Lodger room arrangements in a flat - workable?

redonion

I'm considering getting a lodger in a 2 bedroom flat, and I'm wondering whether the room arrangements I'm thinking of are likely to work out.

One bedroom is pretty small, the other larger. The two bedrooms are next to each other and I don't really want to share a wall. Also I want a room of a reasonable size that I can use for private space for me.

So I'm considering two options:

1. Use both the small and large bedrooms for myself, and have the lodger use the reception room as something like a bedsit but sharing kitchen and bathroom with me. The reception room is larger than either bedroom. They'd just have access to that room and the bathroom and kitchen, not the two bedrooms. I'd use the larger bedroom as a living room for me, and sleep in the smaller room.

2. Use the reception room as my bedroom, have the bigger bedroom be shared between us, and the lodger gets the small bedroom.

Does this sound workable? What would you prefer if you were lodging?

redonion

One other thing is that in either case I'm thinking of having a lock on my door / doors. I'm not worrying about creating a legal issue. Rather I'm thinking about whether lodgers would see this as distrustful / unfair. They might see it as unfair since they can't have one on their door because that might create a full tenancy.

How would you see that if you were looking for a room to rent?

Yorkie1

It doesn't sound great to me, to be honest, though I might be misunderstanding the layout of the flat.

Option 1. You or your lodger don't want to be sleeping in a reception room if that's a thoroughfare / is the way to other rooms. Gives no privacy. Also, your lodger has absolutely no other space to go to - there's no shared reception space so they never see different walls once they're in.

Option 2. I think shoving the lodger into the smaller bedroom isn't great if there's not much space elsewhere, but at least there's shared living space - as long as you make them feel truly welcome in it, rather than there under sufferance (which I do get a bit of from your post, even if it's not intended). How big is the smaller bedroom? Large enough for a bed, desk, wardrobe, chest of drawers?

While I understand your wish to have a lock, in my view that does make the lodger feel as though they aren't trusted.

The place doesn't sound large enough for two people to rub along happily, I think. But if you had to have someone, what's wrong with using the space as it is at present - reception room for shared space, and bedrooms one each however you split it.

I_have_spoken

You need to rethink having a lodger TBH.

Have you considered letting it Mon-Fri for peeps who are working locally but travel home @weekends. That way, you're not living on top of each other (fnar, fnar) at weekends.

redonion

Yorkie1 wrote: »

It doesn't sound great to me, to be honest, though I might be misunderstanding the layout of the flat.

Option 1. You or your lodger don't want to be sleeping in a reception room if that's a thoroughfare / is the way to other rooms. Gives no privacy. Also, your lodger has absolutely no other space to go to - there's no shared reception space so they never see different walls once they're in.

The reception room is not a thoroughfare! Very sensible question though.

Agreed re not having much space, but this is London. I've seen worse when looking for somewhere myself when renting.

Option 2. I think shoving the lodger into the smaller bedroom isn't great if there's not much space elsewhere, but at least there's shared living space - as long as you make them feel truly welcome in it, rather than there under sufferance (which I do get a bit of from your post, even if it's not intended). How big is the smaller bedroom? Large enough for a bed, desk, wardrobe, chest of drawers?

You are correct that if it weren't for the money I wouldn't do it. Smaller bedroom big enough for that: yes, but barely.

The place doesn't sound large enough for two people to rub along happily, I think. But if you had to have someone, what's wrong with using the space as it is at present - reception room for shared space, and bedrooms one each however you split it.

The shared wall between the two bedrooms. Plus the big reception room seems a bit of a waste of space if the smaller one is big enough for that purpose.

I'm very much grateful for your view, but at the same time curious where you live (London or elsewhere) and when you bought (if you own). I suspect that determines one's attitude...

redonion

I_have_spoken wrote: »

You need to rethink having a lodger TBH.

Have you considered letting it Mon-Fri for peeps who are working locally but travel home @weekends. That way, you're not living on top of each other (fnar, fnar) at weekends.

I did consider that but outside of zones 1 / 2 it seems unlikely you'd get much interest?

AliceBanned

I had a lodger even in a one bed flat, with me moving into the living room and the lodger in what was my bedroom. It was for a set term of six months as I needed help to save for a deposit to buy (I was renting the other place and landlord agreed I could sublet a room).

It depends how desperate you are and how long for. I put up with one room to myself for six months but it was a tight squeeze, but a means to an end and was worth it as I was able to save a lot on rent and bills.

If you get the right person they won't mind either a small room or just one room to themselves. Some lodgers (eg full time students who are working also as mine was) don't want to mix and just need the room to get on with what they are doing. It was secure, warm and a large enough room and she loved it as soon as she saw it. I was surprised, with so little space in the rest of the flat but being a full time student she was glad to just have a nice clean room in a clean flat.

I chose not to put locks on the doors - I don't think this works well with live in lodgers. If you get a good reference from the lodger and more importantly feel you like them and they are respectful and honest, that might be enough - it was for me.

AliceBanned

Re your later post - I have a friend in Bedfordshire who has 3 lodgers Mon-Fri! It is becoming more and more common as people have to move away from home to work. It is worth a try.

I am now in Hemel Hempstead and my friend nearby had interest in a Mon-Frii let in his flat. You would be surprised how many people out there just need a decent place to have a base for them to get to work. You could always do a short lodger agreement of say 3-6 months and if it didn't work out ask them to leave. Most people probably want a 3 month minimum but my friend in Beds has people staying for less as their work moves them around. His rooms are quite small, with a large shared living room and one bathroom between four people. A lot of people in houseshares as you probably know are just glad to get somewhere warm and secure enough and in the right area. Any of the London zones are probably ok for this but it is a questions of waiting a few weeks/ interviewing to get the person who feels right I think.

katejo

My lodger of 3 years has just moved out today. Throughout that time he had use of a shared living area and I didn't have locks on my door (or his). We are in London. I rented rooms for about 11 years before buying. I avoided anywhere that didn't offer a shared living area as I didn't want to be confined to 1 room. My departing lodger was very good at judging when it was time to give me some space and retire to his room. At other times we chatted and watched TV together. If I returned home and he was in the living room, I didn't expect him to jump up immediately and get out of the way.
Perhaps you would be better off with a Mon-Fri lodger?

Mojisola

redonion wrote: »

1. Use both the small and large bedrooms for myself, and have the lodger use the reception room as something like a bedsit but sharing kitchen and bathroom with me. The reception room is larger than either bedroom. They'd just have access to that room and the bathroom and kitchen, not the two bedrooms. I'd use the larger bedroom as a living room for me, and sleep in the smaller room.

All the student flats my son rented were like this. There wasn't a sitting room, just the bedrooms and a shared kitchen and a bathroom.

If the reception room is reasonable size - bed, desk, easy chair, etc - it's worth a try.

Kynthia

I've heard that there's such a shortage of rooms in London that as long as the location and price are right you should find someone pretty easily. The thing is that you are sharing your home with someone so you want to make them welcome and you want to find someone you'll be happy with and who will also be happy with whichever set up you go for. Therefore I recommend you really take the time to find the right person and then hopefully you'll build a trusting relationship with them and enjoy living with them. Starting off with locks on your doors probably won't start things off on the right note, but I think a hook and eye lock or a sliding lock on their door should be fine as then you aren't prevented from accessing the room (not that you want to go in but I assume you are worried about exclusive occupation and creating a tenancy) when they are out but they have privacy when home.