Finding lodgers and making it fair

[outingouting]

Hi all.

i currently have two kids and a lodger. It’s not really working out as our lifestyles are very different. He’s an old friend who I trust around the kids but still in a party lifestyle.

I gave him a chunky discount of about a third because the kids were little really loud and irritating. And I don’t think we’ve ever had a traditional lodger / landlord relationship.

But I’m wondering whether I could find someone who might be more compatible with living within a family home?

i live in a nice house in a desirable area of a city. I’ve no doubt theres plenty of people who’d want to rent a room.

But how do you find the right person? I feel nervous as I have the kids there. I’d like the kids to not feel like they have a stranger living there, for them to talk to each other and have pleasantries.

And would the lodger expect some sort of lower rate, recognising that they could easily choose not to live with primary age children?

what is the usual relationship between lodger and landlord? What are expectations around cleaning? Use of main facilities in the living room and kitchen? Any tips or previous experience welcome about finding someone compatible and how to make it the best experience for all of us.

I think a lower rent due to children living there would be normal.

Meet with everyone twice: first by yourself and then with the family and go with your gut who is the most compatible.

I'd use the money to get a cleaner as you can never tell who is dirty until you start living with them.

I would ask for a rent significantly below market rent so that you get plenty of interest and can focus on choosing the person who is the right fit. I think with children in the house, I'd be asking myself whether the person works in a role for which they'll have needed an enhanced DBS check.

Instead of a lodger, have you considered having international students? Shorter terms and the family environment is plus for them, not a negative and may be enriching for the children.
I worked with a nurse who did this and had a student at a time, but many over the course of a few years, staying alongside her family and she was really positive about it.

Thanks all.

Current discount is about a third, but finding that a bit tough money-wise to sustain.

was hoping to bump it up a bit.

I’ve heard mixed reviews of having international students in.

the alternative is to try and rent it out in its entirety on Airbnb, and us all move out for a few days a month but that comes with other issues / hassle and is also taxable so also not ideal.

thanks for the confirmation that the rate would need to be significantly lower tho - useful for me to consider my options.

I don’t know why it should be lower. Unless your kids run riot. It’s up to them whether they want to live in a house with kids - if they don’t they don’t.
A friend has a lodger. She has use of her room, kitchen and bathroom. The living room is off limits. My friend has three adult children, one has mental illness issues and primarily lives in a sheltered house but often stays over. One other works away but comes home for a few weeks at a time. There’s no difference in rent whether it’s sharing with one person (my friend) or with two adults males (her sons). They have a nice enough relationship but are not friends and are just considerate of each other - her lodger is vegetarian for example but understands the family is not.

Maybe look for female lodgers and ones that have a job that requires them to have a dbs.

I don't think it's normal to offer a reduced rent due to you having children you just need someone who likes children. How big is the room? Someone with a baby starting out might welcome it

Ok interesting!

I think there’s no easy way to find an ideal lodger is there - I might just have to put the feelers out.

Ive heard it all now. Yiu want to charge market rent to somebody who is okay to live with your kids? As in, you want to offer a room that comes with an inconvience to any working adult, but charge the same as a room in a nice peaceful adult only home? 😂
Good luck with that.

The only way i see that working is if you rent to somebody who also has a child

Plenty of people would like to live in a family home, though. I would actively prefer to lodge with someone who has a family, because I would assume they'd be busy with their own family routine - living with someone else with is single may be quiet, but it can feel awkward!

Anyway, no one is forcing the lodgers into the agreement, so I think I'd advertise at market rate and see who bit, before assuming it'd be a non-starter.