Renting a room to an ex co-worker

Cherryjack

Dont do it.. dont mix friendship with rental..

Emmylou_2

Make sure you don't give him exclusive use of the rooms - say that you're going in to inspect/clean (if necessary) on a regular basis, and do so (even if it's, say, once a month).

Get ground rules (as per Badger Lady's post) set in stone - including things like what you define as "clean" (to make sure you're singing from the same hymn sheet in case one thinks a quick wipe of a surface is ok whereas the other expects bleach/spray and dried afterwards), how to deal with overnight visitors/other halfs, what happens regarding holidays (will he expect not to pay rent for the time he's away?) etc, how you handle cooking/eating (will you eat together/separately), what about purchase of food (as eating) - even down to "basics" such as milk/loo roll/cleaning products etc (will there be a kitty for this type of thing, or will you each buy your own?), how you allocate kitchen/fridge space.

Regarding bills - he needs to pay 50% of everything.

dimbo61

Can i rent the garden house off you for £350 a month please ?
Only joking !!!!!
People need somewhere to live and sharing is becoming more popular
A lodger has very few rights unlike a tenant so getting rid should be no problem
£350 extra can be very useful so please pay it off the mortgage every month

Oneday77

Sorry I may be lowering the tone here but I think it needs to be raised. Think of his potential lodger objectively. Does he get on well with others, how did he come across to colleagues, is there a wandering eye, do you feel comfortable around him, did he get drunk a lot etc.
The way I see it is he wants to save £150 a month, he's a student with probably a heap of mates to match, you have what sounds like a great house that may get abused and he is calling all the shots. All my bells are ringing and some about personal safety too...male student v lone woman. Rent your room but start with getting a female professional instead.

Emmzi

I would not do this.

Sounds very cheap for en suite and use of sauna etc.

Read Badger Lady's long thread for the problems of living with boys.

Professional female. 100%. He's started dictating to you and that's arsey enough for me to say no straight away.

yvonne13_2

Emmylou wrote: »

Make sure you don't give him exclusive use of the rooms - say that you're going in to inspect/clean (if necessary) on a regular basis, and do so (even if it's, say, once a month).

Get ground rules (as per Badger Lady's post) set in stone - including things like what you define as "clean" (to make sure you're singing from the same hymn sheet in case one thinks a quick wipe of a surface is ok whereas the other expects bleach/spray and dried afterwards), how to deal with overnight visitors/other halfs, what happens regarding holidays (will he expect not to pay rent for the time he's away?) etc, how you handle cooking/eating (will you eat together/separately), what about purchase of food (as eating) - even down to "basics" such as milk/loo roll/cleaning products etc (will there be a kitty for this type of thing, or will you each buy your own?), how you allocate kitchen/fridge space.

Regarding bills - he needs to pay 50% of everything.

Thanks for your input, as for overnight visitors I have no problem with that as he will be living in the garden house so they don't need to come into the main house all I have asked is for him and any visitors to keep the noise down and respect my neighbours.

As for holidays he could be going away for a month whatever and that his buisness as he still has to pay.

As for food ect he has to buy his own, as he has his own fridge so he doesn't need to touch mine. As for the cooking that is his business as I will not be cooking for him and we will not be eating together unless we bump into each other in the kitchen.

I want him to feel comfortable as he is studying hard therefore I will not be popping down to his living quarters unless I want to use the sauna.

If he was to pay 50% of everything he wouldn't be able to afford to move in, I think I have been very fair with the rent ect

yvonne13_2

Oneday77 wrote: »

Sorry I may be lowering the tone here but I think it needs to be raised. Think of his potential lodger objectively. Does he get on well with others, how did he come across to colleagues, is there a wandering eye, do you feel comfortable around him, did he get drunk a lot etc.
The way I see it is he wants to save £150 a month, he's a student with probably a heap of mates to match, you have what sounds like a great house that may get abused and he is calling all the shots. All my bells are ringing and some about personal safety too...male student v lone woman. Rent your room but start with getting a female professional instead.

Yes I hear what your saying he get's on very well with others and doesn't drink the only wandering eye he has is for god, i'm not saying he is a bible basher he is a good man that goes to church most Sundays.

There is no way I am renting to a professional female ever again, I made that mistake 2 years ago and she lived with me for 9 months and she never paid rent or bought food or even cleaned. When I asked her for the rent she used to say I had to prove she never gave it me. Anyway I learn't my lesson hence coming on here and getting lots of advise.

yvonne13_2

Emmzi wrote: »

I would not do this.

Sounds very cheap for en suite and use of sauna etc.

Read Badger Lady's long thread for the problems of living with boys.

Professional female. 100%. He's started dictating to you and that's arsey enough for me to say no straight away.

I'm only charging the going rate for rent in my area and I was stung by a female big time before.

katejo

yvonne13 wrote: »

It's not a student house its my private 4 bedroomed house.

I didn't know students were exempt from council tax can you show me where I can find that information please, thank you.

This is definitely correct but only for full time students. Just look on the website of your local council under council tax. He will need to obtain a student exemption document from his uni accommodation office.
Does your £350 a month rent include bills? If not and you charge him a share of the bills, this will take you over the rent a room allowance and you will have to declare it to the tax office as additional income.

yvonne13_2

katejo wrote: »

This is definitely correct but only for full time students. Just look on the website of your local council under council tax. He will need to obtain a student exemption document from his uni accommodation office.
Does your £350 a month rent include bills? If not and you charge him a share of the bills, this will take you over the rent a room allowance and you will have to declare it to the tax office as additional income.

£350 includes all bills ect.