Would you charge rent over the Christmas period?

Stillawake

I have let my spare rooms to some wonderful lodgers. One of them is a long term Monday to Friday and a real pleasure to have ... (always courteous, good company ... she is a real angel)
The other is also a Monday to Friday but only here until she is able to get her own pad ... so only for a few months.

They are both going to stay with family for a couple of weeks over the Christmas period ...... The question is do I still charge Rent?

What are your thoughts

LandyAndy

What do you do when they go away on holiday?

Pixie5740

Have your lodgers asked not to pay rent over the Christmas period?


I suppose it depends on what happens to the rooms they rent over Christmas. If the rooms still contain their belongings are and are available for them to use then yes charge rent unless you feel like not charging. On the other hand if you have family coming to stay and they will be staying in your lodgers' rooms then don't charge rent.

chucknorris

If it was me I wouldn't charge anything because:

1. You rent the rooms Mon to Fri presumably because you also enjoy having the place to yourself at weekends, the Xmas holidays would be an extension to that.

2. The fact that you rent Mon to Fri IMO opens to door to an interpretation of paying when there (especially if the daily rent for 5 days is proportionally higher than it would be over 7 days).

3. You have an opportunity to show that you treat them fairly and considerately.

dannim12345

If they don't ask, leave it as it is - I would expect to carrying on paying if I was a lodger.

If they ask, maybe give a small reduction. But it would probably be a good idea to offer the same 'deal' to both lodgers or you never know it could cause tension.

davidmcn

Unless their rooms are actually being vacated (e.g. because you have guests needing them) then I would expect to continue paying normal rates. It's not as if their families will be charging them rent too.

pmlindyloo

If they don't ask then I wouldn't offer! They still have use of their rooms, presumably. if they have said you can use them for visitors then obviously you wouldn't charge them rent.

If the rent includes electricity/gas/contribution to any household stuff, then I might offer a small reduction.

lee111s

I don't charge over the Christmas but my lodger offered me £50 for the two weeks just to keep the room for him which I was happy to take.

moneyistooshorttomention

When I had lodgers (many years ago now!) I used to charge them rent throughout their stay with me. My reasoning basically being that their possessions were in their rooms and I, accordingly, couldn't use their rooms for anything or anyone else because of that.

kelpie35

I think you are a very kind person to even be considering this.

If it does not impact on you financially I would give them a reduced rate.

This could be seen as you giving them a Christmas present.

[Deleted User]

I agree, its a nice thing to do for a fellow human if you can afford it

there is more to life than money, and your not a greedy co-orporating just out to milk us.

decent of you, to offer reduction....