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?

I can't imagine drying washing in a bedroom! I'm surprised he doesn't have condensation running down the windows. I agree with you OP. And you did mention it before he moved in.

You are bothered about him not putting it outside and are very particular about that point but not so clear when someone asked you if there are facilities elsewhere in the house for them to dry clothes. If you don't want him to dry it in the bedroom you need to say precisely where you would like him to dry it within the house and provide him with whatever is needed to facilitate that.
It may be that he doesn't want to dry his clothes outside, for whatever reason and his opposition to that could be as strong as your wish is for it.

This is an illustration of how it's not easy living with a lodger, especially for the first time and you will learn as you go but may make some mistakes along the way.

Spare Room has a comprehensive guide and advice articles about all the different aspects involved in letting out a room and living with a lodger, which you might find helpful. You can register there and have these emailed to you. Here is a link: www.spareroom.co.uk/content/info-landlords/advice-landlord/

I hate drying things outside, I hate the 'outdoor freshness' smell, it makes me feel sick. I know from having mentioned this on another completely unrelated thread in the past, I am not alone, though obviously others do like the smell.
Perhaps this is the case with him?
As other posters have said, maybe he is not the best fit for you as a lodger, or maybe you need to find some other way of raising funds.
If you are as clean and tidy as you say, he may be concerned about disturbing your perfect home with his laundry. I mean that seriously.

But if there’s no mould in the winter, it’s highly unlikely there would be in the summer. I can imagine this man might be reluctant to hang his undies where you and any overlooking neighbours can see them.

Maybe he has v bad hayfever and doesn't want allergens on his clothes from outside drying. Maybe he CBA to monitor the weather and risk them getting wet. Maybe he's just idle. Try actually talking to him if you feel this strongly about it. He doesn't just exist to solve your dire financial situation whilst you also get everything 100% your way without compromise.

Maybe he has v bad hayfever and doesn't want allergens on his clothes from outside drying. Maybe he CBA to monitor the weather and risk them getting wet. Maybe he's just idle. Try actually talking to him if you feel this strongly about it. He doesn't just exist to solve your dire financial situation whilst you also get everything 100% your way without compromise.

I'd be a bit concerned about it in a small space. I'd give him a gentle reminder that he has a rack outside. Maybe it's a privacy thing and he doesn't feel comfortable having his washing outside where others can see it?

I don’t know why everyone is being so cranky to you OP.

But I’m beginning to understand why some housing is overgrown with fungus and damp if hanging wet clothes in an enclosed space is seen as no big deal🤦‍♀️

I dry all my laundry inside, all times of year. And I have a garden too!

I can't be arsed with the double job of hanging it out, then collecting it in and taking it to be put away. So I simply dry it in the bedroom. Not the one I'm sleeping in, to be fair, because I'm lucky enough to have two spare, but both have laundry drying in at various times. My boyfriend dries his in his bedroom because he has a lodger and he doesn't want to clutter up the communal spaces.

I do always keep the windows open and the bathroom window is also always open, and the one in my bedroom.
I've never had mould. I have recently bought a dehumidifier, but mainly to dry the laundry more quickly. Oh, and I double spin everything to remove more moisture.

I would be more annoyed by them putting the washer on late. That seems like a rule that doesn't need stating. But I guess it depends what you mean by late, and why they're doing it then - maybe it's the only time they can?

Personally I wouldn’t mind about washing late, unless it’s disturbing anyone. Electricity is cheaper at off peak times and some suppliers offer incentives for using at odd times.

if the drying inside is a problem for you then you need to be clear about that and explain why it’s a problem or it will cause resentment.

Old houses tend to have a lot of airflow. Mould is more common in newer buildings that are well insulated/not well ventilated. A lot of housing stock in the UK is old and so mould isn’t an issue when drying washing indoors.

The simple fact is that you want your home, your way.

And thats ok. It really is. I want the same, so do we all.

But you also are (your words) in dire financial straits, so need a lodger. Having a lodger means compromises that you clearly do not want to make.

