Renting a room in your house
Taking in a lodger can seem daunting, but there are so many benefits, while the risks and commitment are low. The law is on your side as a resident landlord.
Why get a lodger?
- £100s of extra income each month (how much could I charge)
- Earn £7500 per year tax free per year with the rent a room scheme.
- A new friend to go to the pub/share a bottle of wine with (see benefits of sharing)
- Someone to look after your house/cat/stick insect while you're away
95% find taking a lodger a positive experience
We polled 100s of SpareRoom users about their experience. Even with the tiny minority who had a negative experience, almost half said they'd try it again.
60% would describe their lodger as a friend
The truth is the vast majority of potential lodgers you'll meet through SpareRoom are decent, ordinary people. Well, that's doing them a disservice - interesting and extraordinary too! But you get the point, they're generally the kind of people you might meet through your friends and work colleagues - people just like you.
Low commitment and risk
Unlike with a regular tenancy, the law is on your side because you are considered the more vulnerable party in this set up. Although we encourage you to draw up a formal lodger agreement, by law you are only obliged to give “reasonable notice”, and there is no minimum term should things go wrong (see evicting a lodger). However, be aware that if you give the lodger a lock on their door they may become classed as a tenant (see the difference between lodgers and tenants).
Earn £7500 per year tax free
Thanks to our 6 year campaign, you don't have to pay tax on the rental income with the government's Rent a Room Scheme tax relief.
How much rent should i charge for a room?
Post an advert now
You're under no obligation to take anyone
Why not post an ad for your room today and start chatting to a few potential lodgers - find out for yourself what kind of people are looking for rooms and whether you could consider living with someone else. You don't have to take anyone if you don't find anyone suitable immediately or are still unsure.
If you decide it's not for you, simply remove your ad. All we ask is that you respond to all enquiries you receive (there's a simple auto-responder option to make it easier to say no).
Still not sure?
Taking in a lodger is a big decision so it's always important to take your time and make sure you've done your research. If you're still mulling it over then why not download our free guide to taking in a lodger to read while you weigh up your options.