Renting a room in our house out for the first time

MsFitz

I've shared my home with seven different people over the last three years. I have remained best friends with one, made great friends with two, lost contact with three and had a really unpleasant experience with one. The only thing that has ever been an issue is money. There is nothing worse than living with a scab! Be really clear from the start as to what is covered by the rent and what is not - council tax, utilities, telephone calls, internet access, cleaner etc. Best to guesstimate these and include in your basic charge - much less awkward than asking for little amounts constantly.Stupid things like toilet roll and milk can become an issue - sounds ridiculous but if you live with someone for a year and they never buy any fairy liquid - even the sanest person can lose the rag! Establish how this works at the beginning and you can avoid traumas later.I'd ask someone new - are they in a relationship? (as you say - are you getting one person in or two!) what do they do at the weekends? (ie are they on the same wavelength as you and your husband) do they have many friends in the area? (ie are they likely to be home EVERY night!)Personally I have always made a one page agreement stating when the rent is due - how much it is - where it should be paid into... it should also state the amount of the deposit (usually 6 weeks in advance) and notice required from the tenant... This usually re-assures them that they have a written record of how much they have given you and you have a record of what the agreement is, should they default - always best to be clear I reckon. Finally - follow your gut instinct - if someone seems nice they probably are - if they ask a million and one questions and seem reticent about providing references - they probably aren't!Good luck!

coco123_3

Hello

We have taken the plunge and are getting a lodger!!

Just one quick question...... What obligations do I have to ensure that the propoery is safe? (that sounds bad doesn't it?). We have has our bolier serviced and have smoke alarms - I am happy living there but do I need to get a certificate or something? What are my legal obligations?

I just need to be sure that I am a good landlady and don't want to get sued!!!! I would say I have taken reasonable steps to ensure that the property is safe - is this enough?

Thanks

coco123_3

Hello

We have taken the plunge and are getting a lodger!!

Just one quick question...... What obligations do I have to ensure that the property is safe? (that sounds bad doesn't it?). We have had our bolier serviced and have smoke alarms - I am happy living there but do I need to get a certificate or something? What are my legal obligations?

I just need to be sure that I am a good landlady and don't want to get sued!!!! I would say I have taken reasonable steps to ensure that the property is safe - is this enough?

Thanks

Badger_Lady

You don't have any legal obligations - as long as you're happy to live in the house in its current conditions, your lodger should be happy to. They do not have the same rights as a full tenant, and you would be extremely unlucky to get successfully sued by one!

Well done - I'm going to start advertising for one as soon as I finish decorating :-)

Badger_Lady

Woo-hoo!

Having put this off for ages (who can be arrsed to decorate?), I started advertising rooms to let on Sunday. And I've got 2 new lodgers signed up already!

Just 1 more to go

lostinrates

Its really interesting seeing this from the other side. My DH is currently looking for somewhere to lodge through the working week. We wouldn't expect the homeowners to put up with me there AT ALL, it seems in most circumstnaces of lodging rather than flat sharing, to be unfair. I think a professional lodger like that would be great: you get the weekends in your home alone, they are usually working late and eating at work, so all they really need is a place to sleep, possibly iron and get clean!

On the other hand, I had a lodger before and she was great and we are still great friends. We kept a spare room and the rule was we had first call on friends staying but if it were empty her friends could stay friday or saturday (maximum of two friends). she had to clear up after her friends if they didn't, but I cleaned her room once through the week. No one through the working week. Her family (from abroad) were the exception to that, they came twice, each for about a week an gave us a little extra for the spare room.

Badger_Lady

Well, I have really set up the whole house to be lodger-friendly now - I want this to be a home for independent people, not a "faux family"...

The house has got three storeys, so I've split it up like this:

Bottom floor
- Small gym (room with cross-trainer, exercise bike, rowing machine and weights)
- Lounge (futon, giant beanbag, flat-screen telly with DVD player and Virgin V+ to save on arguments about what to watch!)
- Open-plan kitchen (loads of storage, pool/foozeball table, dartboard)
- Garden and unlocked storage cupboard

Middle floor
- My room! (locked)
- Large storage room, for furniture and bits and pieces that people don't want to keep in their rooms (locked - only I have a key)

Top floor
- The house's only bathroom (not ideal, I know - but I take my showers at work, so not as bad as it sounds)
- Single bedroom (locked) £200pcm
- Double bedroom (locked) £300pcm
- Double bedroom (locked) £320pcm

I'm really pleased with the layout, because it means some people can really have a good time downstairs (like a pub but cheaper!), but if other lodgers want some quiet time their bedrooms are waaaay upstairs with lots of doors in between And as for me? I'll sleep through anything

To be honest, as long as everyone pays up on time and doesn't cause damage, I don't really mind what they get up to - I'll either socialise with them downstairs or people will hide out in their rooms (with or without girlfriends!). I'm very laid back and I hope they will be too... guess you never know until you give it a try...

Curious_Moose

Would 3 tenants qualify as a "house in multiple occupation". You might need to be a bit more careful about your obligations if it does.

http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/rentingandletting/privaterenting/housesmultiple/whatis/

red40

coco123 wrote: »

What obligations do I have to ensure that the propoery is safe?

You need to have a valid gas safety certificate for the gas appliances that are situated within the property. Apart from that you really only have a duty of care to the lodger, but if you are a resident landlord, I suspect you would want the property safe anyway?:D

Curious_Moose wrote: »

Would 3 tenants qualify as a "house in multiple occupation".

Yes it would!

SquatNow

ixwood wrote: »

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?

yes and now under the new rules HMRC can just turn up at your door and demand to see your records.

In response to the OP, your best bet is to go for a few beers with the person. You'll get to know them far better as they will let their guard down.

Sounds drastic but it's best for both parties.