Lodger Limitations

Alan2020

AFF8879 wrote: »

If this visitor really is esteemed then his/her employer would be covering their travel and accommodation expenses like any normal organisation, rather than penny-pinching by expecting an employee to open up their private home...

The OP is a researcher, generally (not always) anyone who stuck their name on a highly rated journal paper is esteemed. In most cases these so called esteemed people are absolutely no bodies, possibly a vile bully who forces a person like the OP to do work for them. The evidence lies in the post showing how the OP was exploited.

I await a post saying how OP signed away his house to his esteemed Professor ha ha

Alan2020

JP29 wrote: »

Hi there,


I am facing a situation which may get out of hand quite quickly and I am not sure where I stand to maintain myself in a completely legal position.


I am a researcher at a university and a homeowner, I live alone but have two spare bed...

I feel like this situation has escalated enormously and perhaps I should pull out, however I am worried this would irreversibly damage our working relationship.





Any help and advice would be amazing

OP get a grip. Say no. Get a life, very little in universities is esteemed. Find a partner to fill your room and look for another job.

When you get a new job don’t ever brag about your wealth or be greedy and try to get a lodger from work.

Personal rule, never rent to work colleagues or family. And don’t ever become guarantor.

https://www.jobs.ac.uk

You might find the link above helpful. Good luck

warby68

You only need to follow your gut here - it IS too much. 5 people, including a child when you offered for one adult.

Politely decline to assist - perhaps keep open the original offer to accommodate one person for some of the time if that helps at any stage, or even one person per room.

You have absolutely nothing to feel bad about - apologize for any misunderstanding on your part as to the numbers involved and if you have given the initial impression it would be ok.

Perhaps you are tempted by the income boost as you do seem to be seeing if you could make it work but honestly, gut feeling should win here.

CKhalvashi

AFF8879 wrote: »

If this visitor really is esteemed then his/her employer would be covering their travel and accommodation expenses like any normal organisation, rather than penny-pinching by expecting an employee to open up their private home...

Sadly not, especially in an academic world. I do agree with you when it comes to private companies though.

I spoke to students at a foreign university last month (please note I am not an academic but was asked nicely and agreed as I’d been given free accommodation for a few days by the daughter of the Dean, who is a personal friend).

I wouldn’t have dreamed of asking for payment, expenses or anything else, and was even happy to buy my own lunch.

Many universities sadly don’t have the funds to provide such funding, even to professionals on longer term contracts. I do think in OPs case though this situation has spun its way out of control, possibly through differing cultural attitudes, and therefore would be looking to politely extract myself from it, due to both the effects on his/her household and the potential legal implications due to potential HMO status if the situation continued.

Jonbvn

OP,

It is clear that this professor is taking advantage of you. Offering a room to an esteemed colleague is charitable. Being overwhelmed by a family with a toddler who will have hugely different cultural expectations is pure madness. You must extricate yourself from this immediately. Furthermore, you should consider this a valuable lesson.

babyblade41

I think OP has found through replies here that to go ahead with this arrangement madness.

I Would suggest he can do one of two things:

Explain that invitation into your home is purely a work arrangement and even though it doesn't extend to family re accommodation you are happy for visits from family members between certain times ..then a link to a fairly expensive alternative accommodation nearby , and you are happy to help make arrangements for their stay at above mentioned establishment

You could also state that your facilities are insufficient for those extra bodies.

Or you could be like me and say it straight and that the offer extends to just your working relationship and under no circumstances can accommodate anyone else into the house at any time

Cheeky_Monkey

JP29 wrote: »

Hi there,


I am facing a situation which may get out of hand quite quickly and I am not sure where I stand to maintain myself in a completely legal position.

It already has for goodness sake!

The proposed situation is a nightmare waiting to happen and if you go ahead with it, I guarantee you'll be back on here moaning about them within weeks.

I would also be concerned that, by bringing the family over as well, they might not go back to China at all - then what will you do?

moneyistooshorttomention

Cheeky_Monkey wrote: »

I would also be concerned that, by bringing the family over as well, they might not go back to China at all - then what will you do?

That thought had crossed my mind too.....that as far as this "esteemed" visitor is concerned, the acceptance of a room offered by OP might have been seen by them as a "bridgehead".

The OP may well find there are a few other things they've not been told.

This is the voice of someone that took in a man from a rather different culture (but not as different as this....), after I'd been told by him he was a student at the university. Then I found out there seemed to be no evidence whatsoever of him actually doing any studying - but there was plenty of evidence of him working what amounted to a full-time job at a local Middle Eastern takeaway food shop:cool::cool:

It became clear he must really be something along the lines of an illegal immigrant - and I was lied to, because he probably realised he'd have never been given the room in the first place if I'd known that fact. I personally also had the added factor of the fact he clearly had no expectation whatsoever of doing his share of the housework (ie keeping his room clean and cleaning the bathroom and kitchen after use) and never ever did any cleaning I ever saw. I wasn't going to change my mind about what was included in the rent (ie cleaning wasn't) and things got dirtier and dirtier. By the time I'd got to the point I could smell his room (one of the rooms in MY home) from the outside - I gave him his notice.

I am guessing the only reason he went quickly and without any fuss was because he'd realised the "penny had started to drop" re his status in our country - and my father would have reported him if I hadnt.....

sevenhills

Jonbvn wrote: »

It is clear that this professor is taking advantage of you. Offering a room to an esteemed colleague is charitable. Being overwhelmed by a family with a toddler who will have hugely different cultural expectations is pure madness. You must extricate yourself from this immediately. Furthermore, you should consider this a valuable lesson.

University students are quite used to using spareromm.com and universities will have the same culture.
Using hotels is how it was done in the old days, university towns have found this modern way of saving money and it benefits the landlord.

Owain_Moneysaver

For 8 months, esteemed academic and his family can take a house on a normal residential tenancy.

The universities concerned can sort out who pays for that. Or the university may have their own accommodation they can offer.

It's your house and you make the rules. No in-laws. No children.