Talk to me about lodgers...

[Dollygirl2008]

What's your understanding of a lodger? I'm advertising for a Monday to Friday lodger, but would they expect to use the main living room etc? I don't particularly want them there all the time, but wouldn't want to exclude either. I've assumed it's bedroom, bathroom, kitchen but I just wondered what the norm is!

How would you like your only living space to be a bedroom?

I had a lodger who never once used the living room. You can either specify that it is not a communal space, or you go for the type of lodger who is unlikely to want to use it. Honestly, IMO male lodgers are less likely to want to be your “friend” and hang out with you all the time. This suits me, I don’t want a friend, I want a lodger.

I have a lodger and she is allowed in my living room/ to treat the place like her own.
She is absolutely lovely, and nice to have about.
I can’t imagine saying no you can’t watch the telly with me

I think you can't really say no to livingroom use. But you can pick a lodger who is going to be mostly out or who says they tend to be in their room on their laptop rather than watch tv ect…

You could say 'im literally always in the livingroom watching tv so I will hog the tv (but you are welcome to join me)' or something along those lines. Then hopefully they will take the hint that you are claiming the space as it were. Might work, might not. I've found most of my lodgers pretty much have left me to it but when I've been out they use the livingroom...and my xbox ect xD

We do movie nights sometimes too though :)

Is there space in your spare room for an armchair (preferably 2 seater sofa) and a tv?

Your house, your rules. Just be open about them up front. A lodger isn’t the same as a flat mate.

Does the lodger’s bedroom have a sofa & TV in it? That would help.

When I was a lodger it was because I couldn’t afford to live alone, which I’d have preferred. I had a decent sized bedroom with a TV & table so I was perfectly happy to use it as living space. I think you just need to spell everything out so the lodger knows what the deal is & can make a choice.