Renting a room in our house out for the first time

Ching_Ching

Hi All,

I'm seriously thinking of doing the same - renting a room in my place to help with the mortgage.

Where is the best place on the internet to advertise a room for rent rather than a whole house or flat?

( I can't edit a newspaper ad once it is printed. )

And has anyone got a draft 'contract' that I can have a look at so that I don't miss out anything important?

Thanks very much,

Ching_Ching

bristol_pilot

When renting out rooms in the past, the single most important issue for me has been smoking.

If you are a non-smoking household and a prospective lodger says that they smoke but will not do so in the house - do not believe them! If they say they only smoke occasionally, I can assure you that they WILL eventually smoke in your house!

If you are a smoke-free home, only rent a room out to a non-smoker and spell it out that any guests may not smoke in the house. I have also found that some people lie about the fact that they smoke, but you can usually smell it on them.

Personally I think it is friendlier not to impose restrictions on numbers of baths that can be taken or amount of washing that can be done. Simply make sure that the rent will more than cover the effect on household bills. Do expect that the household bills will increase somewhat, don't kid yourself that they won't.

Happy renting!

bobbie78

Ching_Ching wrote: »

Where is the best place on the internet to advertise a room for rent rather than a whole house or flat

Ching_Ching

I normally look on EasyRoommate.com or SPAREROOM.co.uk you don't have to pay for the subscription as you can normally send messages via the website for free and it emails you when you have a message. I've lived in 4 different rooms in different bits of the country via these 2 sites and they also get listed on fish4homes for free if they are advertised on these sites.

Curious_Moose

Get a "Houseshare/Flat Agreement" form from WH Smith. I think they are under a fiver. Just puts things on a more legal basis by confirming the deposit, monthly rent, notice period etc. You both sign it and each keep a copy.

Make it completely clear what is included in the rent. Gas/electric/council tax? Can they use the phone? Will they need to park anywhere? Do you want them watching TV with you in the living room? Do they smoke? What hours do they work? (it's better if they leave the house before you do in the morning, that way you are not worrying about them having left taps on, windows open or doors unlocked!).

I wouldn't mention restrictions about having baths or using the washing machine. It just makes you sound mean. In practice though, the washing machine can be a source of annoyance:

1) Don't use the 2 hour heavy wash load unless you work on an oil rig.
2) Don't wash only 2 items at a time or fill the machine up to the top.
3) Once it is running, don't switch it off and on again because you have set it to do a 90 minute dry cycle rather than the 30 minute light wash you intended.

Gosh, I'm rambling again

Trust your instincts and you'll be fine.

Ching_Ching

Great advice, thank you!

Ching_Ching

seven-day-weekend

Ching_Ching wrote: »

Hi All,

I'm seriously thinking of doing the same - renting a room in my place to help with the mortgage.

Where is the best place on the internet to advertise a room for rent rather than a whole house or flat? www.easyroommate.com

( I can't edit a newspaper ad once it is printed. )

And has anyone got a draft 'contract' that I can have a look at so that I don't miss out anything important?look at www.landlordzone.co.uk , they have all sorts of forms including lodger reference forms and contracts

Thanks very much,

Ching_Ching

Hope this helps

seven-day-weekend

Two important things; smoking and phone. If you only want non-smokers, insist on this, as someone has already said. My son asks for non-smokers only, although he did have one girl who smoked- he said she could do so outside.

Be clear whether they can use the phone or not. Our son's lodgers can use the house phone if they ask his permission (it is barred to mobiles). But usually they use their own mobiles.

We have had many lodgers over the years, some we are still in touch with, especially the two who married each other!. Now our son lives in the family house and he has them. He has two very nice young men lodgers at the momembt - both been there over a year - hope they stay!

Badger_Lady

It's been a while since I did this, but there always was a law whereby landlords can evict tenants with 2 months notice without giving reason. This law held true for any type of letting.

I'm currently in the process of relocating for work, so I've been renting a room from a chap in the new town. We signed an agreement when I moved in, which briefly outlined notice periods, furniture included etc, but wasn't too formal.

As someone seeking a room, though, I would expect to have to:
* Provide references (usually a previous housemate or employer)
* Pay a security deposit equal to or more than 1 month's rent
* Pay rent in advance
* Give 1 month's notice to leave (although in this case I've agreed with the landlord that this could be less, because it's dependent on a completion date for my own house)

I would expect full use of the house, e.g. living room, when it was empty, but would prefer to use my own private space in my bedroom for watching telly etc when other people are home... and I would feel nervous if someone started dictating "dress codes" etc - that doesn't build a very friendly atmosphere! One would hope that common sense prevails, but of course you never know who you're going to get...

I would definitely advise meeting up with any potential lodger to see how you get along - the right personality makes all the difference. When I finally move into my own house here, I will be advertising for lodgers, and I will want to go out for a drink with potentials before I decide whether to invite them into my home.

In terms of pricing and taxation, you're fine if you're just letting out one room and receiving an income of up to £4,250 a year thanks to the Rent a Room Scheme. Any more than that, you start becoming a commercial landlord and should consider the legalities and taxes around that. This limit is OK for most houses, but consider it in setting prices - it's equivalent to £354 a month!

ixwood

hmmm, I know someone who lets out 2 rooms and is probably over that. I'll warn him. How serious is it? Is he likely to be hounded and asked for records?

moanymoany

Some good sites

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/mortgages/article.html?in_article_id=356554&in_page_id=8


http://www.findaproperty.com/displaystory.aspx?edid=00&salerent=1&storyid=10078


http://www.landlordzone.co.uk/index.htm

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/individuals/tmaletting-my-home.shtml

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/mortgages/article.html?in_article_id=356554&in_page_id=8

We have recently started to do this, not to pay the mortgage but to get some cash for our retirement fund. We had our first lodger for a month. Did it completely the wrong way. He was a nice lad, but mucky. Lost his job, then worked for an agency, missed some rent! His girlfriend came most days and she made so much noise I banned her. He was only 20 so what did we expect!

Our next lodger moves in on Sunday. We have a reference from his firm. We will have an agreement as we did for the first. I've put an ad in a free online airport magazine for the second room, will see what comes from that. We're lucky in that we can give them their own living room. However, we will not broadcast that to them. I will only let boy/girlfriends stay for one night a week.

I advertise this as a quiet family house. I take the view that I let them know the score before they decide to take the room. It is my house and my rules. However, when something gets on my nerves or I don't like sharing my kitchen or if I have to clean the bathroom after them - I think to myself - this is how you are earning the money moany, no-one gives you money for nothing, you can't expect to have strangers living in your house and think they will be invisible.

Get references,
get a deposit
tell them what the rules are
relax and look at your bank balance.

Good luck - to me as well!!!!!!!!!!!:D