Lodger advice

[Papayalady]

Hi all
I'm considering getting a lodger for my spare double bedroom. Having been a lodger myself a couple of times I'm very aware that it doesn't always go well. Does anyone have any advice on attracting the right kind of lodger (i.e. reliable, trustworthy, respectful, can pay the rent!). I'm a single woman so my safety is also a major priority.
Has anyone out there done this and it's worked out well? Any dos and don'ts?
Thanks!

Meet them. Say you've got someone else coming later that same day so that you can easily say no if you get a bad feeling. 'I'm really sorry but x was a better fit for me.'

A month rent upfront and a month rent as deposit too.

Maybe rent to just women if it would make you more comfortable?

Get a contract sorted. You can buy simple lodger contracts from Spareroom.com. Be clear from the outset about anything that might annoy you e.g. Are they responsible for any cleaning? Can they have guests to stay? What are their shift patterns? etc.

I've had a few lodgers over quite a few years. All of them were nice but I found I liked them better at first. After around 4 months they slowly started to drive me insane with little habits and daft things they did e.g. One kept leaving the iron on. One was always freezing so wanted the heating on WAY more than I did. I always put a 3 month get out clause (trial period) in the lodger contract. I never used it as I realised their habits were hard to live with but so were mine!

Be very clear about whether this is a room to rent with use of kitchen/bathroom or a house share. If you are a regular Mumsnetter, you'll know there are people out there who believe that renting a room from you gives lodgers carte blanche to lounge around in your living room in their pants, choosing which TV shows to match, while simultaneously shagging a one-night stand under your expensive throw. because 'they pay rent, so it's their home'.

Interview them, don't make a hasty decision, make sure that if they say they have a job they actually do, etc. Good luck. I've been renting out a room for about 15 years and my lodgers stay a long time. Clear boundaries and full disclosure of these at interview is my advice, eg if you wouldn't be happy about overnight guests, be very clear about this before they move in, not afterwards.

Gulp...it's a bit daunting, but thank you! I clearly need to have a good think about what I will feel comfortable with and what I won't. I certainly don't want a lodger shagging anyone on my new sofa...! Oh my God, it's so cringy...

Be clear about;

• overnight visitors/boyfriends staying - is it allowed? How frequently?
• Cleaning, standards, general expectations (e.g. No dishes left overnight), who does what or paying for a cleaner
• bathroom use, especially on work days
• parking if they have car

I've had a few lodgers and I agree, the best thing you can do is be very clear on 'house rules'. I've learnt to say say rent is for the room, use of kitchen and bathroom but not family spaces (had a lodger who would dominate the sofa and remote in the evenings), no guests, need to clean room once a week (one lodger didn't and it was not nice getting that room ready for the next lodger), respect the house, pay rent in advance etc.

I also think the advert you place is important. I go into quite a lot of detail about the room, house, neighbourhood, my husband and I and the type of person we are looking for. That way we avoid having party animals because we obviously wouldn't live well together.

Then meet everyone. We had lodgers moving over from abroad so we just met on Skype and I'd show them around he house like that but use the opportunity to ask lots of questions about their routine, work, hobbies etc.

Finally, if anyone you meet gives you a hint of the heeby jeebies, just say no. It's not worth sharing your home with someone that makes you even a little bit uncomfortable and you've got to trust your instincts!