When should I worry about find a flatmate

Chlorine7

I've advertised a room in the flat I am living (not the landlord but have full permission).

It will be available from 1st June and I started advertising near the end of April. I haven't had any inquiries at all - I have put in lots of details and photos plus there will be no agency or security check fees to pay.

What they will need is a 6 week deposit and one months rent upfront.

Can anyone who has had a similar experience advise as to how long it might take for people to start getting in contact?

I've contacted a few people who are looking but they don't really reply but this is mostly due to those people having earlier move dates.

Guest101

Are you taking in a lodger?


If so lower the deposit and the rent upfront.

Chlorine7

Not a lodger and these are non negotiable. In my experience it is also the norm to require these before the move date.

Guest101

Chlorine7 wrote: »

Not a lodger and these are non negotiable. In my experience it is also the norm to require these before the move date.

So what kind of tenancy is on offer?


Whats the relationship going to be?


You need to be clearer on this. It's not a case of give me 10 weeks worth of rent and move in. Why are YOU doing this, and not the LL?

[Deleted User]

I always started looking for flatshares about 3-4 weeks before I needed to move, so I am not surprised you didn't get much interest before now. When I was on the other side of the fence, I used to find that people were generally unwilling to make their final decision until it got to a couple of weeks before their move date (i.e. they'd keep their options open, keep looking just in case). All this is London though, YMMV.

The advice I'd give that lots of websites order the listings by age, at a month old, some people might not see yours. So bump it up by renewing, changing something, etc. Also spread the word on facebook and ask friends to share with their friends.

How will the contracts be done? Will your new flatmate have their own contract directly with the landlord, and will you be jointly and severally liable? Or are you effectively subletting (taking their rent, and paying it on to the landlord), making them a lodger?

There's a bit more to think about than just how to find someone / what are they going to be like to live with.

Guest101

Cherry_Gale wrote: »

I always started looking for flatshares about 3-4 weeks before I needed to move, so I am not surprised you didn't get much interest before now. When I was on the other side of the fence, I used to find that people were generally unwilling to make their final decision until it got to a couple of weeks before their move date (i.e. they'd keep their options open, keep looking just in case). All this is London though, YMMV.

The advice I'd give that lots of websites order the listings by age, at a month old, some people might not see yours. So bump it up by renewing, changing something, etc. Also spread the word on facebook and ask friends to share with their friends.

How will the contracts be done? Will your new flatmate have their own contract directly with the landlord, and will you be jointly and severally liable? Or are you effectively subletting (taking their rent, and paying it on to the landlord), making them a lodger?

There's a bit more to think about than just how to find someone / what are they going to be like to live with.

Just to clarify, that is not subletting.


Subletting is:


Rent a property from a LL
Rent the property to another person(s)
Pay the LL their rent, keep the difference

[Deleted User]

Guest101 wrote: »

Just to clarify, that is not subletting.


Subletting is:


Rent a property from a LL
Rent the property to another person(s)
Pay the LL their rent, keep the difference

Sorry you are quite right, I meant 'having a lodger while being a tenant yourself'.

Guest101

Cherry_Gale wrote: »

Sorry you are quite right, I meant 'having a lodger while being a tenant yourself'.

no worries, often someone will say 'I cant get a lodger, my tenancy doesn't allow subletting' and it's an easy mistake to make.


Otherwise your post was spot on!

G_M

Chlorine - you eed to clarify what contract is being offered, and by whom.

Will this new occupant be

a) a tenant, wih their landlord being the ame person as your landlord? In that case, why are you involved in advertising?

b) a lodger, with you being their landlord. Though you said in post 3 above this is not the case

c) a sub-tenant, with exclusive occupation, with you being their landlord. Though you said in post 1 above that you seek a 'flatmate'.

I cannot think of any other contract type (assuming you are in eng/wales).

When advertising, dod you mention the 1st June start date? For option b above it may be a bit early - lodgers tend to move faster than tenants.

bumpercars99

Chlorine7 wrote: »

Not a lodger and these are non negotiable. In my experience it is also the norm to require these before the move date.

Have you had lodgers before (which is what this sounds like despite what you say)?

Why would someone hand over 10 weeks of rent to a stranger with no security of tenure. It's different to paying a deposit on a tenancy.

While I definitely understand why it would make you feel better to have this much money from the lodger, often people are looking to lodge because they don't have a lot of cash and this is potentially prohibitive.

Chlorine7

G_M wrote: »

Chlorine - you eed to clarify what contract is being offered, and by whom.

Will this new occupant be

a) a tenant, wih their landlord being the ame person as your landlord? In that case, why are you involved in advertising?

b) a lodger, with you being their landlord. Though you said in post 3 above this is not the case

c) a sub-tenant, with exclusive occupation, with you being their landlord. Though you said in post 1 above that you seek a 'flatmate'.

I cannot think of any other contract type (assuming you are in eng/wales).

When advertising, dod you mention the 1st June start date? For option b above it may be a bit early - lodgers tend to move faster than tenants.

a) Same LL, individual contracts. I am doing the advertising since I have to live with them. LL has agreed I can stay on after my flatmate leaves and can find someone new. This is how I ended up in the flat in the first place.

b) Not a lodger

c)Not a sub-tenant

The deposit and rent will go to the LL with the deposit going into the Tenancy Deposit Scheme.