Weekday lodger, reduction for less nights?

Kynthia

gozaimasu wrote: »

Having lived as a fully independent tenant for years, I have recently been in the unfortunate position of having to become a weekday lodger. I hate the situation I'm in, and really sad to see that most people on this thread want to treat us like dirt.

I hate the lack of privacy, lack of space in the fridge, and the fact that the other lodger I live with pays less than I do per night because I'm here less. I hate that I can't put a lock on my door and the homeowner can come in my room and rifle through my drawers, go into the wardrobe and pretty much whatever they like. It's demoralising and depressing to be stuck in this situation. I am also paying to live somewhere else at the weekends. That is double rent!

I saw about 5 or 6 other places before I "chose" this one, so it's the best of a bad bunch.

I don't have a written agreement but there were some basic rules agreed at the start. If you've got a heart, at least allow your new lodger to pay weekly. If they are going away on holiday for 2-3 weeks over christmas then I don't think they should have to pay. They could officially move out, then contact you again in the new year and see if you still have the spare room. What's the difference?

Chances are you won't find a lodger so quickly at this time of year, so it's better to only lose out on a couple of weeks whilst they're away, than potentially a lot longer if they protest and officially move out. With no rights as a lodger, I'd be a lot more likely to completely clear my room and move out and ask again if the room is still available after I come back from holiday. If you want the money, you'll let them come back!

I don't believe that people on this thread have advised anyone to treat lodgers like dirt. Not allowing a lock is to do with preventing the landlord implying the individual has 'exclusive possession' of the room which could then make them a tenant with additional rights and go against the mortgage and/or leasehold terms and conditions. A lock can also mean that you things could be going on in your own home that you have no control over or knowledge of. A lock that can only be used when in the room should meet needs on both sides. I think we'd all suggest both lodger and landlords pick people to live with that seem trustworthy, then treat each other with respect and don't invade privacy.

If a landlord wishes to rent out a room for a set amount of money they will set a price they are happy with, and this may be lower if they are only wanting a Mon-Fri lodger. However if they are happy with either then whoever wants the rooms has to pay the price. There's no point the Mon-Fri lodger who agrees to this then looking at what they are paying per night. It's not a B&B, the landlord isn't having someone else stay on the other nights, the lodger is paying to have use of the room each week/month. Same with holidays, why should the landlord make less rent when they can let to someone else who'll live there and pay for full tine. Having a child in a nursery is the same, parents have to pay even when they take their child on holiday if they want to keep the space or when the child is home sick.

Hermoine

I am renting a room 3 nights a week (Mon-Weds) and am paying about half of an average rent for a room in this part of London. I am in the third bedroom, with the full-time lodger in the rather larger second bedroom, and the room that I have is also used by my landlady to store stuff including some of her clothes - there is space for me to store a few items of clothing and toiletries, but it isn't a room that you could spend very much time in. To me this seems quite fair on both of us - I am paying less than I would if I was in a b&B for 3 nights a week, and she is getting some extra money but doesn't have a third person around all the time, especially at the weekend, in a pretty small house.

I hadn't even considered asking for a reduction of rent over Christmas/new Year when I'm not going to be around, or indeed when holiday/illness/needing to go away for work means that I'm not there Mon-Wednesday. However, because I haven't asked, I would probably feel ok about asking if I could stay over for a fourth night occasionally.one week when I have to work.
There is a website - spareroom.com, I think, which has a weekday lodger option, so it might be worth having a look and seeing what the difference is between full-time and part-time lodgers for your area.