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

saajan_12

hazyjo said:

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!)

To be clear, those were effectively my list of headings - ie things to have an initial think what the LL would be comfortable with, then discuss what works for both verbally, and just write up a list later. Not to be presented as a strict list straight up. 

The actual details are just examples, more just to highlight how some expectations can work - eg agreeing a max number of washes can avoid people taking the mick with washing just a sock, but also not feel micromanagey and getting into exactly what constitutes a 'full' wash. The number could always be 1 / 2 / 4 / whatever.  

Gavin83

As I said in another thread recently I genuinely can't understand why anyone would want to be a lodger. Seems like far more hassle than it's worth. I would never wish to live in a house with someone who felt they had more rights over the house than myself. I get the stance but I'd only live somewhere where we were on an equal level and certainly somewhere with less rules.

I've never had the experience but my wife (girlfriend at the time) lived as a lodger, renting with someone else and also in what would now be considered HMOs. By far her worst experiences were as a lodger. This included the one where the house owner decided she didn't want me staying over much, if at all but also got upset if she stayed with me, telling her she expected them to be spending time together at the weekends and insinuating that she should break up with me. Needless to say that arrangement didn't last long.

Each to their own though. Clearly some people wish to be lodgers otherwise the market wouldn't exist.

pieroabcd

For me the reason for wanting to be a lodger were twofold: saving money (always cheaper than living on your own) and trusting  that a landlord would have much more care of their house than tenants in an HMO.
It has always turned out to be true, in my case.

katejo

Blank11 said:

I have been house searching for quite a while and houses I’ve seen and liked tend to be at my stretched maximum budget. To help ease mortgage payment and deal with the cost of living crisis I am leaning towards getting a lodger. I get not all will have a positive experience with a lodger and what is the best way to vet or look for in what is considered a good and hassle-free lodger? What is the process and what happens if they refuse to leave?

I let a room in my house for about 12 years and had 2 very successful lodgers during that time. Both were male and mature though younger than myself. My lodgers only had to give me a month's notice and the same rule applied to me if I needed them to go. In practice they stayed about 3.5 years and 6 years. I am still in touch with one of them. I did this, not to be able to afford my mortgage which wasn't a problem, but to be able to afford more home improvements so it helped me with getting a new kitchen, bathroom, garden design and some essential roof repairs.

mebu60

Mojisola said:

I was a Mon-Fri lodger for a while.  That worked well for both of us -

she had some extra income; I didn't have to pay as much as a 7-day lodger;

landlady had the house to herself over the weekend and I was able to go home.

I was similar, a Sun - Thu lodger for many years, on and off, in three premises whilst working down south but living in the east Midlands. Don't know where Blank11 is based but there could be options to advertise in an office if they use contractors. 

All three were landladies, I'm male. One advertised for females only! She and I are still in touch. That was shared bathroom. I would go in once she was done in the morning. If you have an en-suite bedroom consider using that as the lodger's room.

I always ate out in the evenings, for the walk and ease after a long day. Plus tax deductible! Occasionally took the various landladies out. In all cases managed to blag leaving white shirts behind to be laundered over the weekend! 

As others have said, be clear on the offer and ask them what their expectations are. 

housebuyer143

Blank11 said:

I have been house searching for quite a while and houses I’ve seen and liked tend to be at my stretched maximum budget. To help ease mortgage payment and deal with the cost of living crisis I am leaning towards getting a lodger. I get not all will have a positive experience with a lodger and what is the best way to vet or look for in what is considered a good and hassle-free lodger? What is the process and what happens if they refuse to leave?

I had a lodger but he lacked common sense and used to break things you would have considered not breakable 🤣 I kind of felt on edge whenever he touched things.

If you are easy going it will probably be fine but I quickly learnt I like my own personal space. Living with mates in shared house is fine, not so much someone living in my house with me.

Green_hopeful

I had numerous lodgers after I got divorced and wanted to reduce my mortgage. They were mostly fine. Younger ones were a bit child like for example knocking the loo seat off and not realising that could be fixed and reattaching the wallpaper with sellotape rather than tell me so I could use a bit of glue. 

Two things I learned, one worked shifts so wanted the heating on at different times to everyone else. Could be super expensive now. 

Another one was a fresh air enthusiast. Not only did she have her windows wide open all winter with the radiator on max but she didn’t even close them when it rained so the window ledge got soaked. She was quite funny though because she was really absent minded leaving the keys in the front door or coming in and leaving her car window open or once the car door wide open all night. She was also much messier than me. Worth asking what level of tidiness they liked. 

I was friendly with them when they lived with me but not longer term. 

It was a really easy way to save money because it only cost me my council tax discount and a bit on the bills and the rest is tax free cash. 

Honeylife

Have had nearly 50+ Lodgers over several years.  Male and Female.  All students.  Usually post-grad.  Two were returners, who came back after a couple of years to complete their Phds.  Have only had to give notice to three.  Initially, no "rule book".   

