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AIBU?

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Original poster

Heating and lodger

154 replies

HarryPotterDucks · 05/08/2022 23:58

Hello all.

With the massive bills with heating and electricity I don’t know how I’m going to survive over winter.

I have a lodger and obviously as he’s not paying the bills than he doesn’t care about reasonable saving of money.

However this has to be approached. I’m just a softie and probably a bit on the spectrum.

Would I be unreasonable to be strict about the heat?

My normal bills were £110 in the winter and already my DD is £70 per month, just for electricity.

Ive not put up his rent, which I maybe should. He’s paying £400pm at the moment.

OP posts:
Yabado · 06/08/2022 14:43

That seems so cheap
Where I am you are lucky if you can get a room for under £600 £700 is the norm

Original poster
HarryPotterDucks · 06/08/2022 17:58

Yabado · 06/08/2022 14:43

That seems so cheap
Where I am you are lucky if you can get a room for under £600 £700 is the norm

Yes.

im just worried I won’t fill the room etc.

i live near a hospital so if I knew how to tap into that market for people working m-f or just for 6 months, it would be great.

OP posts:
Original poster
HarryPotterDucks · 06/08/2022 18:02

caringcarer · 06/08/2022 00:50

Don't know where you are in country but t £400 including bills is cheap because my utilities is now over £400 pet month. I would add £50 on per month. Just give them a months notice of rent increase. If they don't like it they can leave but I doubt they will find cheaper. I am a LL and I increased rent on a 3 bedroom house from £710 to £750 because mortgage gone up 5 times, gas certificate gone up, and insurance gone up. Tenant told me they would look for somewhere else. I said fine, let me know when you want to leave. A week later I got text saying they were not leaving as to their suprise other 3 bedroom houses where £850+. I don't put up rent every year but only if my mortgage payments go up.

They cost £5k a year? What on?

OP posts:
EmergencyHepNeeded · 06/08/2022 18:10

I would give him notice and then I would put the rent up to 500 for the next person. I think he is completely disrespectful and I wouldn't want to live with them.

Original poster
HarryPotterDucks · 06/08/2022 18:18

Kite22 · 06/08/2022 00:46

Two of my dc have had this issue in shared student houses.
Long before the recent price rises, but they can't get their heads round some of their housemates wanting the heating on 24 hours a day, up aat full blast, never wearing jumpers and then opening windows to let the heat out when they are hot. This was just to do with the waste of the World's resources (at the time the bills were included for both of them), and how uncomfortably hot it was in the houses.

So some of it depends upon whether that is how your lodger is working, or if you are suggesting no heating / very limited heating...not being allowed a shower when you need one, etc etc. I think there is a basic expectation of heating and being able to have hot showers etc if you are lodging somewhere, but I also think there is a reasonable expectation from the landlord that the lodger doesn't take the mick.
It will also depend on what the rent is, compared with other rooms locally.

So there is a lot of "it depends" about this.

He won’t help himself sometimes. Like get a thicker duvet or put on more clothes. Some of it is me not putting the heating on downstairs during the day, because we are either out or working in our rooms. He finds it “inconvenient” to turn it on at the radiator and wants an app for it.

OP posts:
Murdoch1949 · 06/08/2022 18:20

You definitely need to take action immediately. Bills are going up MASSIVELY in October, so you need to be quick. Any increase in your lodger's rent needs to factor in what is coming, so any increase needs to be for 3 months with a review. Compare 2021 bills with 2022 bills so you can present an objective, written case to supplement your discussion. If the lodger decides the increase is too high, give him notice. Any new lodger needs a contract that reflects the energy costs, with an agreement about usage of energy. I don't know if your lodger uses an electric heater, you may not know if, in winter, he has this on all night! I know that I am like a hawk with energy usage. I rarely have my heating on, just wear multiple jumpers and knee blankets, hard to implement with an existing lodger, but something to be aware of with any new contract.

Tessabelle74 · 06/08/2022 18:20

Increase his rent accordingly and if he doesn't like it I'm sure you'll replace him easily

worriedniece · 06/08/2022 18:20

Get an app that you can control. Explain that this is when the heating will be on (don't be unreasonable and ensure the house is warm but not all the time!). Also explain when you expect to increase the rent due to inflation..

Cameleongirl · 06/08/2022 18:22

HarryPotterDucks · 06/08/2022 17:58

Yes.

im just worried I won’t fill the room etc.

i live near a hospital so if I knew how to tap into that market for people working m-f or just for 6 months, it would be great.

Show quote history

I’d contact the hospital and try to find out. We live near an university and our former neighbors had student lodgers. I think there was a Facebook group that they could post the room on. It’s worth a try.

Original poster
HarryPotterDucks · 06/08/2022 18:28

worriedniece · 06/08/2022 18:20

Get an app that you can control. Explain that this is when the heating will be on (don't be unreasonable and ensure the house is warm but not all the time!). Also explain when you expect to increase the rent due to inflation..

I have the app, he then starts to change times etc.

