What do lodgers really want?

[GrumpyGranny]

Hi All - am thinking about taking in a lodger sometime in the future (no, this is not a hidden advert) but first want to find out what lodgers really want most of all (apart from a reasonable rent). What makes a room comfortable for them? And sharing a fridge? How does that work?

[stacey-lyn]

Invest in a mini fridge for their room would be my suggestion.

[the-e-dealer]

.

[the-e-dealer]

Allocate a shelf - This is yours !

Privacy, Quiet. No extra bills. ALL INCLUSIVE and no Watch in the Bathroom!

[Cedges]

No! Epicly bad idea! No one wants to ferry milk and meat etc from their bedroom to a kitchen - plus mini fridges are pants and noisy! You have the top half, they have the bottom of the kitchen fridge...easy. If your fridge is so small thats going to be an issue and you can't accommodate a bigger one, you need to re-evaluate if you have room for a lodger.

A ldoger needs to either be welcome in the living areas or have sufficient room in the bedroom or a small additional room to 'live in' and be comforatble to bring a friend round for the evening to watch a film etc. (with consideration for the landlord and at a reasonable hour etc). With the exception of maybe a monday to friday business rental, the lodger is going to want to be comfortable 'living there', not just camping in someones spare room.

A lodger needs to be made to feel like the place they are living is their home albeit with a clear idea of what room are or are not open for their use.

Personally as a lodger I would like the basics to be provided - bed, wardrobe, bedside table, some storage - some drawers maybe and/or some knd of dressing table. Shelves and hooks are also an advantage. I would look for lodging that was not too restrictive on me being able to make the room my own (again taking into account general considerations and ensuring that when left the room was in the same state found).

As long as you are clear in your advert re what you expect of a lodger and honest when meeting them, you should find the right person for your flat. Good luck!

[GrumpyGranny]

Wonderful advice. Many thanks.

[womanofdulwich]

If you shop yourself, I think Lodgers like it if the tea, loo rolls,coffee,milk,butter, bread etc are included in the rent. Seperate shelves etc are hard to work. Good luck.

[the-e-dealer]

Try

[Mick Mac]

Jeez. This thread reminds me of when I was completely skint and life was a bedsit.

[Andyng]

a grumpy granny

[Pugwash]

My friend has been a lodger with an elderly lady for many years. She has a bedroom and a kitchen and shares loo and bathroom with landlady. Until last year she had no central heating, outdated electrics which meant she could not have a fan heater or electric fire or a cooker, and an unuseable bathroom. It was not until the landlady went into hospital and needed carers when she came out that the hospital OT did an access visit and asked social services to step in and also to obtain a Housing Improvement Grant to update all the facilities. 2 years later, my friend has a warm bedroom, but only a hard chair and no arm chair to sit on, she has no oven but cooks on a hot plate. The rent is cheap as facilities are basic, she purchases her own food and cooks herself. Over the years she has been less of a lodger and more of an unpaid carer as her landlady has dementia.

[giggirl]

If you aren't sure it's for you then why not try a business lodger who would rent from, say, Sunday night to Friday morning, giving you the weekends to yourself.

I think that above all a lodger needs to feel welcome and not just a source of extra revenue.

[araucaria]

Like this... http://www.mondaytofriday.com/

[Burbage]

Mick Mac Wrote:

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> Jeez. This thread reminds me of when I was

> completely skint and life was a bedsit.

When I was a lodger I dreamt of bedsits. Although HMOs weren't a complete escape from psychological games and passive-aggressive notes, and you could rely most surely on the meter being rigged, it was a step up the social ladder, and I can still remember the sense of pride I had in having a telephone to myself, a whole Baby Belling to watch and no curfew on the wireless.

