Thread: Part-time lodgers?

Hello all.

Has anyone ever heard of people having a part-time lodger? I'm starting work for Kent University in December, but am doing my fieldwork in Manchester, and so will be living there.
I cant afford two places, but I would love to have somewhere a bit more permanent in Kent, rather than just a hotel.
Anyone got any ideas?
Obviously there is house-share, but I wonder if anyone ever has a part-time lodger, for a bit of extra money but not a full time arrangement?

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I've done this in the past,in two ways :
Either having someone who only stays Monday to Thursday and goes home for weekends, or alternatively students ( in my case from the local art school) in term-time.

The advantages are that you have a bit of extra income, but still get your own space at weekends, or for good long periods during the holidays.
The disadvantages are :
Monday to Thursday often ends up becoming Sunday evening ( so they're back to start the week) to Saturday morning ( coz they're too tired to go home on Friday night).
A spare room you're not being paid for but still can't use when they're not there, as it is full of their stuff.

I think you're after being the lodger, not the landlady, but I would suggest you clarify the following things before you start, just to make everything clear and above-board , and avoid any problems:
In terms of the 'temporary' home :
Say how many nights a week you plan to stay, but check whether it's OK to stay the odd extra night.
Work out 'payment per night', even if that's only £10 or so, so that if you do end up staying extra nights ( and always check in advance) you pay extra, so there's no cause for resentment.

In terms of both:
Find out what sort of access your landlord will expect of 'your' room when you're not there. This protects your privacy ( so they're not poking around in your things) and helps you know where you stand.
Make sure everything is 'bills included', otherwise it's a nightmare! And try to negotiate things like 'bills and basics included'. I know it sounds trivial, but it makes life so much easier. When you're sharing a flat you end up with some sort of system for buying loo-roll, teabags and clingfilm, but with two bases it can get complicated - and expensive!

Think about where you're going to do your laundry. Again it sounds daft, but you'll have two sets of sheets to wash, and I used to get really pissed off with one of my ' Monday to Thursdays' who would put the bedding in the machine on Friday morning, leave them for me to hang out, and arrive back on Monday with a case full of dirty clothes ( including her boyfriends!) which all had to be washed and dried during the course of the week before she went back to see him the next weekend.

Termly lodgers were easier, but I did ask them either to empty their room or leave everything packed away in laundry bags or boxes at the end of each term : otherwise you have 3 months over the summer with no rent, a friend who wants to stay, and you have to spend half-a-day cleaning and tidying someone elses' mess ( and dirty clothes, mouldy coffee cups, over-flowing bins etc).

If you're after somewhere in termtime, try contacting local schools : you might well find teachers who would be grateful of a bit of extra cash but value their holidays.

The really important thing is communication : tell everyone what your plans are, so your Kent landlord doesn't get freaked when you open the door at 3am, or you surprise your Manchester one having sex with a banana on the stairs when you come back a day early!

Vx

Thanks hun! I have to know, the banana... is that something you have walked in on :-) ?

Originally Posted by Glorian Gray

Thanks hun! I have to know, the banana... is that something you have walked in on :-) ?

Think I'ld better PM you on this one!

Vx