Male lodger in single mum's house

[Hullabalooo]

I need to get a lodger pretty quickly to help financially with my home.. I'm a single parent with one DC.

A young foreign student is interested and really needs somewhere asap but he's male and I'm not sure how I feel about sharing the family home with a man in terms of security for dc and also privacy for me. I had imagined a woman moving in really. Am I being silly?

It would make no difference to me as I earn ''too much'' to be in receipt of any type of benefit but I know in my own country living with a man would mean that any assistance you claimed on the basis of being a single parent would be considered fraudulent. This may not be the case in the UK but I'd look in to it.

PS, it's your house, only accept the lodger you're comfortable with! Don't let somebody move in out of politeness.

PS, I'm a single parent too by the way and I think it's a good plan if you find the right person. A young woman might be more likely to consider a bit of babysitting as well, so do what is right for you and don't worry about being silly

er, I don't know that a woman is any more likely to want to babysit, but I totally see why you don't want an unknown man staying in your home.

you're in charge, pick who you like!

I had men and women lodgers as a single mum. The young men were easiest.

@danniz why were young men the easiest?

When I was a lodger and my landlady had her six-year-old grandson staying, I most definitely wouldn't have been up for babysitting!

I had a couple of young men, and they were quiet and undemanding. One of them was great. He was a mechanic. Just a nice, polite, quiet, undemanding young man who caused no problems and was handy around the house.

I'm not expecting free babysitting just someone to help cover the bills really.

If you are in the UK you would lose the 25% single adult discount you're entitled to on your council tax.

As a woman I lodged with a man when I started work. We got on just fine and by the time I wanted to move in with DH he had a girlfriend who wanted to move in so it was perfect.

Unless you get a student.

Ive had lodgers of both sexes and whilst I have had one weird guy who pinged my radar I wouldn't rule out men on principle. However lots of single women do; and it's perfectly fine to specify women only in your advert!

Thanks.. lots of things to think about

I see where you're coming from. I wouldn't want to share with an unknown man either, even tho he's probably fine. I'm guessing you're in a uni town given that a student wanted to move in? Contact their international office as loadsa international students arriving now. If you ask for a mature female am sure they'll have loadsa interested parties.