Anyone had/have a lodger and what was your experience? Any tips or advice?

Slinky

My aunt and uncle had a lodger for years. They had no children. Aunt died first, uncle a few months later. Uncle left the house to the lodger. Lodger couldn't bear living in the house without my aunt and uncle, so gave it away to some people he met on the allotment, and moved into retired seafarers accommodation. I kid you not. Aunt would have been livid if she'd known.

Mildreds_Earrings

RAS said:

You really do need to be clear about everything. Otherwise, you'll go to the fridge or the cupboard and find all the milk, bread and oil have been used and not replaced.

If you offer "utilities included", the windows will be open and the central heating on full blast. Or they are playing games 24/7 or working from home. So you might have a fair usage clause.

Have you checked the rent a room scheme and the likely local lodging cost? Even if the standard lodging agreement is one year in Scotland, there's nothing to stop you offering say September to June if that fits the rent a room scheme and might be attractive to students?

Maybe check out friends and acquaintances and talk to those with experience of being a lodger?

Yes, we had that too. A lodger switched the heating on, then when we left the house, her window was wide open 🤯 When I returned to the house to ask why, the lodger said she was too hot!

I hope the replies on this thread have been helpful but this is why you have to set boundaries. We allowed our lodger to switch heating on and off but one lodger took liberties. Give an inch, takes a mile. Set boundaries!

breaking_free

I'll echo every previous poster's sentiment about the utilities, especially the heating. My last lodger was a terrific bloke, but came from a country that is much warmer than this. When he moved in last year at the end of May he was putting the heat on daily right up till when the outside temperatures finally reached 22 degrees. I used to stay with my partner on the weekends and I'd come home to a sauna, all paid for by me.

A couple of points that others have mentioned that I'll drive home: if you don't want your lodger to use something, put it in the lodger's agreement. I've always paid for the cleaning products, but I expect them to buy their own laundry liquid. I don't mind if they need to borrow a bit of oil or other condiments, but it should be a one-off when they run out, not an expectation.

Oh, and experience has taught me this - male lodgers would much rather go to their girlfriend's place than bring her back to yours. For female lodgers the reverse is true. 

sourpuss2021

breaking_free said:

I'll echo every previous poster's sentiment about the utilities, especially the heating. My last lodger was a terrific bloke, but came from a country that is much warmer than this. When he moved in last year at the end of May he was putting the heat on daily right up till when the outside temperatures finally reached 22 degrees. I used to stay with my partner on the weekends and I'd come home to a sauna, all paid for by me.

A couple of points that others have mentioned that I'll drive home: if you don't want your lodger to use something, put it in the lodger's agreement. I've always paid for the cleaning products, but I expect them to buy their own laundry liquid. I don't mind if they need to borrow a bit of oil or other condiments, but it should be a one-off when they run out, not an expectation.

Oh, and experience has taught me this - male lodgers would much rather go their girlfriend's place than bring her back to yours. For female lodgers the reverse is true. 

Good post.  

And yes, I’ve had the same experience with female lodgers preferring to bring boyf over instead of spending time at his.  I suspect it’s because doing so makes them feel safer in the flat (or safer with their partner!).  

Whereas males lodgers are perhaps embarrassed at being lodgers so will visit their girlfriend instead.

It’s a drawback for me as a LL because I have no idea what bloke might end up coming round.   Whereas with a male lodger I can count on sometimes having the flat to myself.

FreeBear

sourpuss2021 said:

breaking_free said: Oh, and experience has taught me this - male lodgers would much rather go their girlfriend's place than bring her back to yours. For female lodgers the reverse is true. 

And yes, I’ve had the same experience with female lodgers preferring to bring boyf over instead of spending time at his.  I suspect it’s because doing so makes them feel safer in the flat (or safer with their partner!).

Both the previous lodgers I have had were from the LGBTQ+ community - No boyfriends.. Having an extra female in the house on occasion did mean the toilet paper never lasted more than a couple of days per roll.

saajan_12

For the legalities in Scotland, please read up on that separately, as much of the advice here tends to be assuming England. Few general points to think about and then outline as rules with your lodger before signing. Remember you need to balance house rules that suit your preferences with not driving people away. 

1. Guests - how often and do they need to let you know (eg I say
   - overnight guests max 1 person in their room not on the couch, and if more than 1 night a week, then the lodger should stay at theirs the same number of nights
   - for a group of friends I need notice and not more than a few hours / past 11pm
2. Washing - lodger does their own laundry upto once a week, washes own sheets / towels. 
3. Appliances - no high energy appliances eg electric heaters to be used without permission
4. Cleaning - lodger cleans their own room and tidies up after themselves eg if any items used or spillages. General cleaning eg vacuuming, cleaning bathroom etc can either be all on you (especially there's already a larger household) or on rota (if its only 2 of you and feels more even that way). Agree how the rota would work for common areas, bathroom, bins etc. 
5. Kitchen items & consumables - what can they share of yours vs need to bring their own, eg pots & pans, plates & bowls, cutlery, coffee machine, washing up stuff, cleaning materials, toilet paper etc. Also where should they store items eg clear out cupboard space, a fridge shelf etc. 
6. Common areas - how long can they use the living room, dining table, kitchen (try not to be too restrictive, mostly just about
   - only using the kitchen for 1-2 hrs so you both have time to cook if its too small to use together
   - living room for work from home days 
   
7. Noise - eg keep noise to a minimum say between 11pm and 6am, ie music or TV on headphones, no loud conversations or long phone calls. 

Slinky

I'm just reminded of an ex boyfriend many years ago. His parents rented a large house, mainly having their rent funded by 4 male lodgers. They found that the blokes didn't bring women home. They did have one lodger who slept walked, who wandered into their room in the middle of the night, and on another occasion peed into the back of the TV in the lounge.  He had to go.

hazyjo

I think if I was a LL, I'd sit down with my lodger with a list of headings and agree on reasonable points and non-negotiables under each one together. The thought of being presented with a very strict list would make me feel quite uncomfortable. Chances are, the LL would get all their points across anyway, but it would be in a far more approachable way.

As for using a washing machine just once a week would be enough to make me run for the hills. How can you wash towels, bedding, and weekly clothes in one wash! Not too mention the occasional swim (I'm no nightly gym bunny!)

sourpuss2021

Yes I think two weekly washes would be what’s expected.   Rather than even consider restricting them to one, better to charge a higher rent and let them
have two or three or four! 

I do think from now on I will put in the contract about guests not being allowed more than 3 times a week and that I need to be told the day before.  And only one overnight per week  is allowed (though I would far rather zero - and after all the room only has a single bed).

Lodgers  won’t necessarily give a complete picture of their likely behaviour during the interview when they’re keen to get the room.  So it’s best to put it in the agreement regardless of whether they give you the impression it’s necessary…

pieroabcd

I've been a lodger for the last 5 years, always very appreciated. I'm biased, of course, but I've been there!
My landlords always told "you have to find someone like you as a replacement!"

What I can tell you is that lodgers can
be noisy  and linger around a lot if their bedroom isn't spacious enough.
Also, I would stay away from applicants that try to negotiate on the conditions even before moving in. Having had lodgers myself in the far past I know that  more likely than not they will create problems.