Just renting a room and have a problem! (lodger)

[Deleted User]

Are you in London, OP?

Rents have fallen and you can easily find a very decent double room on SpareRoom in zone 2 or 3 for under £600 including bills, sharing with other tenants on an equal footing.

When you're a lodger you'll often be living somewhere that's had more money spent on it and has better appliances etc.   But the power imbalance can suck so much it's not worth the trade-off.  You may have to tip-toe around someone else's crankiness.  They'll usually be older than you. And you won't have so much freedom (in normal times) if you want to bring a partner/date over, or have friends round for dinner, etc.

The counterargument is it can be a bargain when you find someone mature and relaxed.  Also, some people like knowing where they stand as a lodger compared to the power struggles that can happen between tenants!

As an aside, I wonder if the move to home working will mean less people take on lodgers.  It becomes harder for both sides when you're all in the house so much more.

lookstraightahead

I think some landlords of lodgers think they are Lord of the manor, where as actually they are obviously struggling, but their egos won't admit it.

annetheman

obsidianfox said:

Yep having to do most things around her,the time I can vacuum or tidy my room,the time I can do laundry,the time I can eat or make coffee £585 to be stuck in my bedroom waiting or creeping about like a mouse angry that I am called disruptive... trying to live and do things also trying to keep up with her. Yeah am looking to move but just settled a bit after a month... headache.

You're not being unreasonable IMO. You should definitely discuss house rules with your next live-in landlord, though - and be 100% okay with them (not "I can compromise" okay, but totally "that is absolutely fair, reasonable and works well for me" okay) before you move in...

The headache of having to sort somewhere new in such a short space of time could really turn into a blessing. I was a lodger for 6 weeks, the woman was okay but she took and wore my clothes without asking and also forgot to top up the electricity key at least once per week, leaving me with no electricity at all.... So many problems, so few rights (as a lodger). Ended up finding a lovely, big 1-bed in the same area and been headache-free here for 3.5 years.

If you can get a flatshare, it'll probably work out better for you experience-wise; many don't ask for more deposit than most rent-a-room landlords do i.e. a month.

[Deleted User]

okay so am told leave asap but in writing it says "no less than 28 days" obviously I want to leave asap but can I take to court if thrown out?

MaryNB

annetheman said:

obsidianfox said:

Yep having to do most things around her,the time I can vacuum or tidy my room,the time I can do laundry,the time I can eat or make coffee £585 to be stuck in my bedroom waiting or creeping about like a mouse angry that I am called disruptive... trying to live and do things also trying to keep up with her. Yeah am looking to move but just settled a bit after a month... headache.

You're not being unreasonable IMO. You should definitely discuss house rules with your next live-in landlord, though - and be 100% okay with them (not "I can compromise" okay, but totally "that is absolutely fair, reasonable and works well for me" okay) before you move in...

The headache of having to sort somewhere new in such a short space of time could really turn into a blessing. I was a lodger for 6 weeks, the woman was okay but she took and wore my clothes without asking and also forgot to top up the electricity key at least once per week, leaving me with no electricity at all.... So many problems, so few rights (as a lodger). Ended up finding a lovely, big 1-bed in the same area and been headache-free here for 3.5 years.

If you can get a flatshare, it'll probably work out better for you experience-wise; many don't ask for more deposit than most rent-a-room landlords do i.e. a month.

What is wrong with some people?! Who wears their lodger's clothes??

[Deleted User]

MaryNB said:

What is wrong with some people?! Who wears their lodger's clothes??

Well it is odd but if my LL needed a coat or something temporary I would allow it- tend to be easy going like that but permission first of course...

[Deleted User]

They can ask you to leave immediately if you're making them feel in danger or you've done something totally out of line, eg drink, drugs, mates round, smashing things, leaving front door open, shouting at them. They might ask just if the relationship has totally broken down though especially as they're working from home.

Usually you'd hope they'd give you the same notice as your rental period.  I.e. a week if you pay weekly, a month if you pay monthly.  

But yeah if you're unlucky they might ask you to leave immediately and unfortunately there's not really anything you can do about it.   Sucks though - if you haven't done anything massive and you're just not compatible they should give you some time.

JonVarnas

Avalanche123 said:

I would be peed off with the washing machine (you can do it later) but the rest is completely unreasonable. You cannot be expected not to use the kitchen!

Lol, I'd expect running the washing machine @ 9pm+ would nark people off, but @ 9 in the morning?

Avalanche123

lookstraightahead said:

Avalanche123 said:

I would be peed off with the washing machine (you can do it later) but the rest is completely unreasonable. You cannot be expected not to use the kitchen!

They can do yoga later to be honest - ok if the landlord has saif "I do yoga at 9am every Saturday" that's one thing, but to have to change your plans to fit in with a selfish person is another.

That's what I understood. They the lodger was told.

Avalanche123

JonVarnas said:

Avalanche123 said:

I would be peed off with the washing machine (you can do it later) but the rest is completely unreasonable. You cannot be expected not to use the kitchen!

Lol, I'd expect running the washing machine @ 9pm+ would nark people off, but @ 9 in the morning?

Purely for the yoga purposes:) It is really disruptive.