Lodger and overnight guests

quidsy

Not sure tbh but I think the rules on lodgers are not as strict as tenants so although not enforceable, if the lodger was taking the p & ignoring your request to keep guests down to a minimum & only know friends/partners, you could just ask them to leave.


Minefield.

fairy_lights

How often does your current tenant have people over?
I suppose one way round the problem would be to get a Monday-Friday lodger, someone who works away from home and would go home for weekends.

quidsy

Another issue I would suppose would be the household contents insurance. How valid would it be if there was a theft or damage to something & it was done by an overnight guest of the lodger?

Calleja

Thanks for all the thoughts folks. Random strangers staying over hasn't been an issue so far, thanks goodness! Its always a risk I guess, but I have a 7 day notice period in the agreement, just in case!


Regarding insurance, I'm pretty sure I'm not covered for any damage caused by the lodger, let alone their guests (I have declared the lodger and my insurance is all above board).


My main takeaway point is coming from G_M I think - whatever I decide just make it clear up front. But that was partly why I've opted for short term lodgers initially, so I can learn from the experience and change things going forward.

TBeckett100

put a durex machine in the toilet at £5 a go. That way, you'll either be able to retire early or you'll have some tread left on the carpet.

Also, maybe design a lodger questionnaire. Do they like fornication with the lights on or off? This could help save electricity.

Or perhaps wire a dynamo light system to the mattress so the lodger can generate some free electric?

Calleja

fairy_lights wrote: »

How often does your current tenant have people over?
I suppose one way round the problem would be to get a Monday-Friday lodger, someone who works away from home and would go home for weekends.

I have to admit, I would love a M-F lodger and put that in my ad, but there doesn't seem to be much call for it around here.

Cheeky_Monkey

Personally, I have a very simple solution to this problem. I don't allow overnight guests at all.

I am a female living alone and have had 5 male lodgers and not one of them objected to that rule.

The only objection I've ever had was from a female! Needless to say, she didn't move in.

I find that if you have male lodgers, they/re more likely to stay over at their girlfriends place.

jbainbridge

Cheeky_Monkey wrote: »

Personally, I have a very simple solution to this problem. I don't allow overnight guests at all.

I am a female living alone and have had 5 male lodgers and not one of them objected to that rule.

The only objection I've ever had was from a female! Needless to say, she didn't move in.

I find that if you have male lodgers, they/re more likely to stay over at their girlfriends place.

The key point being - that its helpful to be clear about it at the outset.

Cheeky_Monkey

jbainbridge wrote: »

The key point being - that its helpful to be clear about it at the outset.

Exactly - you can make whatever rules you like as long as you're up front about them from the outset.

The potential lodger can either accept them or look elsewhere.

Calleja

Thanks again, all. I am happy for her to have guests and I don't want to deny her that, although I appreciate that not allowing them would make it easier!




Although I'm not sure the durex machine is needed considering my lodger is female and so are most of her overnight guests, any other alternative ideas people have come up for dealing with this are most welcome!