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

huggermugger

Sarah, your house sounds lovely!

Can't help with Staines, I'm afraid, tho I may have a vacancy here in Newbury... this thread could be more useful than I'd realised...:D

ThrobsBlackHat

Andy_Hamilton wrote: »

In his contract break it down to the the room rate plus a fixed, none negotional price for tax and untilities. Your not taxed on them.

That is not true I'm afraid.

Rent a room covers all gross receipts - even food if that is included.

Unless you don't declare the cash top up of course, which I am sure some people do.

adonn

If you're thinking of renting a room in your home i'd suggest the following link:

http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/housing/lettingrooms

This is a guide for resident landlords and provides information on different types of lettings and other useful information.

fredpipes

My understanding about the single persons 25% off council tax is that so long as the lodger has a permanent address elsewhere then you're ok - I was asked to confirm by the council on a form that I had noone living at my address that didn't have a permanent address elsewhere - this would cover midweek lodgers who go home at weekends and theatricals...

insurance is a problem as most online quote thingies won't even give you a quote if you have a 'stranger' in the house!

I'd always recommend a bloke - women use up far too much toilet paper and invite blokes back to yours - in my experience [ducks!]

ThrobsBlackHat

Two useful government sites:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/Taxes/TaxOnPropertyAndRentalIncome/DG_4017804

This next one is for council tax. Essentially it refers to "main home" - which means you would not have to pay if it was just during the week, but you would if it was their "home" address (i think, just from skim reading).
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndCommunity/YourlocalcouncilandCouncilTax/CouncilTax/DG_10037422

rompom

Has anyone used https://www.crashpadder.com of similar? Rather than a full-on lodger you can just host people on a night-by-night basis. I saw them in the Times last week but not sure if anyone has had any experience of them?

Cookiecrumble

ITtim wrote: »

I assume that if you have a lodger you would have to declare them on the electrol roll? I have someone who wants to rent my room but he wants to keep his address listed at his parents (no idea why) I assume that if i let him stay and do not declare him on the roll i'll be in trouble. If i put him on it i assume he'd be in trouble?

Don't worry about it. Noboby has to be on the electoral roll register if they don't want to be. It just means they won't be able to vote, their problem not yours

rozeepozee

Bogof_Babe wrote: »

That's a point. If you are living alone you get 25% Council Tax discount, which you would lose on taking a lodger. That would eat well into any profit.

If they're a student, they don't have to pay council tax so you can send in their expemption form and still qualify for your single person's discount

Daisies

I think having a lodger can work, but please be reasonable in your expectations! I've read a few too many articles recently about increasing your income by letting out a room. But be realistic - you're also letting a stranger into your house! I was a lodger in 3 different places for the first half of this year. I had an absolutely miserable time in most of them.

- I needed to live there all the time (so not Mon-Fri). I always checked this was OK in advance, but then found in two of the places that I was expected to be "out" on a Saturday and Sunday. So, my stuff could stay there & I could sleep there but they didn't want me taking up room in the house at a weekend. This was never said explicitly but I was made to feel very uncomfortable. And it's absolutely miserable on a wet Saturday in February when you can't be inside!
- Lodgers need to cook! Again I always said that I would need some cupboard/fridge space and would be cooking, but on moving in I would find that the only time I could use the kitchen was between 5.30 and 6.30. In one place the assumption seemed to be that I would either cook ready meals in the microwave or eat out all the time.
- Lodgers need to wash their clothes! So if you say they can use your washing machine, make sure you let them!
- Communal space - bathrooms, living rooms etc. Again, i've found that people have been very friendly at first and said that the lodger is welcome to come and watch TV in the living room. On moving in this has always turned out to be "the lodger can watch what we want to watch on the TV in the living room". I've never lived anywhere that was big enough to have a TV in my room so found I had a choice between sitting on my bed listening to the radio or watching something abysmal on TV downstairs.

I think it all boils down to being realistic about someone else being in your space and being honest when you vet the prospective lodger! Maybe I was just unlucky...

rozeepozee

I am a landlord so have a set procedure when taking on new tenants which I adapt for lodgers which I only have occasionally (sorry, the formatting's been lost on the one below but you get the gist)

IDENTIFICATION DOCUMENTS – Tenancy Application


Full Name of Applicant: Date:

EVIDENCE of NAME DOCUMENTS (2 required, at least one with a photo – we require sight of original documents, plus good photo-copies, or we require certified copies – see below)
Tick 2
boxes

Valid Passport/ID Card - (2 or more passports if dual/multi nationality)


Resident permit or Work Permit - issued by the Home Office


Letter from employer/funding body (if a student) or Payslips or Contract of Employment


Current Full UK driving licence (photo)


Birth Certificate or Marriage Certificate


National Insurance Card or document confirming NI number


Self-employed tax exemption certificate – with photo


Recent Inland Revenue tax notification




EVIDENCE of ADDRESS DOCUMENTS (2 required, sight of originals or certified copies – all letters to show your current address in full)

Tick 2
boxes

Bank or Building Society Statements (not older than 6 months)


Local Authority Council Tax bill (current year)


Utility bill (not older than 3 months) - not a mobile phone bill


Mortgage Statement (most recent)


Current Tenancy Agreement


Letter from current landlord


We must have proof of personal identification (2 pieces) and evidence of current address (2 pieces) – 4 pieces in total - the same documents will not cover both.

If you are a UK national we can accept certified copies by: A UK lawyer, banker, authorised financial intermediary, MCCB regulated mortgage intermediary, chartered accountant, teacher, doctor, minister of religion, post master/sub post master.

If you are a non UK national we can accept certified copies of documents from: an embassy, consulate or high commission of the country of issue, a senior official of a UK employer, lawyer or attorney.

Certified Copies should be signed “original seen” and dated with full printed name, title/position, telephone or e-mail contact and address of certifier.



Here's my template letter to the employer

Dear

Re:

The above named are proposing to rent a property through me and have referred you to me for the purpose of a written reference.

Could you please confirm the following:

• That s/he is permanently employed by your organization
• His/her job title
• The date of commencement of employment by your organization
• The salary received by the above named

Please find enclosed a stamped addressed envelope for your convenience.

I thank you for your co-operation in advance and look forward to hearing from you. If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely



And to the former landlord


Dear

Re:

The above named are proposing to rent a property through me and have referred you to me for the purpose of a written reference.

Could you please confirm the following:

• The address of the property rented
• The period of their tenancy
• Whether there have been arrears related to this tenancy
• Whether there have been any breaches of the tenancy
• Whether the property has been abused by the tenants
• Whether you would re-let to these tenants again

Please find enclosed a stamped addressed envelope for your convenience.

I thank you for your co-operation in advance and look forward to hearing from you.

If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely

Hope that helps!

I find Gumtree is fine for good free advertising. And if you're in Sheffield, the wonderful local and free Sheffield Forum!