Lodger refusing to do share of cleaning

G_M

Lesson learnt.

In future do not give a fixed term (6 months?? :eek:) as the lodger could insist on it.

And why a month's notice? Make it a weekly rolling agreement with a week's notice next time.

And have you cleaning rota, along with all other 'house rules' in writing to avoid misunderstandings.

TheFox30

In future do not give a fixed term (6 months?? :eek:) as the lodger could insist on it.

I've always done agreements of several months. There's a clause in there that I can require the tenant to leave early providing I give them the required notice - so I'm not tied down to 6 months if I end up not wanting someone for 6 months for whatever reason.

And why a month's notice? Make it a weekly rolling agreement with a week's notice next time.

I'm debating this myself. The benefit of a week's notice is obviously that if someone's a pain in the a**e, I can have them out nice and quick. The downside is that I'm unlikely to find a new tenant in such a short space of time, therefore my room would be sat empty earning no money. Whereas a month's notice normally allows me time to find a new tenant with little break between one leaving and one coming.

And have you cleaning rota, along with all other 'house rules' in writing to avoid misunderstandings.

All house rules are in contract besides cleaning rota. I agree with what you're saying here - I will put the cleaning rota in the next contract so that no-one can claim any misunderstanding.

There isn't actually any misunderstanding as it happens - he's just too lazy to do his share. My other housemate (who's a decent bloke) had a few words with him last night.

mrginge

TheFox30 wrote: »

I've always done agreements of several months. There's a clause in there that I can require the tenant to leave early providing I give them the required notice - so I'm not tied down to 6 months if I end up not wanting someone for 6 months for whatever reason.

I hope you also give the same right to the lodger....

lisyloo

The downside is that I'm unlikely to find a new tenant in such a short space of time, therefore my room would be sat empty earning no money

Just because you write it in the contract doesn't mean you can't give more.
So you can put a MINimum of 1 weeks notice in the contract which gives you that right, but then offer someone 1 months notice to give yourself time to find another lodger.
This gives you the best of both worlds e.g. ability to get rid of someone really bad, but you can also minimise voids.

I sympathise but personally I wouldn't withhold any deposit.
The "loss" to yourself is either a bit of extra cleaning or less clean communal areas.
In practice I feel the loss in financial terms is minimal and not worth any potential arguments.
Don't forget people have social media and review sites these days so it's just not worth the agro for the sake of £20 IMO.

I've gone for "serviced" appartments in the past and it comes at a price.
Yes it's a valid choice but that's not what he paid for.

varghesejim

pinkshoes wrote: »

I disagree.

Cleaning up after yourself is a basic requirement.

It might not be that black and white. I have seen some people in shared household are very unclean. In such a household a relatively clean person will be effectively cleaning others mess. That could lead to an argument.

TheFox30

Just because you write it in the contract doesn't mean you can't give more.
So you can put a MINimum of 1 weeks notice in the contract which gives you that right, but then offer someone 1 months notice to give yourself time to find another lodger.
This gives you the best of both worlds e.g. ability to get rid of someone really bad, but you can also minimise voids.

Thanks, that's a good point. I'd love to be rid of this fella within a week, especially as it's not just me who has to put with him for a month now, it's also my other housemate.

I've always rented rooms on a monthly basis, with payment at the start of the month. Presumably if I gave someone in future a week's notice when they'd already paid for a month, it would simply be a case of repaying them whatever fraction of the month it came to. (ie if someone's paid me the rent for November, and I say to them on the 14th November, 'here's your week's notice to leave on the 21st', it would simply be a case of repaying them 9/30 of the months rent to cover the 9 days from the 22nd to the 30th)

Alternatively I could do weekly rent rather than monthly of course.

lisyloo

It might not be that black and white..

If you are living with other people then you surely ought to have some level of consideration for others.
This is part of growing up and anyone happily married or in any kind of harmonious relationship of any kind knows that it works on compromise.

RAS

Your proposal for re-payment is fine. Your could even write that into the contract.

lee111s

westv wrote: »

I lodge during the week and when I was looking for somewhere I didn't bother viewing places where I was expected to do any sort of cleaning rota.

This to be honest. I have a lodger and I don't expect them to clean the house, just don't leave mess in the kitchen/bathroom. I clean my house a couple of times a week whether I have lodgers or not and to be honest, would probably clean again after anyone else to make sure that it's done properly.

lisyloo

I have a lodger and I don't expect them to clean the house

Whether the owner provides cleaning or not is surely a matter of agreement.
If it's made clear that it's not included and someone agrees then that's what they should do.