Rent free room in return for occasional live in dog sitting

[Judgedontbudge]

I have a single spare bedroom in my property (bungalow). I have two dogs both of whom have mild separation anxiety- no damage etc but barking but who are otherwise lovely dogs. I’m worried about annoying my neighbours with the barking as well as the distress for the dogs. I am continuously working / training with the dogs to be able to leave the dog's. I work from home and don’t really go out too often but when I do, I’m very concerned about the situation and finding I’m going out less and less. I’m single. And I must say, I do like living alone. However, I’ve pondered the idea of “renting” my spare bedroom (single room) to a person who may want to establish a career working with dogs / animals and as this can be poorly paid in some circumstances, they may want to find cheap accommodation. They may be young and starting out. They would pay half towards all bills but no rent or a very small amount. In return for no rent charge, I would ask for the occasional dog sitting likely perhaps 4 hours a week sporadically and a day once a month or so to allow me to socialise with friends or an evening to go out to dinner for example. I could hire a dog sitter but my life feels like I pay out all the time and Im looking for solutions to recoup and spend less, not pay out more. Finanaces are tight for me. I’d be interested in hearing people’s views and thoughts on this idea. Thank you.

Advertise and see who applies 🤷🏽‍♀️

Thing is, how would you get someone to agree to the times you want? If uiu want different times each week, it doesn't allow them to have their own life. Why don't you just rent it, then pay a dog sitter for the time you need out of the proceeds?

I agree with this.

Minimum wage legislation doesn't exactly allow you to exchange rent for free labour. You still have to pay minimum wage but you can deduct £9.99 per day maximum if they have zero rent costs. Your plan to make a charge for bills would still count as a rent-like cost as this would be a lodging-type arrangement and for a lodger rent includes bills. Depending what you want to charge as a bills contribution you'd be very limited for the number of hours of dogsitting you could ask for in such an arrangement without breaching these regulations.

Thank you all for your contributions. In answer to the first two, I had thought to ask for a few regular times so we would both know where we stood. As for your help OpusGiemuJavlo, I didn’t know any of this and hasn’t considered it/ known to check, so thank you too. I think I will scrap this idea then.
Re renting the room out standard practise, I’m not sure that it’s fair to rent a room when there is two dogs who live in the property too, and the bother and mess that can come with two dogs, although I hoover every day etc. So I think I will just carry on living alone and carry on with the separation training. It just looks like a long road ahead sometimes as the dogs are both only 1 and 3 years old and very different and difficult to my old dog who life was so easy with.

Blimey the op is asking for four hours a week not four days, surely with a few days notice that is perfectly reasonable?

I would have thought this was a fabulous deal for a young person on low pay. However it appears that stifling rules and regulations will stop it, what a shame.

Plenty of people get lodgers when they have dogs! There will be dog lovers out there who would be happy to rent your room and if your dogs like them, if the lodger is home when you go out they may well be less anxious so it could free you up more.

Obviously you couldn't expect the lodger to stay home to look after them, but you could offer to pay them to do so (out of the extra rent money) and they may be willing, or get a dog sitter.

Also the income from a lodger is tax free up to £7,500

You'd be better to try having a lodger who loves dogs, and then negotiate some paid dog sitting with them as and when.

Yoy’d be better if renting the room and hiring a dog sitter.

People get lodgers with dogs
look at what the cost of lodgers pay in your area
and then offer a room at less money in return for dog sitting

where I live lodgers / shared rooms pay around 600-650 a month including bills

if you offered 500 you would have a queue a mile long snapping your arm off

Put it this way my son put a lodgers advert up a few weeks ago 625 inc all bills and had over a 100 enquiries in 3 days

I couldn't do it. For the sake of four hours a week to have to share my living space with someone all the time? Then they may also want friends over occasionally? I shared flats when younger and just about tolerated it then as I needed the money to pay the mortgage but never again!

Thanks again for all your comments and advice. It’s really helpful to get advice from people not connected to me.
@Fairyliz , you’re right in the fact that I don’t feel I’d be asking for a lot, only about 4 hours a week, the same time / day each week.
When I was young I used to work with animals and the pay is so poor and some people want to do this vocation but can’t afford to move out of home etc.

