I'm a wuss. I've hidden the loo roll from my lodger

[Creeperofhabit]

Instead of simply having a conversation. I've taken to keeping it in my bedroom instead of the bathroom, maybe she'll then bloody buy some.

She's lived here some, two months? Maybe slightly longer and never bought any. One night I'd ran out unexpectedly because she'd used the last and I went and borrowed a roll from my local pub.

When she first moved in I asked if she wanted me to continue to buy communal goods (of which loo roll was mentioned) or take it in turns and she confirmed the latter but hasn't.

I guess I feel that she has less money than I have, and doesn't drive and I do. But I also work fulltime and run a small business.

I feel I can't say anything to her but I know I MUST do.
Tonight (she's at work and won't be back until I'm in bed) I am going to send her a mesg and ask her to buy some. I am.

Surely a lodger should be able expect loo roll provided?

Ha, this brings it all back. I've had some 'quirky' lodgers in the past. I swear one went through approx a 9 pack of loo roll every two days. No idea what she did with it. The mind boggles.

So, to the person who asked, how much can a lodger use. Sometimes a surprising lot. Maybe time to start keeping an emergency roll in your room.

Don't lodgers get more of the household stuff included in the rent, compared to if you were just house sharing?

Wouldn’t you rather just buy the loo roll than risk her using your towel instead?

Yeah as I understand it (though might be wrong) you are responsible for loo roll. I don't think lodgers expect to have to buy it.

Having said that, you two had the conversation and an agreement was made so it's tricky now. In hindsight it would have been better to have charged a little more to cover the cost and inconvenience of providing it.

Just order a load from Amazon and split the cost - tell her she owes you £10 or whatever half is and issue over for a while

If she pays her rent on time and is otherwise ok to live with then I'd let this go. Just bulk buy next time. She's helping you pay your mortgage, you can spare her some toilet paper.

That's a point.

She's a lodger not a flatmate

@ManchesterBeatrice

you can't wipe you see on a car!!

Bloody phone!!!

you can't wipe your arse on a cat!!

She probably assumes loo roll comes with the lodgings. Not an unreasonable assumption.

As the homeowner I'd expect to buy household supplies.

@Creeperofhabit did you get the title wrong? Shouldn't it have been 'I'm an arse...'

Lodgers shouldn't be providing household goods or doing things like cleaning communal spaces (apart from tidying/cleaning up after themselves). That's what they are paying you for.

Yes so would I.

I think some people have missed the part of my post when I said I'd asked her how she wanted to work communal goods and it was her preference to take it in turns buying them. I'd have been quite happy to know I was buying it all if she'd have said that. Same with washing up liquid, washing powder etc. We had the conversation. Having said that she hasn't used any of the other items at all.

It's a strange conversation to have, really. If you were indeed happy to buy it all (as well you might) you should have just done that, no conversation needed.

Does she use a lot? If not buy a massive 24/28 pack or whatever and leave one plus a spare in her toilet. I can't see you spending much per month on her loo roll?

Omg, I'd never in a million years want a lodger in my home. My sanctuary, my space, shared with a stranger, sounds ghastly.

That’s a weird one because where does it end? If you start providing toilet rolls will she then assume your laundry detergent, shower gel, hand soap?
I would add an extra tenner per month for all all that stuff or suck it up to avoid the excruciating confrontation 😅

I'm really surprised that people think lodgers shouldn't buy loo roll, cleaning supplies etc, or even clean! It's not a hotel or a holiday let - the rent is for the room + utilities, surely. That said, OP, YAB so U I don't know where to start. Why on earth would you not talk to her and say 'please buy some loo roll with your next shop - we agreed to share that and I don't think you've bought any yet'? If I were your lodger I'd find your loo roll hiding/hoarding so deeply strange that I wouldn't feel comfortable (or, tbh, particularly safe) continuing to live in your house.

Just increase the lodging by £5 a month to cover this. It's much better if you just include things like that, assuming she isn't being ridiculous with her usage

Why would she though, when OP says they discussed and specifically agreed buying loo roll (and other communal things) would be shared between them?

Why can't you say "please can you get some toilet roll?" Genuine question

Honestly if I'd moved in somewhere and been busy dealing with joyful changes of address etc then it'd be the last thing on my mind. If, during that time, loo roll had always just been there then it probably wouldn't even occur to me.
Is she buying the other things she said she would? If so I imagine this is a case of just genuinely not clocking it.
She's had enough to think about moving in. Just give her a text saying "hey! We are a little low on loo roll. Can you pick some up please".

I say this as someone who's never house shared. But has moved a LOT and is always surprised that there's no loo roll when I first get to a new property. You just don't think of it when you're thinking of everything else!

Also could you phrase it as "about the communal stuff, being that you don't drive do you want me to just keep adding loo roll to my shop?". If you're happy to supply as you suggested, then perhaps just asking that will highlight it and she'll either say "no it's fine!" And start buying or "oh god I hadn't thought if that, yes please".

Yeah but you shouldn't have asked her that. You just provide it - it's included in the rent.