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Original poster

CF lodger - advice please

120 replies

Kiwirose · 29/09/2022 13:50

Our spare double room in our family home is let for single occupancy for £500pm including bills (which is probably too cheap) to a PhD student. He has just returned home with is wife without discussing this with us first. She tells us she is staying for 2-3 months.

We knew he was married and his wife lived and worked abroad in the same country he lived and worked in prior to study, so he is over here on a student visa.

We previously discussed with him the need to increase rent bin October because of the cost of living and all of the bills increasing.

My question is how much do you think it is reasonable to charge for a double room with double occupancy for the time his wife is here?

(and yes I am annoyed that this happened without prior discussion. I think he is treating this like a shared flat which it isn't, but even if it were I don't think you could move another person in without everyone else asking reasonable financial measures to compensate for additional utility usage and inconvenience).

All ideas gratefully received please.

OP posts:

Fe345fleur · 30/09/2022 05:42

Agree with people saying just give him notice. It isn't what you agreed, he's forced it on you without discussion and you won't be out of line if you use the MN classic "Sorry this doesn't work for me.".

If it helps motivate you, picture a few months time and writing the next post "CF lodger's wife won't leave." 🙂

Meetmeatwiganpier · 30/09/2022 05:52

He's not the only cf - £500 for a room in a house!

Talia99 · 30/09/2022 06:29

Meetmeatwiganpier · 30/09/2022 05:52

He's not the only cf - £500 for a room in a house!

That’s fairly normal? I lodged for 6 months because I was moving cities and wanted to know the area before I bought and it was £600 for a large furnished en suite room with all bills except food in a nice area with full use of kitchen and living room (and landlady doing all cleaning except my room) and that was 7 or 8 years ago. A 2 bed in the same block (I had a room in a 3 bed which would obviously cost more for the whole flat) rented for £1000 plus around £200 a month bills (council tax plus utilities) at the time. The same 2 bed currently goes for £1300 and utilities are more like £300. I assume the cost of the room would also have increased accordingly.

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Property

Lieslies · 30/09/2022 06:42

People shocked by £500 room rent including utilities are funny, surely everyone can understand housing costs are different in different areas. where I live, about 20 miles from London, £600-£700 a month is about right for normal not-luxury places. Monthly rent for a one bed flat is £900-£1100, plus all utilities.

Ottersmith · 30/09/2022 07:06

You say he's acting like your housemate, well he is your housemate! He deserves to live comfortably in a house equally to the other people. Should he tiptoe around his own home because he's poor? Charge extra for bills but it sounds a lot to me and you landlords acting like money grubbers will get no sympathy from me.

Vapeyvapevape · 30/09/2022 07:13

Give him notice, I used to rent my spare room out and found that once someone pushes the boundaries they continue to do so. . Also one extra adult in the house will make it very crowded especially if she's going to be there during the day.

Clymene · 30/09/2022 07:20

Ottersmith · 30/09/2022 07:06

No he's not, he's a lodger. It's different in law apart from any thing else. Even if he were her housemate, you don't just move someone else in without prior discussion.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 30/09/2022 07:31

Etive · 29/09/2022 23:17

I’m absolutely gobsmacked someone can rent a double room for £500 per month! Is this the going rate in a city? Does the person use the kitchen and livingroom? I'm not being goady, just astounded that people charge this for a double room then ask if they should increase the rent. How much hot water or electricity can one person use?

We have 2 and 3 bedroom cottages that we rent for less than £500 per month!

Where? We've been thinking of moving for a while.

Softplayhooray · 30/09/2022 07:33

Forestdweller11 · 29/09/2022 14:23

Think I'd service notice. Sounds very cheeky indeed. Say that the situation with the two of them no longer works for you.

I'd agree with serving notice. It's fine to not be comfortable in sharing your home with 2 people. The agreement is for single occupancy. It isn't you being negative or unkind, it just is what it is.

Talia99 · 30/09/2022 08:01

Ottersmith · 30/09/2022 07:06

That’s really not how it works with a lodger. It was most definitely my landlady’s home where I had a room. For example, she made decisions on decorating, she informed me when she was having friends over out of courtesy, I had conditions in my contract about how often I could do so. The furniture and kitchenware was hers and so was most of the storage space in the kitchen cupboards - I had one cupboard and one shelf in the fridge.

