Do you charge less rent when the tenant is away?

Kua

My lodger is going away for three weeks over christmas and asked if rent could be waived. I agreed to lower it by 25% for that month but he seemed quite disappointed!

Am I obliged to do this? To be honest I'd rather he be around and I get the extra rent...

agrinnall

If it was a tenant, definitely not, it's their choice whether to occupy the premises they have rented or not. For a lodger, as in your case, I'd still say it's a bit of a cheek to ask, unless the rent paid includes bills, in which case a small reduction to take into account what isn't being used might be acceptable - although to my mind 25% is very generous.

G_M

Tenant? Definately not.

Lodger? Up to you. Personally I'd do a discount since you are benefitting from the extra space, peace & quiet (and modest cost savings) for that period.

25-50% is fair.

If he removes all his belongings and let's your auntie Clarie use his room over christmas, I'd probably not charge him rent at all.

Kua

agrinnall wrote: »

If it was a tenant, definitely not, it's their choice whether to occupy the premises they have rented or not. For a lodger, as in your case, I'd still say it's a bit of a cheek to ask, unless the rent paid includes bills, in which case a small reduction to take into account what isn't being used might be acceptable - although to my mind 25% is very generous.

Yes, it does include bills. And yes cheeky, especially to play the emotional game. I will stand my ground at 25% but like you say he's got a good deal

We get on well and he's a grafting East European so I won't begrudge him the discount.

Hedgehog99

A house still uses some power while unoccupied, and he'd be annoyed if you turned the heating off, the pipes froze and burst and his portfolio of Autotrader or whatever got ruined!

kinger101

You've been more than generous with 25%. He is being a very optimistic expecting a full waiver, but I guess if you don't ask, you don't get.

Perhaps mention that this is a one-off gesture of goodwill, or he may expect a discount every time he's away.

Kua

kinger101 wrote: »

You've been more than generous with 25%. He is being a very optimistic expecting a full waiver, but I guess if you don't ask, you don't get.

Perhaps mention that this is a one-off gesture of goodwill, or he may expect a discount every time he's away.

That's my fear. Hopefully he is just asking because he is away for a significant length of time.

PasturesNew

I've never heard of anybody getting a discount when they're away. Lots of young people, away for the first time, make the assumption they'll only have to pay when they're there.

Armorica

It's unusual...but as others say...if the money isn't absolutely critical for you, and the rent includes bills (and he's otherwise a good lodger) then it's not unreasonable. (I assume he's not overwhelmed with money and would quite like the funds to spend on his travel and xmas presents instead!)

brightontraveller

Plenty of workers in b b, lodgings hotels etc working away long term etc get discounts or even free e.g. there mon, fri go home weekends there not charged to keep the room over the weekend as the business now it makes sense they return you get steady flow of cash again “good tenants are hard to find” It usually takes more than a few weeks to replace them yourself or going through an agent ends up costing you more if you worried they will do it again gift them the discount as a Christmas present 49 weeks rent a year from a good tenant is worth the discount ?

lee111s

My mon-fri lodger has asked to pay 1/3 of his weekly rent over christmas while he's back home with his family as he doesn't get his living allowance during holidays.

He's a lovely guy and we get on really well, couldn't ask for a better lodger tbh so I have no issue at all reducing the rent. I wouldn't get someone in during that time anyway I doubt and I can almost guarantee I wouldn't get someone as good. I know he'll be back after christmas so it's a no brainer.