Renting a room

[Scary_Fish]

Ok get all the jokes out of your systems....

Right - has anyone ever rented a room out? Need a spot of advice pls.

2 bathrooms - one ensuite with shower and one downstairs with pedestal bath - worth renting the master room with ensuite to get more ££ or not make that much difference if they have own bathroom even if downstairs?

What sort of ££ for all in - nice area - near station - plenty of room etc etc - what more need to consider?

Cheers

[8valve-craig]

Think you'd need to fill in a tax return if you rented out a room......

Or declare it on the one you already fill out?

[Scary_Fish]

Hmm that's not something I had thought of....

thanks

[BlackBox]

No tax to pay on the "rent-a-room" scheme .... I do it

[Scary_Fish]

No tax to pay on the "rent-a-room" scheme .... I do it

Ah cool thanks - any pearls of wisdom - dos and don'ts? How did you decide ££?

[Nemesis]

My only advice is, give an all inclusive rent figure, ie bills included. This way you don't have to chase them for bills, or risk them bailing and being behind on bills. When doing this just make sure they don't take the piss - ie no electric heaters in the winter etc...

Get a nice deposit up front, and be clear about housework responsibilities, what time they can make noise till at night etc... as some people are just wholly incompatible to live with.

[BlackBox]

I find it best not to ask for too much, or they expect too much, it also keeps the room full which is better than mths of being empty. If you charge too much then peeps will only use it as a stop gap while they look around .... it would be empty more than full.

[BlackBox]

Only take on working peeps, furnish the room, inc all bills in rent, don't take a deposit as that brings in whole heaps of legal issues ..... the less you give/ask for the less rights they have and that is what you want in case you get a bad one.

[Scary_Fish]

My only advice is, give an all inclusive rent figure, ie bills included. This way you don't have to chase them for bills, or risk them bailing and being behind on bills. When doing this just make sure they don't take the piss - ie no electric heaters in the winter etc...

Get a nice deposit up front, and be clear about housework responsibilities, what time they can make noise till at night etc... as some people are just wholly incompatible to live with.

Cheers matey - yup was thinking one figure - all in. Deposit - one months rent?

Was thinking of drawing up doc to sign with cleaning - noisiness etc so if they do anything crappy can boot them oot lmao

I find it best not to ask for too much, or they expect too much, it also keeps the room full which is better than mths of being empty. If you charge too much then peeps will only use it as a stop gap while they look around .... it would be empty more than full.

Good point. Don't want to keep having to house train someone lol.

I have house cats - will this have a big effect on ££ do people think? Plenty of room - they tend to stay in the conservatory etc.

And what about the bathroom situation - best to move into spare room and rent the main room with ensuite?

Good grief I don't want to have to do this

[Scary_Fish]

Only take on working peeps, furnish the room, inc all bills in rent, don't take a deposit as that brings in whole heaps of legal issues ..... the less you give/ask for the less rights they have and that is what you want in case you get a bad one.

Ok cool - so I fully furnish the room - deposit - hmm I take it this gives them more rights?

Appreciate responses

[BlackBox]

You have to give the deposit to a holding agency, they then get involved and it gets complicated

[Nemesis]

Was thinking of drawing up doc to sign with cleaning - noisiness etc so if they do anything crappy can boot them oot lmao

It's a bit of a legal minefield to be honest. Unless you're legally trained, the chances are the "contract" would be null and void for some reason, or you might even be breaking the law by making it. Any formal tenancy agreement gives you a whole load of headaches like health and safety, correct paperwork and the deposit issue Blackbox mentions.

If I were you I'd informally rent to a friend, family member or colleague if possible.

[Scary_Fish]

You have to give the deposit to a holding agency, they then get involved and it gets complicated

Gotcha thanks.

It's a bit of a legal minefield to be honest. Unless you're legally trained, the chances are the "contract" would be null and void for some reason, or you might even be breaking the law by making it. Any formal tenancy agreement gives you a whole load of headaches like health and safety, correct paperwork and the deposit issue Blackbox mentions.

If I were you I'd informally rent to a friend, family member or colleague if possible.

Hmm ok good point. I guess would need to just make clear from outset no roller discos/jelly wrestling/lions etc - should be ok.

Just need to sort some decorating/furniture moved about and then will put word out.

Any opinions on the bathroom question? And what do we reckon is fair ish price - or is that too difficult to blind guess?

[BlackBox]

Informal is best ...... no contract, you can't be held to anything

In your OWN home the lodger (NOT TENANT) has no rights unless you give them to some, you can quite legally just throw them out with little notice.

If you are not a tax payer you don't have to inform anyone you have a lodger, if you are a tax payer you do but no tax to pay ... look up the governments "rent-a-room" scheme it's all on there in black and white.

[Scary_Fish]

Informal is best ...... no contract, you can't be held to anything

In your OWN home the lodger (NOT TENANT) has no rights unless you give them to some, you can quite legally just throw them out with little notice.

If you are not a tax payer you don't have to inform anyone you have a lodger, if you are a tax payer you do but no tax to pay ... look up the governments "rent-a-room" scheme it's all on there in black and white.

Cheers matey

[Tathan]

You don't need a contract for a lodger, but if you do just get an "INSERT NAME HERE" one off internet. They're not a tenant so you don't have all the bull**** with deposits and holding agents and all the legal problems, you can just chuck them out.

[Tathan]

That was a current answer when I read it, but I was doing other stuff and the tab had been open for 10 min. That's my excuse for copying the post above anyway.

[Nemesis]

I don't know what to advise with prices. Have a look for comparable rooms to let and price accordingly?

[Kev_G]

where in cheshire and ill hunt around for prices to compare with (bored it work)

[Scary_Fish]

where in cheshire and ill hunt around for prices to compare with (bored it work)

Cheers dude - Congleton - nice bit very near station - 2 bed good sized terrace with 2 bathrooms - conservatory - dishwasher - washer dryer - big kitchen - garden - anything else?

[Kev_G]

Congleton is nice and good to commute to Crewe etc plus i love the road from H - Chapel to Talke lmao

[Kev_G]

Houses to rent in Congleton, Cheshire

[Scary_Fish]

Congleton is nice and good to commute to Crewe etc plus i love the road from H - Chapel to Talke lmao

Good to commute loads of places so should be pretty easy room to fill one would hope.

Used to work in Newcastle-u-Lyme so that road was daily run

Cheers dude help appreciated

[Scary_Fish]

Houses to rent in Congleton, Cheshire

Cheers matey - but just renting room - I will still be there

Need price bills/board

[BlackBox]

Bear in mind renting a house has lots of legal complications and bills on top .... lodging doesn't .... can't compare the two .... You'll get as much for a lodger as a whole house rents for .. but you pay their bills from that,

Heating, you already do that, now you can have it on more, electricity bill will hardly go up as the standing charge is prob the most of it anyway .... blah, blah, blah .....