How much should I charge my lodger to work from home?

Chocolatebiccies

I’m a newbie here so apologies, but how do I reply to individual comments? I can’t see how to do it on my phone lol

user1977

Chocolatebiccies said:

I’m a newbie here so apologies, but how do I reply to individual comments? I can’t see how to do it on my phone lol

You click on "Quote" under the comment you wish to reply to.

Chocolatebiccies

user1977 said:

Chocolatebiccies said:

I’m a newbie here so apologies, but how do I reply to individual comments? I can’t see how to do it on my phone lol

You click on "Quote" under the comment you wish to reply to.

Has this worked? 

elsien

Ayr_Rage said:

Having someone working from your home will most probably affect your home insurance, you need to check your policy.

What makes you think that? If it’s just bog standard office work from home it doesn’t make any difference to the insurance. 

They are more concerned about businesses operating from the premises, which isn’t quite the same thing.
Working from home made no difference difference to my insurance at all.

I can’t see it’s going make much difference in terms of costs. Your Wi-Fi will stay the same. Yes there might be an extra light on but if it’s and energy saving lightbulb that’s not going to make a huge amount of difference. Heating – presumably the room is warm anyway? A few extra cups of tea? And using an ordinary laptop for office work isn’t going to bump up the electrics a lot. 

You are presuming an increase which isn’t necessarily going to be the case. 

I think you need to clarify in your head what the real issue is because it’s coming across that you just don’t want him in the house all day and the money side is a bit of an excuse. 

So the bottom line is, is he a good enough lodger to put up with the change? You could agree on a trial basis and see how it goes, but don’t make it about the money if that’s not the real reason because that just confuses things. 

Martico

I'd say that the main issue will be making sure that you are both clear about what each expect of the other during both days and evenings. With your expectations taking precedence, of course, as it's your house

prowla

Costs: heating, hot water, baths, PC power, lights, kettles, charging phone, cooking, etc.

Albermarle

ouraggie said:

your lodger should ask his employer to meet some or all of the extra cost if the wfh has been imposed by the employer. 

Otherwise, your lodger an claim tax relief on the extra heating/ fuel costs. Proof will be required, otherwise i think its 20% of £6 a week, so £1.20.

Although he may be very happy to be wfh and saving a fortune in travel costs, buying coffee, lunches etc.

Chocolatebiccies

elsien said:

Ayr_Rage said:

Having someone working from your home will most probably affect your home insurance, you need to check your policy.

What makes you think that? If it’s just bog standard office work from home it doesn’t make any difference to the insurance. 

They are more concerned about businesses operating from the premises, which isn’t quite the same thing.
Working from home made no difference difference to my insurance at all.

I can’t see it’s going make much difference in terms of costs. Your Wi-Fi will stay the same. Yes there might be an extra light on but if it’s and energy saving lightbulb that’s not going to make a huge amount of difference. Heating – presumably the room is warm anyway? A few extra cups of tea? And using an ordinary laptop for office work isn’t going to bump up the electrics a lot. 

You are presuming an increase which isn’t necessarily going to be the case. 

I think you need to clarify in your head what the real issue is because it’s coming across that you just don’t want him in the house all day and the money side is a bit of an excuse. 

So the bottom line is, is he a good enough lodger to put up with the change? You could agree on a trial basis and see how it goes, but don’t make it about the money if that’s not the real reason because that just confuses things. 

elsien said:

Ayr_Rage said:

Having someone working from your home will most probably affect your home insurance, you need to check your policy.

What makes you think that? If it’s just bog standard office work from home it doesn’t make any difference to the insurance. 

They are more concerned about businesses operating from the premises, which isn’t quite the same thing.
Working from home made no difference difference to my insurance at all.

I can’t see it’s going make much difference in terms of costs. Your Wi-Fi will stay the same. Yes there might be an extra light on but if it’s and energy saving lightbulb that’s not going to make a huge amount of difference. Heating – presumably the room is warm anyway? A few extra cups of tea? And using an ordinary laptop for office work isn’t going to bump up the electrics a lot. 

You are presuming an increase which isn’t necessarily going to be the case. 

I think you need to clarify in your head what the real issue is because it’s coming across that you just don’t want him in the house all day and the money side is a bit of an excuse. 

So the bottom line is, is he a good enough lodger to put up with the change? You could agree on a trial basis and see how it goes, but don’t make it about the money if that’s not the real reason because that just confuses things. 

elsien said:

Ayr_Rage said:

Having someone working from your home will most probably affect your home insurance, you need to check your policy.

What makes you think that? If it’s just bog standard office work from home it doesn’t make any difference to the insurance. 

They are more concerned about businesses operating from the premises, which isn’t quite the same thing.
Working from home made no difference difference to my insurance at all.

I can’t see it’s going make much difference in terms of costs. Your Wi-Fi will stay the same. Yes there might be an extra light on but if it’s and energy saving lightbulb that’s not going to make a huge amount of difference. Heating – presumably the room is warm anyway? A few extra cups of tea? And using an ordinary laptop for office work isn’t going to bump up the electrics a lot. 

