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.

Echoing what most others are saying. I've been a landylady for lodgers for about 10 years. I supply all the cleaning stuff, toilet roll, hand wash and sink and washing up liquid.

Def not washing powder - I hide that ;) And we don't share bathroom toiletries or toothpaste.

People on mumnset get very confused about the difference between houseshare and lodgers.

Lodgers are paying me money to stay there, currently £650 a month! I can afford to buy a few rolls of toilet paper.

I also clean but they must tidy. So I clean the bathroom and kitchen but don't expect them to. Obviously they clean and wash up after cooking but the big cleans I do.

It's a business arrangement, so I find it strange you are asking for extra money. Although saying that, you did both agree at the beginning of the tenancy.

I’ve read it all now

To answer some questions, yes we did have the conversation before she moved in.
She pays less than the going rate because I knew who she was (not friends but acquaintances) and knew she'd had a bad time recently and I wanted to help her.

No, she hasn't bought anything else discussed, but she hasn't used anything else as far as I know either. We specifically discussed loo roll, washing powder and cleaning items amongst others. My previous lodger we worked the same way too.

This. So petty and tbh a bit pathetic.

You agreed a reduced rate because you felt sorry for her, but are happy to charge for toilet paper?!
The whole thing is ridiculous.

OP, you need to supply all the household stuff. Including loo roll. She's a lodger not your flatmate.

Fucking hell. This is awful.

Have you ever used a toilet THEN realised no toilet paper, such a horrible, horrible experience and you are choosing to do that to someone in their “home”.

I think your mistake was charging her less than the going rate because now you’re going to start feeling resentful of all kinds of things.

Never heard of this. I've had 7 lodgers over the years. All strangers at first but we got on well to the point of going abroad together, still in touch with all of them, a couple are my bridesmaids this year actually. But we always took it in turns to buy communal things. None of them ever expected me to provide it and we had an equal cleaning rota. There were 2 lodgers at any one time and only 1 of me though so maybe that's why it felt different? Didn't really ever consider doing it any other way!

If anyone ever missed their turn for a while though someone else would just ask them. So I'd just say hey lodger any chance you can grab some toilet roll. It's no big deal. Presumably if you've lived together for a couple of months you must get on quite well/know them well!

You are weird.

But I'd call that a house share rather than a lodger. I see a lodger as someone who rents a room in your house, they aren't part of the household as such and don't do house cleaning apart from cleaning up after themselves. I would expect the landlady to provide toilet paper, hand soap, washing up liquid etc but not personal toiletries

Exactly that - house shares have a kitty, but if it's a landlord and lodger situation then that sort of thing should be included in the rent, along with utilities. It seems ridiculous to do it any other way.

I didn't miss that, I just think it was a ridiculous conversation to have. Those items should be included in a lodger's rent. Just charge more rent if you feel it's necessary to cover it and stop the pettiness.

So why haven't you said to her "We need loo roll, your turn to buy it"?

The arrangement sounds crap but you've both agreed it so you have to live with it.

Why is it so hard to TEXT (you're not even going to SAY it: "hi, we're out of loo roll, as agreed we'd take turns to buy so please can you pick some up on your way home". FGS grow up.

Does this not also apply to the lodger who used all the toilet roll and left nothing for OP? and then not buy some supplies?

While I wouldn't necessarily have done it this way @Creeperofhabit, I do think it's time for a conversation.

Ohhhh this has made me laugh! And the comments along these lines! Love it 😍

I never bought any household goods like this when I was a lodger. Never occurred to me that it wouldn't be included in the rent. Life's too short to waste energy keeping track of who last paid for bog roll. Put up the rent by an amount that covers all household goods and buy it all, as clearly the take-it-in-turns idea isn't working.

Sounds odd, always have spare loo roll or tissues

Don’t say ‘please can you buy some’ say ‘please can you buy a pack of 12’ or however many you’ve both got through since she moved in.

as an aside, when both my young adult children are here we get through about 9 a week!

All this over bloody toilet roll. It should be provided. She’s a lodger not a housemate.

Perhaps you could give her plenty of notice of her rent going up (as you said you are charging under value). If you put the rent up £30/£50 that is probably 6X or 10X what she would spend on loo roll in a month - and then you could just provide the loo roll?

Maybe suggest the rent going up on the 6 month or year mark depending on how long she has been with you.

Another tp thread... 😫
"Who lets their supply get so low?" is my question...
You're not students, after all.

Hiding loo roll from a lodger is bad.

Hiding loo roll from a female lodger is even worse.

What if she's menstruating and goes into the loo tonight and there is none there?!

YOU are the home-owner and landlord!

YOU buy the "household' items.... washing-up liquid, cleaning supplies, and loo roll!. These are communal items, not personal ones.

You chose to rent at a reduced rate. I would suggest putting it up in a few months and providing the loo roll in the meantime.