Lodger now Works From Home

Honeylife

Have two lodgers both ended up at home during lockdown and communicating via Zoom with Uni.  Initially  didn't consider it an issue as these were extenuating and unusual circumstances.  However, their daytime "presence" is now beginning to get to me.  Two toilets don't seem to be enough! They seem to always be in the kitchen making snacks or marathon experimental dishes or making tea.  They meet and chat on the stairs, in the kitchen, in the hall. Yes the electric has increased and certainly more bog roll and hand soap used. Cleaning is awkward as they always seem to be around when I want to clean the bath or vacuum the stairs, (we had to furlough the cleaner) as they are home the House seems more dusty and scruffy.
Am used to having the house to myself in the daytime so it's difficult to get used to them being here all the time. But what can I do? Just work on my tolerance levels.
Regards Bills.  A few years ago the gas (or was it electric) was increased ridiculously by the supplier and subsequently I added a clause in my contract stating that if the Utility supplier increased charges by x% or if there was more than 'fair usage' of gas and electric then an agreed charge would be made.  I have drawn this point to both my lodgers and informed them that should they continue to be at Home at similar levels during the winter when the heating would be on, we would sit and discuss the possible increased in costs or they could consider looking for accommodation elsewhere. So they have been warned.
However, on the plus side. One of the lodgers volunteered to do all the online grocery shopping for everyone.  We just had to email her our lists, she found the best prices and delivery dates from whichever supermarket had a delivery slot and on arrival handed us individual bills we put the money in her account and it was sorted. 

Honeylife

NameUnavailable said:

 If I rent somewhere to live I expect it to be my home and to do what I want (within reason of course). 

A common misconception when living with a Resident Landlord! 

Hannimal

Honestly I have been toying with the idea of getting a lodger after I move as I'll have 3 bedrooms and we are just one small woman and a rather large cat. This is what puts me off doing that. I am now living on my own while I wait for the sale to go through so I can move, but i spent lockdown working from home and sharing with someone else working from home. I used our living room as my office and they used the kitchen as theirs. They'd interrrupt me 2-3 times each day for coffee breaks, listen to radio / music while working - which I could hear in the living room - and upload large data files while I was trying to have zoom meetings clogging up the bandwidth. The houosemate was well within their rights to do all this, of course, but it was affecting my work which is why I am put off taking a lodger. I could take someone who does not work from home but if that situation changed, I'd have to ask them to leave which is not fair. 

So just me and the chunky cat for now.

Falafels

I’m a lodger for three days/week whilst working away from home. I’m acutely aware that it’s someone else’s house, and don’t actually use the communal areas because I feel uncomfortable doing so. It’s never been an issue.

However, I realised recently how emotive it is for my landlord when he came up to ask why my car was still parked outside at midday and whether I’d just ‘left it there’. In fact I’d had to phone in sick to work, and I was about to leave anyway. There’s plenty of space for parking, so that clearly wasn’t the issue - but me being there when I shouldn’t have been, clearly was.

Hannimal

@Falafels
that sounds a bit harsh from the LL! I am curious as to where you found the room? This kind of an arrangement could work quite well for me as I would struggle to have a lodger while WFH but would be nice to have someone around a few days a week. 

Sorry - not intending to hijack the thread!

Falafels

Hannimal said:

@Falafels
that sounds a bit harsh from the LL! I am curious as to where you found the room? This kind of an arrangement could work quite well for me as I would struggle to have a lodger while WFH but would be nice to have someone around a few days a week. 

Sorry - not intending to hijack the thread!

SpareRoom.com - it’s notionally a Monday-Friday let though I’m only there three days/week. The rent is very, very reasonable and, to be fair to the landlord, on the rare occasions when anything’s gone wrong it’s been sorted within hours.

Hannimal

@Falafels
Thank you - I'll look into this. Would rather make less from rent and feel comfortable that having a lodger won't affect my work schedule. 

NameUnavailable

Falafels said:

I’m a lodger for three days/week whilst working away from home. I’m acutely aware that it’s someone else’s house, and don’t actually use the communal areas because I feel uncomfortable doing so. It’s never been an issue.

However, I realised recently how emotive it is for my landlord when he came up to ask why my car was still parked outside at midday and whether I’d just ‘left it there’. In fact I’d had to phone in sick to work, and I was about to leave anyway. There’s plenty of space for parking, so that clearly wasn’t the issue - but me being there when I shouldn’t have been, clearly was.

Wierd! Surely if he knew you were in that would explain why your car was outside?

Falafels

NameUnavailable said:

Falafels said:

I’m a lodger for three days/week whilst working away from home. I’m acutely aware that it’s someone else’s house, and don’t actually use the communal areas because I feel uncomfortable doing so. It’s never been an issue.

However, I realised recently how emotive it is for my landlord when he came up to ask why my car was still parked outside at midday and whether I’d just ‘left it there’. In fact I’d had to phone in sick to work, and I was about to leave anyway. There’s plenty of space for parking, so that clearly wasn’t the issue - but me being there when I shouldn’t have been, clearly was.

Wierd! Surely if he knew you were in that would explain why your car was outside?

In many ways my landlord IS weird... however, I work in a secure mental health hospital and in comparison with ‘my’ guys, he’s not even on the scale....

iwb100

Honeylife said:

Have two lodgers both ended up at home during lockdown and communicating via Zoom with Uni.  Initially  didn't consider it an issue as these were extenuating and unusual circumstances.  However, their daytime "presence" is now beginning to get to me.  Two toilets don't seem to be enough! They seem to always be in the kitchen making snacks or marathon experimental dishes or making tea.  They meet and chat on the stairs, in the kitchen, in the hall. Yes the electric has increased and certainly more bog roll and hand soap used. Cleaning is awkward as they always seem to be around when I want to clean the bath or vacuum the stairs, (we had to furlough the cleaner) as they are home the House seems more dusty and scruffy.
Am used to having the house to myself in the daytime so it's difficult to get used to them being here all the time. But what can I do? Just work on my tolerance levels.
Regards Bills.  A few years ago the gas (or was it electric) was increased ridiculously by the supplier and subsequently I added a clause in my contract stating that if the Utility supplier increased charges by x% or if there was more than 'fair usage' of gas and electric then an agreed charge would be made.  I have drawn this point to both my lodgers and informed them that should they continue to be at Home at similar levels during the winter when the heating would be on, we would sit and discuss the possible increased in costs or they could consider looking for accommodation elsewhere. So they have been warned.
However, on the plus side. One of the lodgers volunteered to do all the online grocery shopping for everyone.  We just had to email her our lists, she found the best prices and delivery dates from whichever supermarket had a delivery slot and on arrival handed us individual bills we put the money in her account and it was sorted. 

I get that having lodgers in the 'new normal' is probably challenging in some aspects. But parts of this post are a little 'omg'. Are you really upset that your lodgers 'meet and chat in your house'? I find that a bit much......