Several irritated me and I had to have serious words with them, but whereas in the early days, I would lie in bed rehearsing what to say for weeks, now I am on it immediately!  I concluded, from this experience, that every home/house has its own unspoken rules and ways of doing things which are different to your ways, so you have to re-train, re-educate and compromise.  I also take in overseas students so I recognise they are acclimatising and have cultural differences to deal with.  After all these years I know what I can live with and what I absolutely refuse to compromise about. I have three rooms I can let; one is a full double bed, one small double and one a single bed.  Only two rooms are rented at a particular time, leaving me with a guest space for one of my children.  The most popular is the single bed which was probably a servant's room in another time period.

Guests:  Secretly hate them, but have learnt to compromise with established relationships and the occasional friend who has missed the last train home. One night a week and the lodger is encouraged to go to their partners one night a week, otherwise, it's not a good fit. Lodger's family wanting to stay over often is the biggest bugbear.  I usually say no and emphasise this point firmly at the viewing.

The washing machine:  Twice a week and that's it. Not to be used at night. Use the local laundromat if you need to do more.

Absolutely no additional heaters:  One girl snuck in an electric blanket that she never switched off. She moaned about the place being cold as she walked around in tiny shorts in mid-winter! Gave her notice and didn't give her a Reference. 

No shared Lounge/Living room:  Our family needs a private space to entertain our guests and away from the lodgers. If you are not sharing your lounge, you must give the lodger a comfortable chair in their room for their guests; a mini sofa, snuggler, or good size armchair.

Kitchen: Get in cook, clean and get out. No marathon baking or cooking session past 11 pm.  If I bake a cake or cookies I will share but that's not very often.

Crockery etc:  The Lodgers have a separate set of crockery, cutlery, pots and even a separate ironing board & iron. Anything they break or damage they are encouraged to replace rather than me take it out of their Deposit.

Departure:  When Lodger leaves, within 3 months all contacts, records etc., are deleted and that's it.  Am friendly but don't make friends.

Deposit:  Always take a deposit.  I've only had to use a Deposit twice for replacement & repair. Once got tricked into it being used as last month's rent - never happened again!  Endeavour to return the deposit within five days, as I know they need it. 

Hand Book:  Took several years to compile from one A4 page to a 10-page booklet. Not only the Agreed House Rules but include things like the local transport, the day the bins/recycling are collected, the Wifi password, the local GP and nearest A&E/hospital, how to switch on the oven and the eco wash on the Washing machine etc.  So it's more useful than a Rule Book, and if I am not around they can reference the Booklet.  I regularly edit, check and re-check this Booklet and get someone else to read it so I don't come across as too draconian.

In the summer the students leave and I may have someone via Airbnb, or word of mouth for a couple of weeks.  This is also when I may go on my own annual holiday.  Lodgers don't stay more than two years but I have had two here for three years and was able to go away and leave them, knowing they were responsible persons.

The benefits of having a lodger are tremendous.  Not just the obvious money, but if you live alone it's nice to have the presence of someone else in the house.  Safe too.  During the Lockdown, my lodgers were efficient in organising the house food deliveries and the cleaning rota (we lost our cleaner) for everyone. I was exceedingly grateful.

TheJP

My friend bought a house and asked me if i would like to be a lodger, from my POV it was great one off payment each week, realistic expectations etc. I eventually moved out and he had another lodger he didn't know previously and he had a terrible experience. The girl had her BF stay almost every night, they ran up huge bills and ate his food and used his washing powder/tabs. Make sure you are clear on other people staying in the property, been a recent thread about this and the issues it brings.

_Penny_Dreadful

Blank11 said:

propertyrental said:

Blank11 said:

propertyrental said:

Have you read

Post 10: Lodgers: advice & links for landlords & lodgers

what happens if they refuse to leave?

Provided 
a) they ARE a lodger (licencee) not a tenant and
b) your contract with them (licence agreement NOT tenancy agreement) states eg '1 week notice', you serve notice, wait a week, then change the locks while they are out.

Not sure if it is the same but I am Scotland based. Thanks I will have a look at the link. ...

Yes I believe the Scottish law IS different. Ignore my advice, and the link, and search the relevant Scottish websites.eg

https://scotland.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/tenants_rights/taking_in_lodger

https://www.rocketlawyer.com/gb/en/property/evict-tenants/legal-guide/evicting-lodgers-in-scotland

Thanks for the links! Seems to be a more stricter process with Scotland with 4 weeks notice and if they don’t leave then would need to apply for an order from the Sheriff Court to get them to leave. If it is a similar process with court order as tenants renting this can be a lengthly process!

As a resident landlord you would not require an order from the Sheriff Court.  Some common law tenancies, as that is what a lodger in Scotland is - a common law tenant, require a court order if the common law tenant refuses to move at the end of the notice period but not in the case where there is a resident landlord.

https://scotland.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/eviction/eviction_of_common_law_tenants

In any case you don't really sound cut out for lodgers, I'm not either, I like my own space.