I had (years earlier) rented as equal flat mates with a group of other women where we were all equals. It wasn’t close to the same.

My landlady had multiple lodgers prior to me and she made her expectations clear, plus we had a written contract. I had no issues with her requirements as I knew them going in.

maddiemookins16mum · 30/09/2022 08:16

You also need to think of the tax return implications if the rent goes over 7.5K per year.

MrMrsJones · 30/09/2022 08:16

I would say it doesn't work for you and give him a week to leave.

Unless you want the extra money charge him £800

He is a lodger, he has no rights at all

Dibbydoos · 30/09/2022 08:28

Honestly I would inc rent to at least £750 and I'd be inclined to give him his notice and rent to a single person. Christmas will def be a nightmare and whilst she's here yoyr going to have to heat the house maybe when you don't want to.....

Audioslaw · 30/09/2022 08:29

Jeez how many people on here so completely out of touch and unrealistic about how much it costs just to live!

I was paying £500 as a lodger in London TWENTY years ago, so that would probably have doubled now.

It seems very reasonable to me. I live East Mids a city with two unis and the going rate would be about £600 pcm not for en suite.

Just look on air BnB, the same rooms for PhD students are £60 per night!

Beautiful3 · 30/09/2022 08:42

Think I'd increase his to £600 to cover the energy rises.Then an extra £200 for his wife. But explain that its temporary and his wife cannot be there for longer than x.

PaulaTrilloe · 30/09/2022 08:50

Give your lodger notice. Say you have decided to Air B&B the room out instead now so you can decide when you want to have paying guests. Also giving your family their own space in your own property. Change the locks after they go

saleorbouy · 30/09/2022 09:04

Just discuss I with him, what is stated in the contract regarding occupancy and house guests?
Just tell him this was not the original agreement and new terms need to be agreed regarding occupancy of the room, length of stay of guests etc. and additional utility costs incurred.
If he's not keen with your suggestions for increased rent and restricting the length of his wifes stay then then serve notice.

Noteverybodylives · 30/09/2022 09:07

I can’t get over the £500 a month! Jeez!

I’m assuming this is London or something.

Was there a contract/tenancy agreement when he moved in?
And did it say anything about visitors?

GiantKitten · 30/09/2022 09:14

We knew he was married and his wife lived and worked abroad in the same country he lived and worked in prior to study, so he is over here on a student visa.

He was obviously careful not to say that she’d be joining him, and moving in is not visiting!

MzHz · 30/09/2022 09:18

You need to give notice. You don’t want 2 people, you don’t want her there all day, and he lied to you (by omission) trying to force you into a situation you don’t want and potentially relying on you being too nice to do anything about it.

if you raise the rent, then potentially you’re just monetising a situation you don’t want, so the sooner you do something about it, the sooner you can replace the lodger.

TequilaNights · 30/09/2022 09:19

Raising the rent seems like agreeing to her staying, just for the simple lack of respect and communication I would give notice.

I would want someone trustworthy living in my home.

Rooms are renting quickly, or you could air bnb while waiting for a new lodger.

SavingsThreads · 30/09/2022 09:25

Meetmeatwiganpier · 30/09/2022 05:52

He's not the only cf - £500 for a room in a house!

This will blow your mind then - I paid £1000 for a room in a flat in London 5 years ago. Hate to think what it's cost now!

Hopefullysoon2022 · 30/09/2022 09:29

Ottersmith · 30/09/2022 07:06

He's not a housemate he's a lodger.
The price he pays reflects that.

Noteverybodylives · 30/09/2022 09:30

This will blow your mind then - I paid £1000 for a room in a flat in London 5 years ago. Hate to think what it's cost now!

😱😱

I would love to live in London but I could never justify spending £1000 for just a room!

CrotchetyQuaver · 30/09/2022 09:40

This is not on. Your house your rules etc. I would give them notice, and in the interim charge a supplement for additional costs/wear and tear. Is she going to be in the house all day every day?

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