Advice on getting a lodger

[LittleAndOften]

My husband and I are considering getting a lodger for financial reasons. We have a 4 bed, 3 storey new build with a large master suite on the top floor that is mostly unused apart from the (very) occasional guest. We prefer to sleep on the middle floor as we have 1 dc age 3 and a baby due soon.

If anyone has experience of lodgers I'd really appreciate any insight or advice into how to find the right person and how to manage the ins and outs of sharing the house with them. Our communal areas on the ground floor (kitchen, lounge) are not massive.

I think you may find that only limited numbers of people want to be a lodger in a household with a small child and a baby.

There is an app/website that matches lodgers and landlords. Don't know what it's called but you register and write a bit about yourself. A bit like a dating site.

You could put a tv and a basic kitchenette in the large room on the top floor. (If it's big enough).

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And a microwave, portable fridge and kettle. Is the ensuite sink big enough to wash a couple of bits up in?

The lodger / landlord site is spareroom.com. When I was lodging it was because I was saving up to live on my own so I'd have been very happy to just have a floor to myself & avoid communal areas. The kitchenette sounds like a great idea if you could manage it?

I'd have considered somewhere with small kids if it was clear that I wouldn't see much of them beyond the occasional friendly hello. My main concern would be about noise though - the prospect of being kept awake etc by a screaming baby would definitely worry me.

All valid points! I appreciate with a baby it wouldn't appeal to certain people, but when DS was born and DH worked shifts he'd sleep up there and wasn't disturbed so it could be a nice option for the right person. It's a lovely space. Will explore the kitchenette idea. There's certainly the space I'm just not sure about the practicalities/expense.

You might be able to charge a bit more if it's all self-contained, though, & it could make things far easier. The main thing that comes up on lodger threads is clashes over use of communal areas, usually because the owner & the lodger didn't make it clear from the start what they were both looking for.

If you spell that out - whether you're after an unsociable lodger like me or one who wants to be part of the family, that will be a huge help.

@EmpressLesbianInChair I think an unsociable lodger would work well! I've been having a look on spare room and emailed our local university accommodation dept. We'll see what happens!

Also foreign students

@katewhinesalot there's a homestay scheme locally for foreign students but it's only for a few weeks at a time. A foreign student who's staying longer term and needs a family setting would be great.

Try hr at your local university, a post grad student or post doc could be perfect, they will be dealing with people arriving for the new term and some will be calling asking about accommodation

I know people who've had chinese students studying at private schools. The over 16's are easier as there are less regulations. You do have to provide meals though.

Hi OP,

I live in a town house with a female lodger on the ground floor- space consists of a bedroom, shower and utility room which we converted into a kitchenette for the lodger to use solely.
She comes from the back garden entrance so we aren't sharing any common areas on a daily basis as such.

I have a baby too but because we sleep on the second floor, noise levels are contained mostly.

Sites like Spare Room and Open Rent are very handy.

Make sure you get a decent contract (many templates available online, which can be tweaked according to your needs). You can decide on how many months would you want it renewed- ours is every 6 months.
Do check what your mortgage and home insurance conditions are- will be good to notify them both.

Good luck!

Also, you should decide what sort of a tenant would suit your lifestyle. You have different options on Spare Room for your lodger type.

We wanted a professional female (my husband stays out of town for work some nights so it was a safer option for us).

Once you decide on someone, do the usual background checks- passport/driving license, bank statements, employer references etc.

Make sure you are clear on things like visitors, usage of washing machine, who would be responsible for cleaning the suite...

We had lodgers before kids, not sure I’d want a stranger in the house with really young kids. We had a Pakistani guy through the local uni and he’d been brought up by his mum and handed to his wife, had no idea how to do things like use a washing machine or cook so lots burnt, was really hard work. Later got a lecturer who did Mon-Thirs and was wonderful. Also had a young girl who pretty much moved her boyfriend in, that’s something you need clear expectations from the start on. It can work but be choosy, take £20 less a week for a person who is a better fit!