Renting a room to an ex co-worker

yvonne13_2

ukmaggie45 wrote: »

But didn't you say in your first post he couldn't afford the rent which was why he wanted to move? Are you sure he can afford to pay your rent?

I see BadgerLady has given you some links, I suggest you take a look at her thread about having lodgers in her home.

He has been living in the bedsit for 15 months, I assume he is fed up with paying so much money on a tiny room.

flossyblog

I think it would be a big mistake. I hear alarm bells ringing very loudly.

To put him off I would say that the rent is more than 350 (insert your own figure) and
you require 2 weeks rent in advance.

Some people will take advantage of friends, which he already has done so by telling you how much he will pay. If he cant afford his rent now you can bet he will be coming out with excuses later and expect you to understand.

yvonne13_2

flossyblog wrote: »

I think it would be a big mistake. I hear alarm bells ringing very loudly.

To put him off I would say that the rent is more than 350 (insert your own figure) and
you require 2 weeks rent in advance.

Some people will take advantage of friends, which he already has done so by telling you how much he will pay. If he cant afford his rent now you can bet he will be coming out with excuses later and expect you to understand.

When he comes over I will be telling him what the rent is and I will be setting clear expectations.
Also thanks to one of the posters on here I have paperwork for us both to sign and it covers everything.
And I will be telling him that his deposit and first months rent is to be paid the same day the forms are signed and if that's an issue to him then that's his problem as I am not going to let my kidness be my weakness.

silvercar

I posted that average student rents in a shared house were £70 a week (+bills), so you would have an idea what his alternatives are. I wasn't suggesting that is what you should charge.

I suspect his maximum is £350, which is why he mentioned that rent to you.

BitterAndTwisted

Just because his current rent is £500 a month does not necessarily mean that he's been able to pay it. He could have run up thousands of pound's-worth of arrears by now.

Make it clear, as you have said, that you want a month's rent in advance and the equivalent of a month's rent as deposit IN CASH on the day the paperwork is signed.

How you handle this at the start sets the tone for what should happen in the future. Be crystal-clear about what's going to happen and don't take any nonsense. Having someone living in your home after you've become used to pleasing yourself can be a big adjustment.

getmore4less

What is the layout of the house like, can you keep your own space yours, say let him have the use 2 bedrooms the use of a bathroom(if you have another to use) and use of the kitchen keeping the rest exclusive for you

(don't give exlusive use of any rooms just restrict the use of the rooms you want for yourself).

I would have a couple of mates ready to come round and stay for a few nights should things not work and you need a bit of help putting him in his place(on the street)


How much time have you known this person(real not elapsed),

yvonne13_2

getmore4less wrote: »

What is the layout of the house like, can you keep your own space yours, say let him have the use 2 bedrooms the use of a bathroom(if you have another to use) and use of the kitchen keeping the rest exclusive for you

(don't give exlusive use of any rooms just restrict the use of the rooms you want for yourself).

I would have a couple of mates ready to come round and stay for a few nights should things not work and you need a bit of help putting him in his place(on the street)


How much time have you known this person(real not elapsed),

He will not have use of 2 bedrooms he is paying for 1 and that his lot. The room I was thinking of letting him stay in is a double en suite so he doesn't even need to use the main bathroom.

Or he can stay in the garden house as I only use it as a study as it has electric ect.

He also has full use of the sauna which is next to the garden house.

This was the reason why I wanted him to come round and see the room so he can decide which one he wants.

If he takes the garden house I will not see him unless he comes to the main house to use the kitchen.

Anyway he is coming round tomorrow for the tour so he can decide then.

I have known him since May 2007 and I never vouch for anyone so I will see how it goes. To be honest you never know someone until they do you something so I will see.

fort

sounds like an awesome house

nightingalesgarden

I think the rent is about right for a lodger - not full use/run of the house.

I live in Sale and that is the going rate for a nice room (not full house share e.g. you share the remote control!) so probably the same as (West?) Didsbury....

I've been really lucky sharing with a great person for 6 years but it easily could have been very different - 2 weeks of my brother staying with us and I could of happily killed him!

Good Luck - and remember that it's your home and you set the ground rules....

yvonne13_2

nightingalesgarden wrote: »

I think the rent is about right for a lodger - not full use/run of the house.

I live in Sale and that is the going rate for a nice room (not full house share e.g. you share the remote control!) so probably the same as (West?) Didsbury....

I've been really lucky sharing with a great person for 6 years but it easily could have been very different - 2 weeks of my brother staying with us and I could of happily killed him!

Good Luck - and remember that it's your home and you set the ground rules....

No hun I don't live in west didsbury I live in didsbury. West didsbury is M22 I live M20.

Thanks for the good luck message.