So pick one.

Pick your home your way and struggle with paying the mortgage. Or pick less financial pressure but sharing your home with someone who doesnt do things your way.

You can't have both. You just can't.

Pick one.

The simple fact is she stated ONE rule in her home was not to dry clothing in the bedroom and he is not abiding by that. It is her home and he is only a lodger so while she needs the money he needs the space and should give her the small bit of respect she has asked for.

I know! It's very enlightening

These replies are hilarious and really show the problem with the modern world. There can be no restrictions or rules whatsoever, anyone can and should just do whatever they want all the time!

And no, I don't have to pick between no lodger or someone having complete liberty in my house to do whatever they want. They are a lodger, not a tenant, completely different rules and laws. Get a grip

Some of these replies are utterly mental. I say I'd specified before move in one rule was drying washing outside on a sunny day.

The replies-

"You are not suited to being a landlady!"
"They pay you so can hang their washing where they like, how dare you think otherwise!"
"You probably have countless rules and probably time what they do lest they ruin your perfect home!"

No actually, you are allowed some rules in your own home! It's not a tenancy or a free for all that once money is exchanged you must put up and shut up or not have lodgers.

Certainly explains a lot about modern Britain. No standards.

We have f fairly recently ventured into the world of having a lodger. Fortunately he fairly quickly became like party of the family and if I find his washing in the machine I hang it out on the line and he does the same, or brings washing in and leaves ours in a pile. It is great. My DH will send him a message on our group WhatsApp saying Invoice for laundry services £200 and we have a joke about it but it works fine.

I'd be telling him again to put out his laundry outside and not leave it in the drum, because that's the rule and also if his washing is left in the machine you can't use it.

A heated rail is a great idea for wet days as long as he can be trusted not to leave it on all day and night.

Does a heated rail actually prevent mould? I don’t see how it would as the water is still evaporating into the air?

Did you actually explain that there was only one house rule, and that house rule was that washing must be removed from the drum within a certain amount of time of the cycle finishing, and only dried outside unless the weather conditions mean that’s not possible. And in that case it can only be dried in the bathroom with the extractor on?

Or, did you maybe just say that there’s a dryer outside that can use when weather is good (like it was an attractive feature) but can also dry inside.

If the latter, then he’s probably drying it in his room to limit his imposition on the rest of the house.

Have a chat, explain you’ve had damp issues in previous places so it’s a really sensitive topic for you. Your first choice is always outside, but if not then please do use the bathroom and leave the extractor fan running. See if your washing machine has a delay timer, and give that option to help with getting out the drum quicker - but be realistic about what you’re placing restrictions on and whether speed of emptying the machine is one to get into.

Did you specify at as a rule though?

Your answers are actually a bit vague. Did you say "you can dry clothes outside"?

Or did you say "you must dry clothes outside"?

Or did you say "the rule is that you dry clothes outside"?

Or "you must NEVER dry clothes in your room, that's my only rule"?

I'm guessing he thinks it's an option to dry outside, rather than a rule. He probably thinks it's easier to have his clothes nearby and that he is doing you a favour not cluttering up communal areas.

Loving the bit of a laugh in this thread......

I cannot think of a worse thing than sleeping in my bedroom with a horse full of wet clothes.

😅

There won't be any condensation running down the windows at this time of year, especially during a heatwave, because the glass won't be anywhere near cold enough for that to happen.

We’re about to have a lodger so have switched washing machine to washer dryer in the hope they use that when needed.

I’ve learned from previous lodger that people go about laundry in different ways and it was the washing machine that became an issue with previous lodger. He washed the blankets from his dog walking business and the machine become full of hair and flooded the kitchen.

Leaving washing in the machine for a bit is quite normal I think and I think it would be unreasonable to say something about that.

I just thought it was basic common sense once you are 30+ that when you put a load on you don't leave the wet clothes in the drum for hours. Maybe I just look after appliances, clothes etc more than most people. A hangover from previous poverty I guess.