Lodger experiences

Emmia

Could you advertise the room on something like Air BnB? This could give you income, whilst also letting you control when the room is let out - it could also be a good way to dip your toe into the water of having someone else around.

itsthelittlethings

I was a lodger in someone’s house once, a friend. She was more like a live in landlady. It worked well as she was out a lot. I helped her with advice about building maintenance. I didn’t bring any of my stuff into communal areas which may sound awful but actually worked ok.

tealady

I was a lodger and had a lodger. 1 landlady used to come into my bedroom to make the bed, it annoyed me because personal space is important to me. The other used to keep the house cold, I used to wait till she went out to turn it up.
Didn't put rules down in writing, it didn't end well. Never again

kimwp

I've had three lodgers, all good experiences - but they won't treat it like their home, because it isn't.

Piled up dishes on the drying rack leading to a glass being broken from one lodger and an overflowing kitchen bin from the other when I was away and a tendency to whack the thermostat up to 29 from another.

itsthelittlethings

I think the landlord has to keep an iron rule over the thermostat. However £500-800 a month is not to be sniffed at (South of the country).

BungalowBel

I agree about  the house rules.  Another one you might have to think about is, do you want them using your living room or not?

We have had lodgers over the years.  On the whole they have been OK, other than one who had mental health problems and still occasionally writes to us over forty years later, accusing us of stealing her food from the fridge ,

We are still good friends with the two lodgers who married each other

But house rules are an absolute necessity.

FreeBear

itsthelittlethings said:

I think the landlord has to keep an iron rule over the thermostat.

One can get tamper resistant, and even vandal proof thermostats for a range of prices. Most appear to be basic on/off types, so not a lot of use if you have a modulating boiler.

An alternative is to have a dummy thermostat that a lodger can fiddle with to their hearts content - When I replaced my heating controls, I left the old thermostat in place for this reason (that and I couldn't be **** to rip it out).

The new system requires a password to access timings & temperatures, although there is a small screen to override the temperature. However, it is limited to a modest 20°C maximum - I might tweak the display to show a higher target temperature (say 24°C) if/when I have lodgers again.

For those that just want a plug-in solution, something like Time:O:Stat might work. Me, I'll stick with Home Assistant and an assortment of customisations.

Tap to set the temperature. Bottom left & right icons turn on/off lights.

Bookworm225

FreeBear said:

Bookworm225 said: You may need some rules relating to noise, guests, and cleaning.

No. You must have rules relating to not just noise, guest, & cleaning, but also cooking and energy usage. My lodger agreements had a section for house rules that included stuff like no naked flames and not to use my toiletries/makeup.

A short tail of when things go pear shaped ->https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5848168/lodger-wanting-to-cook/

depends on your attitude to enforcing them. You have only one sanction, eviction (served immediately and with vigour), otherwise the living situation is poisonous.
yes, obviously expectations written down make it clear to all how they "should" behave, but you are not offering a term in a prison camp., compromise is essential

I was a (Mon - Fri) lodger with a landlady and 2 other lodgers. I did not consider myself to be confined to my room. The other 2 however preferred to keep themselves to themselves. I watched TV in the lounge not my room (whilst simultaneously entertaining her cats and dogs), and the landlady did whatever she wanted around me. 

when I had my own lodger, it ceased to be my home and he is now my tenant as I chose to move out myself.

mathilde

Really helpful responses x 

itsthelittlethings

I prefer shared housing to lodging.