Dealing with a lodger

[Jemblue101]

Hello, I've recently got a lodger and he is drying washing in his bedroom (sometimes with the window open but not always) and putting on a load late in the day then leaving it wet in the drum for a few hours. I'm really concerned about mould and damp and as a first time owner, I take pride in my home. Should I say something?

Are there any facilities for them to dry their clothes elsewhere in the house?

There is an outdoor space that gets very hot and windy so ideal. I have provided a clothes horse. Also the bathroom has a strong extractor fan

I see no reason why you can’t ask them to dry their clothes elsewhere

A few hours in the drum is likely fine. They will soon stop if their clothes smell. Drying washing in bedroom is also probably quite normal. I don't think you can micro manage them like this. When our lodger moved out there was a little mould growth in her room she never mentioned- she liked to keep her room really cold even in winter which I think caused it. We washed it away with bleach and repainted and it was as good as new. End of the day they need to feel comfortable that it is their home too- pick your battles and save the goodwill for the important things.

I would mention it, say it will dry your cloths quicker there too.. maybe he doesnt know or thinks he being polite keeping it in his room...

I had already mentioned about the outdoor space before me moved in. He's not been here long so I guess I'm worried about causing tension

Is it mirco managing? I guess I always kept it so clean and nice prior it's hard for me to see it treated like a student house now

That’s ok in summer but what about when it rains? You probably need to have a discussion with them about how you’d like things and what they need, and come to an agreement.

Yeah when it rains it won't be any good, so I said when they first came round they can dry it indoors when it's raining, but it's been very sunny recently but they put washing on late or still dry indoors

It's not micro-managing; you're trying to stop mould. But you do need to be clear about your house rules.

I had two lodgers, one for about a year and one for about three years, and have also been a lodger myself. I think my general takeaway is it won't work or they wont stay long if it feels like they are a guest in your home rather than it also being their home. They are paying for it at the end of the day. One of my lodgers came to me after finding her previous house arrangement suffocating. That's not to say you can't talk about things that are bothering you- and be very willing to hear anything you do that bothers them in return, because there will be things! But I find you have more capital to discuss these things if it isn't onerous and constant, and if you have taken the time to build some kind of good relationship/ rapport with them first. If the washing is the big thing for you have that discussion, but don't hit them with a complaint about an overnight guest, or plates in the sink, or stacking the dishwasher wrong or something in the same week if you'd like them to stay a long time.

If you're that particular about your home, you shouldn't have a lodger.
It's perfectly reasonable for a lodger to keep their clothes drying in their room, after all being a lodger tends to mean you are fairly confined to your bedroom. You can't reasonably expect them to always take the washing out as soon as it's done.

Someone doing their washing and hanging it up is hardly a 'student household'.

Not if there is an outdoor space. And I don't expect it to come out as soon as it's done, but not sit in the drum hours

Wow, you are pleasant. Guess some people just take having a nice home for granted and having the money to fix issues like mould and mildew.

Did you not give him a list of house rules when you agreed to take him as a lodger?

not drying clothes indoors would definitely have been on my list.

tell him without delay.

but I would also get a dryer.

Good god you really shouldn't have a lodger. You don't just get this person's money without them actually you know... LIVING there

But a humidity absorbers for their room?

A few hours in the drum might won’t do any harm. I often do this. I understand why he doesn’t want to hang his stuff outdoors overnight if he washes late. I have a heated rail in my room and I’ve never got damp from it. Maybe he could get something similar.

@Jemblue101 i repeat my earlier point. You are not suited to being a live in landlady, you should not take in lodgers!
You need to decide where to compromise. You can't have the benefit of someone helping you to pay your mortgage but expect there to be zero impact on your home.

If you come across IRL like you do on here then I can entirely understand why a lodger would feel uncomfortable hanging their washing up - would it be too untidy, should they have their smalls on display, would you be timing when it should be taken in?

The most you can reasonably do is ask them to open a window. It's their home! Appreciate not in the same way as it's your purchased home, but it's still what they're calling home. If you're not comfortable with that - again, don't take in lodgers!

Do you want to dial it up, I don't think you are being quite hyperbolic enough...

Yeah, because I'd prefer someone to hang washing outside in the summer instead of in their bedroom I'm not suited to being a landlady. Indeed I'm such a jerk I haven't even said anything to them and have come on here to get advice on how to address it. Disgusting I know

A heated rail is a good shout. I may look at getting them one

I did yes, is why I'm concerned about bringing it up as I already said before he moved in about drying clothes outside on a hot day, which there have been plenty of.

You're not his mother, and I'd find it quite micromanaging personally. If it actually causes damage then have a word, and that's what deposits are there for if needed, but in reality I don't think he's doing anything wrong, and I'm not sure it's your business really what he does in his room, within reason.

First time home owner here who also takes pride in my home.. I think you’re being a bit odd about the whole thing. Leaving laundry in the drum for a few hours isn’t a big deal, nor is drying his laundry in his room. I don’t think you can dictate to him where he can dry his clothes in his own space that he is paying you for, honestly.