Heating and lodger

[HarryPotterDucks]

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.

I don't think you're cut out for being a landlady.

I don't know why you need to be told this, but he doesn't have to respect you and he is paying your mortgage. I seriously doubt you would have a lodger if you didn't need the money.

You can't just pass on the price increases to him. The £7pcm standing charge increase is something you would have to pay whether you have a lodger or not.

I also think you need to open your eyes to the responsibility you've taken on by having a lodger, and accept that this means the heating might be on more than it would if it were just you.

I don't think it's unreasonable to increase his rent by £50 or so if you give notice, and I think a conversation could be had as it's common knowledge utilities have shot up.

Failing that, I would put the heating on a timer. Have it on for an hour at 7am and another hour at 7pm.

If he's a good lodger in other ways, I wouldn't want to give him reason to leave. If he's a nightmare, just do it and cut your losses.

If you get rid, maybe charge only for the room and split bills going forward.

I've just read the full thread and he sounds rude. But you sound like a nightmare, so I can appreciate why he's given you a bit of cheek.

It's outrageous that you don't have a written agreement in place. You can literally print a ready made contract from a website and get him to sign it.

Forget about the fucking desk. The furniture in the room he rents can remain as it was when he agreed to rent. Do you think you can replace a double bed with a single because "your house, your rules"? Maybe take away the mattress and not replace it? You certainly cannot insist that he use his time to build it for you. Store it somewhere else for now.

You've approached this as if it's free money for you. It's not, and part if earning that money means having to share your home and allow use of your furniture and facilities.

You don't sound cut out to have a live in lodger. Lodgers tend to pay less than they would a shared flat or HMO, and it's important to build a decent relationship with someone if they have a key to your front door.

Give him notice and tell him you're increasing the inclusive rent to £XXX to reflect the rise in energy costs. Tell him that it's fair use basis and you might have to increase again if bills spiral out of control.

If he doesn't like it, he'll either leave or begrudgingly pay.

If he leaves, and you decide to look for another lodger, my suggestion would be to have a written agreement in place and to rent the room only, with an agreement to split utilities.

Your lodger isn't there to absorb all of your cost of living increases.

Is the landlord obliged to keep the heating on for the lodger?