Finding a lodger/roommate - what questions to ask

I've been looking at this as well, maybe worth using a referencing agency? Can get a basic check done for ~£15.

Or at least things like find where they (say they) work and check to make they do actually work there (with their permission obviously).

To be honest, with a lodger, you're going to be living with the person, so as well as making sure they're going to pay the rent on time and not trash the place, it's important to make sure you get on with them a bit and don't completely hate their guts! :p

A set of house rules (that you both stick to) agreed up front is probably also a good idea, gives you both an idea of what is expected.

As a live-in landlord, you do however have the benefit that there's no legally defined notice period - it just has to be "reasonable". So whilst under normal circumstances 2-4 weeks would probably been seen as reasonable, if you come home to find that they've trashed the place, you'd be perfectly OK to kick them out within a day or 2.
 
Phate said:
Thanks all. For those that have advertised, which site did you use?
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Oh yeah, meant to say I've used Gumtree exclusively and never had a problem and lots of replies.

The real trick is the timing of your add. Get it out on the 1st of the month before the month you want them to move in.

Post the ad with 2 months to go until they can move in and no one will reply as the market usually revolves around people that are giving, or being given, 1 months notice.
 
Phate said:
Thats a valid point. I specified they must like cats and are willing to give him attention when he demands it. So that's gotta count for something?
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Is that a serious question? It's your cat if it wants attention it's not really your roommates problem.
 
ask them to describe their daily typical day.. working and non working...
that will tell you everything you should need to know..
 
I'd be asking if they had children who were likely going to want to stay over etc. My mate had a lodger who only after moving in shoved a sofa bed in his room so his son could stay over. It was only one a month at a weekend but it was never agreed to prior to him moving in.

The lad wasnt' any bother, it just made things a bit odd suddenly having to be quiet at 8pm on a saturday.
 
Don't have a Female lodger as you will be dealing with Boyfriends staying over & they bring home anything.

I'd ask.
Where do you work & for how long ?
Where did you live before & for how long & any references ?
What are your weekend habits ?
Has your Missus got any single mates who are easy but not clingy ?
 
I remember reading a similar thread like this last year, one guy rented out a room to a Polish couple. One day he was woken up went into the kitchen and found them boiling cabbages at 6 in the morning.
 
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