You are presuming an increase which isn’t necessarily going to be the case. 

I think you need to clarify in your head what the real issue is because it’s coming across that you just don’t want him in the house all day and the money side is a bit of an excuse. 

So the bottom line is, is he a good enough lodger to put up with the change? You could agree on a trial basis and see how it goes, but don’t make it about the money if that’s not the real reason because that just confuses things. 

I am a single mum and so the extra burden of extra finance or expense to me does worry me.

I don’t really want him working from home because I already work from home and I feel like my home will no longer be my home.  But I do like him.

I just need to make sure I won’t be out of pocket for letting him work at home.

Veteransaver

Chocolatebiccies said:

elsien said:

Ayr_Rage said:

Having someone working from your home will most probably affect your home insurance, you need to check your policy.

What makes you think that? If it’s just bog standard office work from home it doesn’t make any difference to the insurance. 

They are more concerned about businesses operating from the premises, which isn’t quite the same thing.
Working from home made no difference difference to my insurance at all.

I can’t see it’s going make much difference in terms of costs. Your Wi-Fi will stay the same. Yes there might be an extra light on but if it’s and energy saving lightbulb that’s not going to make a huge amount of difference. Heating – presumably the room is warm anyway? A few extra cups of tea? And using an ordinary laptop for office work isn’t going to bump up the electrics a lot. 

You are presuming an increase which isn’t necessarily going to be the case. 

I think you need to clarify in your head what the real issue is because it’s coming across that you just don’t want him in the house all day and the money side is a bit of an excuse. 

So the bottom line is, is he a good enough lodger to put up with the change? You could agree on a trial basis and see how it goes, but don’t make it about the money if that’s not the real reason because that just confuses things. 

elsien said:

Ayr_Rage said:

Having someone working from your home will most probably affect your home insurance, you need to check your policy.

What makes you think that? If it’s just bog standard office work from home it doesn’t make any difference to the insurance. 

They are more concerned about businesses operating from the premises, which isn’t quite the same thing.
Working from home made no difference difference to my insurance at all.

I can’t see it’s going make much difference in terms of costs. Your Wi-Fi will stay the same. Yes there might be an extra light on but if it’s and energy saving lightbulb that’s not going to make a huge amount of difference. Heating – presumably the room is warm anyway? A few extra cups of tea? And using an ordinary laptop for office work isn’t going to bump up the electrics a lot. 

You are presuming an increase which isn’t necessarily going to be the case. 

I think you need to clarify in your head what the real issue is because it’s coming across that you just don’t want him in the house all day and the money side is a bit of an excuse. 

So the bottom line is, is he a good enough lodger to put up with the change? You could agree on a trial basis and see how it goes, but don’t make it about the money if that’s not the real reason because that just confuses things. 

elsien said:

Ayr_Rage said:

Having someone working from your home will most probably affect your home insurance, you need to check your policy.

What makes you think that? If it’s just bog standard office work from home it doesn’t make any difference to the insurance. 

They are more concerned about businesses operating from the premises, which isn’t quite the same thing.
Working from home made no difference difference to my insurance at all.

I can’t see it’s going make much difference in terms of costs. Your Wi-Fi will stay the same. Yes there might be an extra light on but if it’s and energy saving lightbulb that’s not going to make a huge amount of difference. Heating – presumably the room is warm anyway? A few extra cups of tea? And using an ordinary laptop for office work isn’t going to bump up the electrics a lot. 

You are presuming an increase which isn’t necessarily going to be the case. 

I think you need to clarify in your head what the real issue is because it’s coming across that you just don’t want him in the house all day and the money side is a bit of an excuse. 

So the bottom line is, is he a good enough lodger to put up with the change? You could agree on a trial basis and see how it goes, but don’t make it about the money if that’s not the real reason because that just confuses things. 

I am a single mum and so the extra burden of extra finance or expense to me does worry me.

I don’t really want him working from home because I already work from home and I feel like my home will no longer be my home.  But I do like him.

I just need to make sure I won’t be out of pocket for letting him work at home.

The extra electric cost will be pretty negligible, unless he's running a bitcoin mining rig or gaming rig from his bedroom, the average laptop might use about 2-300wh per day, ie less than 10p. As you are there anyway then presumably there won't be any extra heating costs.
If his employer makes him work from home they should (though don't have to) pay him an allowance, and if not he should claim a tax rebate.
So from monetary perspective £5 a week should more than cover it and he'll likely be saving on commute costs/lunch costs too., but I feel your main concern is the fact he will be around the house all day. Which is understandable, I get annoyed enough when my kids are hanging around the house all day!
Is there nowhere nearby that rents a desk out, or a library/cafe he can go and work from, at least some of the time?

ChirpyChicken

£50 a month sounds right.
Don't make a mountain out of molehill
Give a go and see how it works out. If it doesn't then just have a chat to him
Don't throw the baby out with the bath water as you may get another lodger who's awful!!