First experience as a live in landlord with mistakes made...

scd3scd4

I disagree. I understand people feel the cold differently. My wife is from a hot country.


However leaving the windows open with the heating turned right up is just wrong and I would make that clear. Wasting is just that. Having the odd extra shower is not in my view.

FBaby

I think what is important is not to get excited when you get someone interested and think that's it, I've got someone. Take the time not just to show the place but get to know them and be frank with them. See how they react. Have been lodgers before? If so, asked them what their good and bad experiences have been.

If you have any doubt, then don't offer the room. Better to wait and get someone you feel you can communicate with. Saying all that, you need to remain realistic, there are not massive amount of perfect (in your eyes) lodgers.

accidental_landlord_2

Crashy_Time wrote: »

But the OP supposedly priced at the going rate, not below it, and got a student from Austria who presumably doesn`t hang out with doley`s who still milked the property :rotfl:The reason is that although some on here may believe that 800 p.m for a room is somehow normal many don`t (including this guy it seems) and will set out to get "value" from the landlord one way or another above a certain rate. The rate for a room with "My roof my rules" attached is about 300-350 p.m IMO, that way the person can`t complain that they are paying too much for B+B rules and living conditions.

Feels like I'm feeding a troll with you....but lets assume your blanket price regardless of location or quality of accommodation is correct, that the lodger is paying £300 and move on. The issue will not change as the problem is because of the room being priced inclusive of all bills, this much I know...... What I'd like to hear is how others with more experience of this manage the situation... As mentioned the heating is LPG so not as straightforward as just diving a monthly bill by X% and passing it on to a lodger....

LEJC

I see you have met Crashy!

I would perhaps go with the suggestion of a mon-fri lodger in the first instance next time.....these tend to be people working away from home but want something a little more homely than a hotel.

I guess it all depends if you live in an area that supports that type of worker.
I have never done the whole lodging thing but a friend of mine tried it for a while...seemed good money but they actually never got their head round the stranger living with them ...guess it works for some but I can see its not for all...

although what you do describe in your opening post sounds very similar to the conversation I have recently had with my uni son who is sharing a private rental with 4 tropical basking friends who will reach for the window rather than the thermostat.....
They have yet to have their first quarter fuel bill but they will learn!

accidental_landlord_2

LEJC wrote: »

I see you have met Crashy!

I would perhaps go with the suggestion of a mon-fri lodger in the first instance next time.....these tend to be people working away from home but want something a little more homely than a hotel.

I guess it all depends if you live in an area that supports that type of worker.
I have never done the whole lodging thing but a friend of mine tried it for a while...seemed good money but they actually never got their head round the stranger living with them ...guess it works for some but I can see its not for all...

although what you do describe in your opening post sounds very similar to the conversation I have recently had with my uni son who is sharing a private rental with 4 tropical basking friends who will reach for the window rather than the thermostat.....
They have yet to have their first quarter fuel bill but they will learn!

I assume he's known around the village then! Thanks for the warning & other thoughts).

getmore4less

Austrian - based on my skiing experience they like it warm in property and fresh air.



If in the right area short term might be more lucrative.
Mon- Fri has been mentioned
Contractors
AirBnB

If looking to have people around more and less changes not so good.

es5595

I’d start by saying avoid students. I let out my spare room and I mistakenly accepted a student lodger in this September. I gave her notice to leave within two weeks. Despite being 21 and a final year student has no idea how to live in someone’s home.

The final straws where when despite me asking her not to touch the thermostat she constantly wound it up to 25C, and spent her days lounging on my sofa in her pyjamas (despite saying she’d be out on placement full time), combined with constantly wearing shoes throughout the house despite multiple requests not to.

I’m now onto my fifth lodger, the first three were all great, genuine Monday-Friday lodgers who for varying reasons needed a room during the week. As adults they were already “house trained” and got on really well.

I suggest going through the rules when you show them around (I’ve always been very strict on no guests at all) and seeing how they react/acknowledge them.

Crashy_Time

LEJC wrote: »

I see you have met Crashy!

I would perhaps go with the suggestion of a mon-fri lodger in the first instance next time.....these tend to be people working away from home but want something a little more homely than a hotel.

I guess it all depends if you live in an area that supports that type of worker.
I have never done the whole lodging thing but a friend of mine tried it for a while...seemed good money but they actually never got their head round the stranger living with them ...guess it works for some but I can see its not for all...

although what you do describe in your opening post sounds very similar to the conversation I have recently had with my uni son who is sharing a private rental with 4 tropical basking friends who will reach for the window rather than the thermostat.....
They have yet to have their first quarter fuel bill but they will learn!

How many lodgers have you had in your home?

Crashy_Time

accidental_landlord wrote: »

Feels like I'm feeding a troll with you....but lets assume your blanket price regardless of location or quality of accommodation is correct, that the lodger is paying £300 and move on. The issue will not change as the problem is because of the room being priced inclusive of all bills, this much I know...... What I'd like to hear is how others with more experience of this manage the situation... As mentioned the heating is LPG so not as straightforward as just diving a monthly bill by X% and passing it on to a lodger....

IMO No. Someone bringing groups of people over for drinks before going out clubbing is because at the 500-800 p.m level they know they are basically paying your mortgage, and are going to do what they feel like doing, and you can`t really blame them can you?! Why anyone would want lodgers (I had them in the distant past, I must admit) or to be one is beyond me, but I will assume that you need the money, the problem is though that unless you take less money you can`t enforce old-style landlady rules on people, IMO.

accidental_landlord_2

Crashy_Time wrote: »

IMO No. Someone bringing groups of people over for drinks before going out clubbing is because at the 500-800 p.m level they know they are basically paying your mortgage, and are going to do what they feel like doing, and you can`t really blame them can you?! Why anyone would want lodgers (I had them in the distant past, I must admit) or to be one is beyond me, but I will assume that you need the money, the problem is though that unless you take less money you can`t enforce old-style landlady rules on people, IMO.

If you had half a brain you could be dangerous! You are again making assumptions and spluttering out random figures. The monthly mortgage payment alone is in excess of double what the lodger is paying, and that is with around 40% my equity in the property.... He certainly is not paying my mortgage off, simply contributing to the running costs of the place he lives which at the same time reduces my outgoings... I simply want to be able to manage outgoings vs cost charged to a lodger so that I can price at a level that is fair to both a lodger and myself...

I have no problems with groups of people round drinking before going out... The opposite in fact, I'd encourage it as it's behavior that fits with the age group of the house, myself included...

As to why I feel it is better to hang onto the house with a lodger for the next couple of years rather than downsize and pay 10's of thousands between stamp duty, legal fees and estate agent fees that is probably too difficult a concept for you to grasp.

Please do jog on.