Comments on: Day 18 – How should you behave towards your lodger?

By: Tessa

Tessa — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 20:59:33 +0000

@doug I don’t think there is a legal definition, but a bold is a bit different from a lock with key, as it only stops you going in when the lodger is there, and does not stop you entering when he is out.

By: Tessa

Tessa — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 20:57:44 +0000

@Jason It is more than a bit rude to make a set of keys and give them to someone else without your consent.

I don’t know the people concerned so it is difficult to advise particularly as I have not seen your lodger agreement.

However one course of action would be to say that you are minded to give her notice to leave unless she can explain to your satisfaction what she has done with the extra keys, and satisfy you that you are not at risk of strangers entering your house while you are out.

By: Doug

Doug — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 20:29:13 +0000

Just of curiousity, does a bolt inside the lodger’s room door count as a lock?

By: Jason

Jason — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 15:36:39 +0000

Hi Tessa,

My lodger has made a duplicate set of keys for the flat which we share without telling me. I believe she may have done this for her friend who stays with her on occasion/or if she loses her originals.
Please could you advise on the best way of confronting her with this, as not only is this a potential security issue, this I feel could affect the relationship with my landlord and tenancy. Thanks

By: Tessa

Tessa — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 09:02:45 +0000

A lodger situation is contractual and your rights depend on what your agreement is with the landlord. The problem about not having a written agreement is that this is difficult to prove.

By: Arron Conner

Arron Conner — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 20:31:13 +0000

Tessa, Ive been a lodger with two tennants for nearly 3 years now. At first everything was fine but in january they said the bills had increased by £40 pcm. When i first moved in my understanding was that all bills were to be split equally, apart from food which was seperate. Now they’ve announced another increase of £10. I’ve since found out that the bills are no longer divide equally and that I have to pay more. I refused last months rent, but would have paid if they showed me the bills were divide equally. Now they’ve given me two days notice to move out. My intention was to leave at the end of next month anyway, ironically because of them being the untidy one’s rather than me the lodger, should I refuse until then? And will I have to pay them the rent i owe?
P.S.
To date I have never signed a lodger agreement.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

By: Tessa

Tessa — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 21:33:05 +0000

Have a look at the other pages on this blog which discuss eviction issues. If you need more help you can always use our paid for advice service: http://www.lodgerlandlord.co.uk/advice/

By: Lucy

Lucy — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 13:39:14 +0000

Ive also just bought a 2 bed 2 bath flat so that I can take on a lodger. However she is becoming a pain, initially she sais she worked full tinme shifts which fits in with my life, however, she never seems to go to work, the first months rent was a week late, she parks disrespectfully, her cat has fleas and ive been bitten, her bedroom stinks, not just an odour it really makes you physically gag and you can now smell it in the whole flat, the bedroom is piled with boxes and is unsightly. Where do i stand with asking her to leave bearing in mind her contract is until 1st Dec and it says i should give 28 days notice? Its a license to occupy not a tenancy.

By: Tessa

Tessa — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 10:35:19 +0000

Hi Joe. You sound like you have been really unlucky. Have a look at Day 19 which talks about the notice you need to give and then if she still won't go, see Day 20 about eviciton. If you decide to take in another lodger to replace her, have a look at some of the earlier tips here on finding a lodger - they may help!

By: Joe Prynn

Joe Prynn — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 10:26:41 +0000

I recently bought a 2 bedroom flat, i specifically wanted 2 bedrooms as i didn’t fancy the idea of living by myself plus if i rented a room out this would more or less pay my mortgage off. But none of the lodgers i’ve had have worked out they have all been really awkward to live with to varying degrees.
The latest one who seemed really nice when i showed her round has turned into a complete nightmare. On the first day she moved in i gave her a key and i left her to it while i went to work, when i returned the whole flat stunk of weed and when i checked the phone bill on line for that week she had completely rinsed my phone. I did go ballistic at that point, so she never touched the phone again i also said i wasn’t happy about her smoking weed in the flat but that hasn’t changed. On top of that she said before she moved in that she would be on housing benefit INITIALLY which I thought would be okay as long as it wasn’t permanent but she doesn’t even seem to be looking for a job and just lies in bed all day, smoking weed with the central heating on. Everytime i speak to her about it she gives me this annoying teenage response and just shrugs it off and she’s 23! After 6 six weeks of waiting for the housing benefit the council now tell me they are not willing to give me the rent only 244 a month rather than 350, at the point i’d had enough and told that she’d have to leave but i would at least give her one month’s notice but she doesn’t even seem to be looking for another place to live, if it gets to one month and her stuff is still in the room i’m going to pile it up and chuck it out.
What advice can you give me and where do I stand legally?