Renting out a room to a friend with a child

duchy

I_have_spoken wrote: »

Don't do it, the least worst outcome is losing the friend.

Probably not really a friend as OP has never met the child.

I woul;dn't have an agreement that says you can evict after a couple of months if rent isn't paid . If for some reason she stops paying rent -you don't want to be living with the kind of atmosphere that would cause for more than a week or two. Assume the worst possible scenarios in your agreement and hopefully you'll never need to use them but they are there if you do.

kinger101

I quite dislike the sound of this, because of the involvement of the child. Evicting a adult is one thing, but I think you could end up in a potentially difficult situation where you want them out but feel unable to evict because of the welfare of the child.

Has the potential tenant explored all options with housing benefit etc? I would have thought in this situation, mother and child would be entitled to property which provides a bedroom for both.

phill99

3 rules

Never work for friends and family
Never employ someone you're not willing to sack
Never let a house (room) to someine you're not willing to evict.

This will certainly end in tears!

Better_Days

I too think there is a lot to go wrong here.

I am especially concerned you have not even met the child. What is Mum's attitude to parenting? Some parents would expect you to revolve everything in the household round the child. If there are not shared expectations then it could make for some very uncomfortable conversations. Your house will be the child's home. Are you prepared for arguments about homework, bed times, friends, meals, computer use and goodness knows what else. Children are noisy and sometimes careless with other peoples belongings. What if you have a busy day at work the next day and want to get to sleep and the child is arsing around? How much say will you have over what is acceptable behaviour by the child in your house?

As there are two of them they may 'gang up' on you over household issues, which in themselves may be small but you could end up feeling unwelcome in your own home. It may well be done in a jokey way, but you may end up feeling that they are taking over the house.

Does Mum have a partner? If so will she want the partner to stay too? If she doesn't what about if she met someone? Does Mum have expectations about your possible role looking after the child if she wants/needs to go out.

Are you prepared to evict Mum and a nine year old if the rent isn't paid?

A child changes the whole dynamic of the household. I wouldn't do it.

Yorkie1

I've just spotted that you did say that the child is 9.

I completely agree with Better Days' post in that a 9-year old will completely change the dynamic of the flat.

Your house will be the child's home. Are you prepared for arguments about homework, bed times, friends, meals, computer use and goodness knows what else. Children are noisy and sometimes careless with other peoples belongings. What if you have a busy day at work the next day and want to get to sleep and the child is arsing around? How much say will you have over what is acceptable behaviour by the child in your house?

You have no experience of how the mum and her child interact in real life scenarios, and you're not going to get that when you have a single meeting with them before they move in.

I also think it's really inappropriate for a 9-year old to be sharing a double bedroom with their mum in any circumstances other than short-term emergency.

Personally, no matter how good a friend the mum might be (unless they're proper partner, of course) I wouldn't touch this arrangement with a bargepole. If you must get a lodger, and it's permitted by your flat's lease, then a single adult would be far more preferable in all ways.

gazter

katejo wrote: »

£200 sounds very low, particularly with the child there as well. OK I'm in London not the Midlands but my lodger is single. He pays £440 a month inclusive. Remember to check with your home insurer that they allow lodgers. Not all of them do. Those who do exclude cover for theft from your house unless there is evidence of a break in!
Your friend will need to buy a separate TV licence if she watches live TV in her room. Not required if she shares your TV.

that tv license thing is not the case. TV licensing website is intentionally vague, but the law isnt.

Cheeky_Monkey

For goodness sake don't do it or there will be tears before bedtime (most likely yours) :eek:

PasturesNew

A child isn't like a pet cat, it won't sit quietly in the corner licking its b4lls until it falls asleep ... and/or you can lob it out of the front door.

This could end in tears. Yours.

duchy

Can I ask what the circumstances are that the Mum is happy to accept sharing a bedroom with a nine year old. It sounds an unusual situation.

What are their current living arrangements ?

Why have you never met your friend's child ?

katejo

gazter wrote: »

that tv license thing is not the case. TV licensing website is intentionally vague, but the law isnt.

I have an email from the TV license authorities. It states that lodgers must have their own license unless they are a family member or an au pair. I got it when I disputed the wording on their website which keeps using the word tenant.
I would quite like to see their claim tested in court but they insisted that this was correct when I challenged their argument.