New lodger, yay or nay?

Brallaqueen

My old lodger left about three months ago and i've been advertising the room ever since. Dropped the price as had no appropriate interest (if it says females.only fellas, dont waste both our time) and have been contacted by a lady who seems to fit the bill. But im a bit wary even so. Opinions please?

Pro-
Happy to show me her passport three months bank stats and three months wage slips on next meeting
happy to pay month deposit and month rent in advance on next meeting
Is late 50s
Likes to clean
Didnt mind doddery indoor cat and said cats litter trays.
Works opposait hours to me so will only see each other briefly during week
Seems nice enough

Con-
Only works 30 hours a week
Broken english (eastern european)
Double bed was too big, prefers single (! Never expected that took hours to put bed together)
Will be in a lot more than my prev lodger who worked 50-60 hour weeks
Increased bills.accordingly


Am i overthinking things?

gazter

Brallaqueen wrote: »

My old lodger left about three months ago and i've been advertising the room ever since. Dropped the price as had no appropriate interest (if it says females.only fellas, dont waste both our time) and have been contacted by a lady who seems to fit the bill. But im a bit wary even so. Opinions please?

Pro-
Happy to show me her passport three months bank stats and three months wage slips on next meeting
happy to pay month deposit and month rent in advance on next meeting
Is late 50s
Likes to clean
Didnt mind doddery indoor cat and said cats litter trays.
Works opposait hours to me so will only see each other briefly during week
Seems nice enough

Con-
Only works 30 hours a week
Broken english (eastern european)
Double bed was too big, prefers single (! Never expected that took hours to put bed together)
Will be in a lot more than my prev lodger who worked 50-60 hour weeks
Increased bills.accordingly


Am i overthinking things?

Just taken in lodgers for the first time. Loth of things in life are about gut instinct. How did you feel when you met her? Complaining because the bed is too big sounds high maintainance to me..

Brallaqueen

I liked her on first meeting she was chatty and cheery and not fazed by kitty doings in the litter tray. The bed thing may be a plus - less likely to have partners round to stay . I said i would not buy it but if she wanted to provide her own that would be fine. She seemed happy with that.
She is a bit full on but not upsettingly so. Loves to clean apparently! And she seemed to accept my restrictions but how much was lost in translation i do not know.
I was perhaps spoiled by my last lodger working so much and paying more but then i had to deal with screaming arguments suicide declarations and drunkeness whilst cooking.

aggypanthus

Do you provide bedding ?
Will she want you buy single bed stuff for her own bed?
You should get personal refs, what if she has OCD and drives you mad lol

Brallaqueen

I don't provide bedding, no. More of a casual house share but I'm also the landlord.
I said I wouldn't buy a single but if she wanted to provide her own that would be ok (I could have my bed back! on mattresses at the mo as was going to buy a new bed for myself )

She is currently staying with a friend who came too to translate the odd word here and there, as his wife is from the same country. He told me she had had problems with her prev lodgings with a family, not being able to use the kitchen as they were in there all the time, children always having friends around and making noise etc. As we work opposite shifts (her 8-2, me 4-11) she'll have the flat to herself of an weekday evening.

I shall suck it and see. I know my mum is not happy (she'll have every light on in the flat, use all your hot water, have 5 other immigrants hiding under the bed ... mum's an immigrant herself btw) but I think I'm letting her get to me.

Its not like there were other applicants beating my door down and I do need the money if I want to get some more savings under my belt. Can always tell her its not working out if its not working out!

lvm

I echo what gazter says.

Totally gut instinct.

The feeling I get from your post is that you might want people to say "no, don't do it" or that you're trying to find a reason not to have her. And if that's how you feel, I'd stick with it.

I turned 2 people down when I was looking for a lodger - one girl barely spoke and a guy gave me the absolute creeps. Found the perfect lodger the next day and he's been here for over 2 years now.

Now, I understand you don't want any guys and I'm sure you have your reasons...but just wanted to put it out there that maybe you could reconsider it? I find they're much easier and chilled out...and may use less electricity (no hairdryers, straighteners etc). Unless you have religious/moral reasons you don't want to accept them wish is totally fine!

Anyway, good luck in your search!

Brallaqueen

Thanks everyone. LVM I totally understand where you are coming from and if it was a friend or a colleague bloke who was looking for a room that would be OK. But not a stranger male, not a chance - a friend of mine did that and woke up to find him watching her whilst she was in bed.

I do have my doubts but if she was an English older lady I probably wouldn't have even stared this thread which says some unpleasant things about me.

aggypanthus

There is nothing to ring alarm bells in your 1st post.
Looks like she will be living in the house as any normal person would, so being in at night with some heating and lights on is normal, I dont see why your mum is making that point.

kBHX

I've had a number of lodgers in the past. If you have any doubts then best to keep looking for someone more suitable. As harsh as it sounds, as a live-in landlord you have to make a quick judgement on a lodgers suitability. As others have said its instinct. I've turned down people purely on things I had concerns over or they didn't fit my criteria.

Kynthia

Is it just that you're worried about her being around in the house more compared to your last lodger, and possible miscommunications and cultural differences due to her being relatively new to the country with only basic English skills? If you're not also getting bad vibes then I'd suggest a trial period. Most people don't work much more than the 30 hours she works and at least her shifts differ from yours to give you both time aline in the property. Also once you get used to each other the language difficulties will reduce and you've got as much chance getting on well together as any other stranger you meet.

whitewing

Single bed seems a bit odd, but maybe she has family back home and a double bed in the background may be misinterpreted.

I'm females and wouldn't have any problems with a landlady wanting 'female only' but the comment about 'males, don't waste both our time' would put me off.