Life is expensive nowadays and I was trying to take a proactive approach to solving a couple of issues (bills/ outgoings and dogs!)
But then I also see that point of @mondaytosunday in that I would hope for a polite, tidy, quiet recluse who will agree not to bring friends/ boyfriends / girlfriends etc home or stay up late or get drunk or play loud music😂🤦‍♀️. Oh dear. Back to the drawing board perhaps.
Any other ideas gratefully welcome! 🤗

But you can put that in the add

room would suit someone who is quiet and tidy respectful of my house
you can put that you rarely drink or that your a non smoker ( no smoking / vape house )

my sons advert said it’s not a party house and by that we mean we don’t play loud music and have late night parties but we are very sociable and would like someone who is like minded .

I think he wrote that they work long hours / shifts so someone that is familiar with shift working and sleeping odd patterns so would suit someone with a similar lifestyle

He also put not suitable for someone who works from home full time.

He had over 100 responses In a few days

you can stipulate no overnight guest or no guest allows to be in the house if the lodger or you isn’t there when they get in touch

i would look for someone who is older ( not young and out to party )

honestly have a look on spare room in your city for rooms wanted to get a feel for what people are looking for

Maybe something like this

Room available as a lodger in a peaceful friendly house shafting with me ( female 40 )
Hi im Judgedontbudge
I have a spacious sunny room available in my home fully furnished with ( whatever the room has )

i have 2 dogs so you must be a dog lover ( this is really important )

I am looking for someone who would be happy to dog sit 4hours a week max while I go out to do xxxx
And one evening a month for 5 hours

My dogs are lovely but get very anxious when on there own
This would possibly suit someone studying animal care / trainee vet nurse ( blah blah ) Or someone older who loves dogs

in return for this I am offering a reduced rent of xxx which will include all bills / council tax per month

it’s a non smoking / vaping house and definitely not a party house although I’m partial to a glass on decent red wine in the evening and a chat

As it’s my own house it’s very well kept with no mould or damp and nicely decorated

you would have your own bedroom

shared areas are
Bathroom with shower / bath
kitchen with washing machine dryer dishwasher and all mod cons

Comfortable lounge / dinning area

Lovely sunny garden with lots of plants

super fast WiFi

Gas Central heating / log burner

Advertise at local vets and animal shelters?

Thank you @Cornflakelover . Interesting. I’ve never been in a position of taking in a lodger although my ex lodged here for a year. That may have been worse in some ways and better in others.
I hadn’t realised that you could be quite so discretionary when advertising for a lodger.
Incidentally, I looked on Spare Room and noticed two adverts for a room available suggesting a reduced rent in exchange of dog day care similar to my initial post but requesting much more care of the dogs than me, they’re requesting daily dog care and walks and feeding.
I guess nothing ventured, nothing gained from trying it.

As long as you make it plain you have dogs and they need to be ok with that at the least, if not dog lovers. I don't see why someone wouldn't want to rent the room?
Asking someone to work in exchange for board can end in tears when the agreement isn't working out and the tenant stops wishing to do the dog care.

you can get pet cameras so you can log in and see/hear what they’re doing and could start to build up them being alone in 15 minute increments

you can write what you want
you can also get a lodgers contract from spare room
which you can add stuff to
I recommend taking a deposit ( you don’t have to put it in any sort of protection scheme if you have a lodger

you can do it where both you and the lodger give 1 months notice to each other
and it can be on a month to month basis rather than 6 months
lodgers have limited right ( unlike a Tennant on a AST )

Always take a screen shot of there passport and reference
look them up on social media so you can get an idea of who they are And what they post

and you can word it in a way so you can weed out anyone unsuitable

so mention that your quiet individual and value peace & quite and a safe place to relax / chill
that it’s not a party house

if your neurodivergent mention that as well as you might find other people similar looking

you can write that your house is clean & tidy blah blah

My advice would be to take some really nice picture of the room the dogs and your house
if the room is sunny / bright mention that as well

look at spare room adverts for offering / wanted to get a feel in your area

in the wanted part you can contact people you think might be suitable for you

Oh and watch the film single white female 😂
it’s the lodger from hell

you might not want a lodger afterward
and final advice
be friendly but not friends with your lodger if that makes sense

Alternative: try to find a Monday- Friday lodger, and then use the money to pay for separate dog sitting services.

This is a bit of a left field suggestion, but have you considered finding one or more local people through BorrowMyDoggy, or similar, who would be willing to look after your dogs for a few hours a week?

@Whatevershallidowithmylife yes I have done this and am doing so, thank you ☺️

Good suggestion! I had thought that borrow my doggy meant that the dogs go off to someone’s house but maybe someone would just want to come and get away from their nagging husband / wife / partner for a few hours peace and quiet 😂

100% do this
Sounds great, you do need to be able to socialise etc