I am about to rent out a room in our family home. We have 2 small kids and need the extra cash. Any advice? How can I check references? Should I get a deposit? How do I know the lodger is OK? Any help would be appreciated.
2006-10-08 08:32:16 · 6 answers · asked by Stephanie C 3 in Family & Relationships ➔ Other - Family & Relationships
Call his/her references... Really if you have small kids you shoouls ideally know a bit about them. Maybe spend a few hours talking to them about what they do and likes etc.
Yes get a deposit you will kick yourself if something happens.. also insurance maybe.. the truth is you dont know t hey are ok unless you check references than the rest is up to instinct.
2006-10-08 08:35:50 · answer #1 · answered by Baby Dee 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
- Write or phone the referees
- You should ask for a 1 month's rent up front, plus a month in advance for the rent
- You should have a tenancy agreement in the form of a licence which can be terminated at very short notice by either party.
- Come to an agreement about use of telephone, cooking facilities and times, allot them their own cupboard and space in fridge and freezer.
- If they are allowed to use any of your things e.g. iron, ironing board etc. come to an agreement about this before they move in and leave things in a communal area e.g. kitchen.
- Buy a safe to lock your money and valuables in.
- Don't leave your personal correspondence laying around.
Apart from that you cannot know if a lodger is ok. You can't do a police check on them. I would be wary about letting a stranger live in your home, especially with 2 small kids. Just remember, they are your lodger and not your friend, do not ask them to babysit or anything like that.
2006-10-08 08:38:09 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
With a professional letting agency you have to give them your employers number to check salary and that they are who they say they are, a previous landlord number for obvious reasons and a number for a personal referee.
With small kids around you have to agree the ground rules well in advance as well as the usual bills agreement thing I think. Even when i lodged with friends I agreed to not smoke in front of their daughter, not to have sexual partners to stay, and to not swear in front of their daughter. All sensible things that I was happy to agree to. The daughter (who was 4 at the time) and myslef also agreed that we could only go into each other's bedrooms if we had permission - which worked really well for us - it meant I could leave things laying around in my room but she felt she stil had a bit of 'power' in her own home.
I think you also need to prepare your kids that they might really come to like your lodger but that they won't necessarily keep in contact when they move away.
2006-10-08 11:48:28 · answer #3 · answered by Leapling 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
yes...go for 2 months rent in advance...you need 3 references from previous landlords, also proof of income and work details, and another refrence from a family member....you don't know what the person is going to be like who will live with you, find out all details before you take anyone in your home, make sure you have all their credentials before you take that step...plus you have kids...just be extra careful about who you decide to live in your home
2006-10-08 09:07:22 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Forget about people licking windows. You must get references.
2006-10-08 08:34:20 · answer #5 · answered by hotfeat 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
why not go through a letting agency then its thier job to check references and credit checks,and if something should go wrong you have yourself covered
2006-10-08 08:47:11 · answer #6 · answered by candyfloss 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