Specialist House Share, Rooms To Rent & H.M.O. Consultancy

Nationwide rooms to rent (house share) agency to help take the pressure out of finding a room to rent or a lodger. H.M.O. licensing consultancy and hands on management for professional house shares and H.M.O. property.

Renting a room to lodgers!

Renting rooms can often be a decision made for financial reasons, or to keep you company, fill an otherwise empty house or even just to change your lifestyle, whatever your reason for Renting rooms, there are lots of things to think about before you start - including where to get a lodger!

Financial benefits of having a lodger

The HMRC allow you to earn up to £4250 per year (just over £350 per month) tax free renting rooms through the rent a room scheme. Depending on who you speak to in the HMRC you may be advised you inform them you are taking advantage of the scheme via telephone and that is all you do. Clients have mentioned that they were asked to do a full disclosure, but this is not so common. Check yourself by calling

First of all - what does a lodger expect from you when renting rooms?

A bed, some hanging space, draws and a room that is private are the basic ingredients for a lodger's room - however many landlords have raised the bar and are offering much better value for money.

Depending on your lifestyle, and how 'open' you home is to people using the communal areas like the lounge, study, kitchen etc - is the key to setting your lodger room up. If you prefer them to keep themselves to themselves, you should at the very least supply a free view box and a half decent TV. A desk/ dressing table would be good so they can tap away in private on their laptop too!

Try the room yourself. Have a lie down on the bed. Is it comfortable? If it isn't you may have a high churn of tenants and never know why they are leaving. Do the curtains shut properly? Is there a draught? Does the wardrobe open and shut properly and is there somewhere for your lodger to sit to do work or make up?

Wireless internet is a lodgers delight! You can keep a secure network and give them the key, or leave it open - it's up to you.

A lodger would normally expect to be able to use most of the normal facilities in the house, like kitchen, bathroom, utility. You would normally let them use your plates and pans etc, and supply a shelf or a cupboard for them to keep their food and bits. A fridge shelf and freezer draw is handy too.

Living with Lodgers

When renting rooms you should respect your lodgers privacy. Unless you have agreed in advance to go in their room to clean it etc, you should stay out of it, just as you would expect them to stay out of yours.

You should try to set up a standing order for the rent, this way you have a regular day to expect payments, and this will reduce any awkward moments if the rent is late.

The best way to clearly set your house rules is to write them out and agree them. Then there can be no question later in. You can keep these pinned inside a kitchen cupboard if you like.

Setting up house rules

In order to reduce any confusion or territorial issues, you should be clear about your house rules before you start. e.g.

•  Can your lodger watch TV in the lounge at any time? Or is this a private area for your family?

•  Do you like people to wash up immediately after they have used dishes, or do you prefer to do all the dishes?

•  Do you have allergies where there are things the tenant cannot bring into your home (ie biological washing liquid, smoke, cats, spray products)

•  Are overnight guest acceptable, if so when and how often?

•  What (if any) chores do you expect your lodger to participate in.

House rules may sound a bit daunting to you, but for a lodger, it means they won't feel like they are imposing on you in any way or crossing any lines if they do things. It can be quite awkward moving into someone home, as really most landlords are different and have different expectations.