looking for a lodger - do i need contracts?

Pixie5740

HappyMJ wrote: »

Fiver's go missing and don't get replaced with receipts.

Who took it? Nobody knows and nobody owns up and household supplies don't get replaced. I would just get everyone to buy everything in turns every fortnight. I ended up keeping my own stash of toilet paper as lodger refused to replace. The lodger...strange one this one...used "ALL" of the kitchen roll to go rather than replace...and when that ran out I have no idea what they used.

A friend of mine and his flatmate reached a stalemate in whose turn it was to buy toilet paper. They made it all the way to C in the phonebook before one of them cracked.

RobMolyneux

booksurr wrote: »

that would count as part of the rent for tax purposes and should be included in the amount you declare for income tax purposes if you wish to claim the rent a room scheme

granted that after April 2016 the annual allowance is £7,500 ie £625 pcm

so long as your rent + any other contributions towards household expenses total less than that you will be OK. If you exceed that amount you will have to pay income tax on the excess over £7,500

so if i ask for a fiver in a jar, i have to account for it, but if i ask them to buy next time i dont? is that right?

I will be well below £7500 per year, based on what i hope to get pcm (c.£500)

I also intent to advertise as all bills included, which i feel i can manage as i'll be living in the property and will know what their usage is like.

I'm probably the most naive person in the world, in that I'm hoping to make a friend out of this situation, and not an enemy.

RobMolyneux

RAS wrote: »

Which country are you in? England, Scotland?

I'm in England

Cheeky_Monkey

RobMolyneux wrote: »

thanks RAS, thats a pretty logical idea but not one I'd thought of.

My young daughter will stay with me alternate weekends and 1 or 2 nights per week, and on other ad hoc occastions, etc.

my intent is to just be open about this when i advertise and/or show someone round, but does this need to be formally covered in any way, would you suggest?

regards house rules, and replenishment of household items, i would suggest a jar in the kitchen that we put a fiver each into, which either can use to replace such items. Thats what I did with other tenants in a recent houseshare, and worked - what would you think from your experience?

I don't mean to be a scaremonger and I'm sure you've already thought about it but, in view of your daughter's age, please make sure you choose your lodger extremely carefully. It could also be the case that her mother might be not too happy for her daughter to be sleeping in a house with a complete stranger so you might want to run the idea past her first maybe.

agrinnall

Given the difficulties you've experienced in your other thread, partly down to not having a written contract, I'm surprised you felt the need to ask the question.

RobMolyneux

Cheeky_Monkey wrote: »

I don't mean to be a scaremonger and I'm sure you've already thought about it but, in view of your daughter's age, please make sure you choose your lodger extremely carefully. It could also be the case that her mother might be not too happy for her daughter to be sleeping in a house with a complete stranger so you might want to run the idea past her first maybe.

obviously i've thought about it, and we've discussed it. neither of us like it, so i'm going to be very choosy. I'm hoping that i might end up with someone i know.

either way, i appreciate your comment. thanks.

RobMolyneux

agrinnall wrote: »

Given the difficulties you've experienced in your other thread, partly down to not having a written contract, I'm surprised you felt the need to ask the question.

it's the formality of the contract that i was more concerned by. The simple format laid out in one of the first replies is really a helpful guide and i'm glad i can legally use such a simple approach.

RAS

Just avoid anything on t'internet that says it is a lodger's contract; many duplicate the T&Cs on tenancy agreements and give the lodger a lot more contractual rights than they have under basic law.

Have you asked ex what her views would be on a female lodger? Might be safer around your daughter? Whatever you choose, no over night visitors when DD is staying (safety not morals).

RobMolyneux

RAS wrote: »

Just avoid anything on t'internet that says it is a lodger's contract; many duplicate the T&Cs on tenancy agreements and give the lodger a lot more contractual rights than they have under basic law.

Have you asked ex what her views would be on a female lodger? Might be safer around your daughter? Whatever you choose, no over night visitors when DD is staying (safety not morals).

we've discussed all options, and we agree that preference is:

1) someone one of us knows (ideally me, i'm not keen on her having a spy in the place!!)

2) a female

3) a male in a similar situation with a similarly aged child

4) depends on how long i go without a contribution to the mortgage!


cheers guys, all of your help has been much appreciated.