I did have a home to go to at the weekend so was not your normal full time lodger.