Lodging is probably better now, as telephones aren't the battlegrounds they used to be. But I imagine it can still get diplomatical if you've the nerve to own a bicycle or want to wash your clothes. I never had any visitors, so that wasn't an issue, but I'd imagine entertaining could be awkward business and, along with the unspoken expectation that you'd do away with yourself in the run-up to any festivities, lodgings are probably best suited to those who enjoy the great outdoors.

As a rule of thumb, however, lodgers want from a home more or less what a human wants from a home. Shelter, privacy, safety, comfort and a degree of freedom and dignity are the basic requirements. They won't, naturally, expect the full set of human rights, and those relating to family life are usually forbidden, but the basic principles are suprisingly similar.

[UncleBen]

A very very accommodating landlady ;-)

[KidKruger]

The term lodger, though perhaps unintended, is loaded. It implies a strong emphasis of 'you are here staying in MY house' as opposed to 'hey let's have a houseshare in my house'. The former (for me) smarts of the lodger sneaking back up to his room every evening to eat his dinner on his lap while watching DVDs on his laptop, the latter more of sharing the space and being able to put up some of his/her ornaments/pictures, supporting the sharing spirit.

If you're not minded to share your space as per when you're housesharing, then you may find it hard to find someone willing to live on the fringes of your domestic life, playing 2nd fiddle on all the decisions in the household etc.

I've let rooms before when I first got my house but it was always a straight househare, we shared lounge kitchen etc. and agreed on shifting some of my clutter for common areas to make room for their clutter. There were spare bed rooms that they had no business going in (because they were not for rent) but otherwise it was all up for grabs/negotiation.

[fl0wer]

Dear Grumpy Granny, I understand your question, and I would ask you in turn, what do you want? I think getting this clear in your mind is crucial.

The above comments show how many variations on a theme there can be.

In our older age we can even join an agency for people on limited budgets who'll exchange an agreed number of hours work [usually 10] per week in lieu of rent. The negotiated work generally includes help with shopping, a bit of hoovering and gardening maybe. This way you can help someone finance their way through university and also help yourself by living in slightly more safety than if you were totally alone.

When I think about this I know that sitting down together & sharing a meal & our news would be healthy once in a while, maybe meeting one another's friends, maybe going for a walk or an outing to something arts-related & stopping at the caf?, etc. In other words I would welcome a bit of companionship.

On the other hand I would not like to share my living space too closely - own bathroom and I think it is civilised to give someone their own front door. Maybe this could be done by adding steps as a fire escape or converting a French window/balcony, which could need planning permission but be worth it. Suggest you put neutral coloured d?cor, see that windows and heating and storage spaces are of modern standard & well maintained. Good soundproofing between floors & spotless appliances in the kitchen. Whether you share a large kitchen or design two smaller ones will depend on your building. Privacy is obviously easier if there are two. Whether people are vegetarian, smoke, keep pets, and so forth it can only be harmonious if lifestyles aren't too different.

[Cassius]

It can be a good idea for the lodger to have their own telephone socket (even if they use their mobile) for internet etc. Make sure that rules and regulations (although boring) are upfront - ie having overnight guests etc. If people don't know what the boundaries are then they are not to blame if they transgress them.

I agree with the comment about weekday lodgers - then you have the weekend to yourself if that's what you want. My weekday lodger was amenable to me using their room for guests at the weekend as long as I changed sheets, gave prior notice etc.

I'm not sure if I agree with the comments about pets, smokers, vegetarians though. There is NO WAY that I could have had a smoker in my house, nor a dog (sorry dog-lovers), and if meat-eaters cooked meat then it had to be in their own pots and pans. We all have our own levels of tolerance and I know I've got far less tolerant as I've got older. Your house - your rules.

I have mixed memories of my lodgers - a couple I have stayed in contact with over the years - a couple I would cross the street in front of a lorry to avoid, and a couple I probably wouldn't even recognise if they sat opposite me on public transport.

[GrumpyGranny]

I want to thank everyone for taking the time to share their ideas and experiences. Lots of food for thought. Much aoppreciated x