Rent a room out

[CookieDoughKid]

I decided to rent my spare box room our at £495 a month. And a few months on , I've nearly paid of my credit card debt! I don't know why I didn't do it earlier. Plus my fab lodger is so nice and helpful round the house. He unloads the dishwasher voluntarily every morning! !!

So if you have the luxury (I know we don't all have ) a spare room then do it. If only for a little while as it has really made a HUGE difference to my mental wellbeing and debt.

Thanks. I've been thinking about this recently as our personal circumstances have changed & could do with the extra income - it sounds like a great idea but I'm not sure as we've 3 young DC & I don't know if I could handle a stranger in the house!!

Could you handle a Monday to Friday do you think? (Although that might restrict your Lodger options of course.)

Monday to Friday could work, especially as the DCs are at school all day long (& presumably the lodger would be at work) but I'm such a heavy sleeper & if something were to happen during the night time, I'd never forgive myself. Air BnB might be a good idea - I'll look at that.

You must legally get a gas certificate once a year, a registered plumber will do this for you. It's a criminal offence not to have one if you rent a room out or rent an entire house.

I hadn't thought about the gas certificate. (Disclaimer, I hadn't thought about renting out a room, either!) Anyway, I Googled, and thought these two sites were useful. I'm now itching to rent out our spare room, but DH is not keen at all.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/letting-rooms-in-your-home-a-guide-for-resident-landlords/letting-rooms-in-your-home-a-guide-for-resident-landlords
www.landlordzone.co.uk/content/lodgers-and-the-rent-a-room

We host foreign students in our spare room. Had some Great ones and if we don't gel they aren't here long! Got two at the moment £140 for 4 nights! Easy money.

I did the Mon-Fri rental when I had a job in London and commuted from Scotland. I'd arrive Monday night (went straight to office on Monday morning) and I'd travel home Thursday night. (so left house at 7am Thursday)

Very rarely saw my lovely landlady and landlord. I tended to leave early, work late or be attending functions so very little use of utilities. Model lodger I was!

Hey. I know this was a long time ago but how were things? Did you continue renting the room out?