OP posts:
Original poster
HarryPotterDucks · 06/08/2022 18:31

Yabado · 06/08/2022 14:43

That seems so cheap
Where I am you are lucky if you can get a room for under £600 £700 is the norm

I’m not city centre etc. nor London.

OP posts:
Ourlady · 06/08/2022 18:44

He sounds like a bit of a bully. I would tell him the rent is going up and if he’s not happy with that then he needs to find other lodgings.
Messing with your app is not on. I would be taking that off him too.

billy1966 · 06/08/2022 18:57

Op,

Help yourself.
He's a bully and you know he doesn't respect you.

His morgage comment is enough to give notice.

You are going to have problems with him.

Get ahead of it and get him out.

Find the going rate and charge it.

Otherwise this winter is going to really cost you.

Never good to rent a room to a rude lodger.

You owe him nothing.

Get him out.

OneFrenchEgg · 06/08/2022 19:10

Reminds me of a lodger I had. He was bloody dirty (food left in pans on cooker/ kitchen side for days, washing just left for days, spit and toothpaste left in sink, never cleaned toilet - I could go on) and never cleaned the kitchen or bathroom and whenever I pulled him up on it (nicely - honest!) he complained that I was being unreasonable and picking on him at which point I recalled how he waxed lyrical that his previous landlord had picked on him very unreasonably...I asked him to go after that.

God, until the last bit this is ds (18) - finally charging rent of £300 which he thinks is a massive bargain. Op, I do it properly - work out what you need and what he can do (eg two showers a day?, heating at 18/19 etc, when) and then tell him the new price.

alwayscheery · 06/08/2022 19:11

If he is paying your mortgage.

Who is paying for the gas, electricity and water he is using ?
Who pays for the toilet rolls. cleaning materials, insurance, boiler servicing and maintenance of the property?
I would suggest he uses his rent to buy his own property and find yourself a new lodger.

starfishmummy · 06/08/2022 19:43

Put a password on the app!!

Blue565 · 06/08/2022 19:55

I'd give him notice that the rent is going from £400 to £500, if he doesn't like it it gives you time to kick him out and find someone else before winter hits.

He sounds like a piss taker who is overly entitled

Original poster
HarryPotterDucks · 06/08/2022 20:14

i purchased a new table for his room and he had an issue with that I’m the sense that he hinted he didn’t want it. He said he would put it up himself…. And a month later it’s still in the hallway.

irs a proper office desk, not like the slightly smaller ikea desk he has which wobbles. I upgraded my desk to the same one and it’s fab.

ungrateful!

OP posts:
Original poster
HarryPotterDucks · 06/08/2022 20:14

starfishmummy · 06/08/2022 19:43

Put a password on the app!!

I can downgrade his access. Should he have asked beforehand?

OP posts:
Lamaze990 · 06/08/2022 20:19

Yes he should have asked. The more you post the worse he sounds. Honestly give him notice and immediately advertise. There is no shame in the fact it isn't working. You need to be able to relax in your home!

MotherOfPuffling · 06/08/2022 20:29

Do check out the Spare Room website too. I used this to find Mon-Fri tenants before having DD, was very useful.

Bubblebubblebah · 06/08/2022 20:33

Tbf with that paying the mortgage bit, he is probably reading mumsnet...

With the rising cost I agree on rent increase to market levels for a room in your area. I am sure they are increasing so keep with that

FinallyHere · 06/08/2022 20:48

He’s said to me he’s paying my mortgage…. So I don’t think he respects me

Don't have anyone in your home who does not behave respectfully.

How easily could you get a new, better lodger?

Call the hospital switchboard and explain that you have accommodation available. It might take a while to get through to the right people but I expect they will snap up your offer and supply excellent lodgers. And move them in if you have any trouble.

Doveyouknow · 06/08/2022 20:52

An extra £75 pcm is a massive increase in £400, way above inflation so I think that is pretty unreasonable. As for paying your mortgage comment, well he kinda of is presumably. I mean you aren't letting him stay for his personality! If you don't like him then just get a new lodger. Whether you can charge more will depend on the market locally.

Original poster
HarryPotterDucks · 06/08/2022 21:13

Doveyouknow · 06/08/2022 20:52

An extra £75 pcm is a massive increase in £400, way above inflation so I think that is pretty unreasonable. As for paying your mortgage comment, well he kinda of is presumably. I mean you aren't letting him stay for his personality! If you don't like him then just get a new lodger. Whether you can charge more will depend on the market locally.

Way above inflation?

The inflation would mean a rent increase of 9%, so £436.00.

are utility bills raising at the same rate of inflation?

if it’s like for like - aka my bills have risen X amount, I can comfortably pass on an extra £100 a month.

or how about he can contribute, as he “pays my mortgage”.

My LTV mean I got an ok deal. Will he give me 50% of mu cash deposit. After all, he’s paying my mortgage.

water - £30
internet - £30
gas and electric - £200pm
gas boiler cert - £8
council tax £116.
mortgage - £580.
insurance - £25
£998.

So he’s under paying by £100 a month…. Also I should collect a service charge for wear and tear, as well as a contingency fund.

plus I spent lots of money furnishing the place and tradies….

OP posts: