Take in a lodger... official MoneySavingExpert.com discussion

babybones

Hi,

I just want to know has anyone outside London had any luck getting their spare room rented out by using Crashpadder.com.

I've just registered on Crashpadder as I have a lovely spare room (double, Birmingham city centre, own bathroom, next to the NIA - anyone interested? ) available and have not had much luck renting it out, either short or long term.

Also, am I right in thinking they take 10% of what I get through a booking on their site?

And don't they charge a booking fee for people looking for a room? Surely that puts prospective lodgers off?

I think I may be answering my own questions here, but am very interested to know of anybody else's experience with CRASHPADDER.

Thanks in advance!!

babybones

Also,

Do i have to put a lodger's deposit into a protection scheme, if they are only staying for a few weeks? Is it even a deposit, given I just want it to cover the cost of replacement keys if the lodger loses them, and it will be returned on the return of the keys to me?

Thanks!

nikkie

megsykins wrote: »

Lots of good advice Nikkie; one thing slightly confused though...
If the lodger is a (full-time) student you'd still be entitled to your 25% discount. When I was at uni we lived in a student house with 3 of us students and my then boyf who worked full-time; he got the 25% CT reduction depsite there being 3 other people.

Thanks for the website hints - am flathunting in Sydney and turns out easyroommate has an Aussie version

I originally said that because- when I was a student- I lived in a house of students but we had an extra room and looked into getting an extra person. When we investigated further we found out if they wern't a student then we'd have to start paying council tax (no mention of 25% off or anything like that) which meant the new person would have to pay it- ie: the full 75/100% OR we'd all have an extra bill on our hands. not something students want!
So, maybe wrongly, I assumed that I'd loose the 25% reduction regardless of who I got in as a tennant- student or not. As my tennant isn't a student I still don't know if this right/wrong as I lost the 25% off anyway. perhaps there's someone else who can shed a light??

amiehall

If you live alone, you will currently pay only 75% of the standard council tax bill for your particular property. If you get a lodger, you will lose this discount and, however you split this between the two of you, the full 100% bill must be paid. However if your lodger is a student, you retain your discount and should just pay 75%. It would be quite unfair to expect them to contribute to this bill though as students are exempt.

Little_Vics

Hi - we're about to take in a lodger who will be claiming housing benefit - does anyone have any experience of this they can share? I'd love to know the pitfalls so I can prepare in advance. Thanks!

darwins_mum

Hi, does anyone know of the best site to advertise for a monday to friday let that isnt solely London based?

emilygilmore

Here's the lodger agreement i used in case anyone comes here looking, seems like a lot of people want one
http://www.scribd.com/doc/37853218/House-Share-Agreement-Resident-Owner

brenda50

Hi

I am in the process of claiming housing benefit for the room I rent which is £300 a month. Will they deduct an amount to cover bills? And will the landlady have to say how much my share will be? Can we say that bills are extra and then leave it to the discretion of the landlady how much she will ask each month even if that turns out to be nothing?

suited-aces

deedee71 wrote: »

Has that post been deleted, as I can't see what you are referring to?

From the OP

MSE_Lawrence wrote: »

... Better still, as a landlord you’ll be expected to ask for a deposit and a month in advance, which means ready cash comes in quickly....

jutheboy

Hi everyone,i am new to the forum so i hope i am posting this in the correct place.my wife and i now have 3 empty bedrooms as our children have all left home now.so we are getting 3 student lodgers.i know that my wife can claim the $4250 tax break,my question is ,is that on top of the normal personal allowance ?i work full time and pay tax,my wife does not pay tax....any help will be appreciated.