5 day tenant: I think my room was used this weekend

bs2014

I'm renting a room in a house with a family. Its Monday to Friday and I pay extra to stay up this weekend. This weekend I decided to stay up but then to discover the parents are away and the children turning it into party central, I decided staying would not be good idea. Anyhow, I came back tonight to discover stuff moved around the room, a coat I had left on my bed was moved, so clearly someone either slept in or on my bed. Either way someone/people were in the room when I was not there. I have no contract or that but obviously I don't go floating around the other peoples bedroom when I'm there. I took a video of the room yesterday before I left and can see things been moved. Should I just approach the owner and say I realise people have slept in my bed when I wasn't there and I don't really like it. She will turn around and likely say they can do what they want with the room when I'm not paying for the weekend but obviously all my stuff and bed stuff were on the bed. I just think its very cheeky and want to nip it in the bud. Thanks in advance.

Aka Ishur

bs2014 wrote: »

I'm renting a room in a house with a family. Its Monday to Friday and I pay extra to stay up this weekend. This weekend I decided to stay up but then to discover the parents are away and the children turning it into party central, I decided staying would not be good idea. Anyhow, I came back tonight to discover stuff moved around the room, a coat I had left on my bed was moved, so clearly someone either slept in or on my bed. Either way someone/people were in the room when I was not there. I have no contract or that but obviously I don't go floating around the other peoples bedroom when I'm there. I took a video of the room yesterday before I left and can see things been moved. Should I just approach the owner and say I realise people have slept in my bed when I wasn't there and I don't really like it. She will turn around and likely say they can do what they want with the room when I'm not paying for the weekend but obviously all my stuff and bed stuff were on the bed. I just think its very cheeky and want to nip it in the bud. Thanks in advance.

Do you not have a key to your room? Had you paid for the weekend in question?

athtrasna

If you only rent Monday to Friday then you should clear the room on a friday unless you have an alternative agreement

bs2014

Aka Ishur wrote: »

Do you not have a key to your room? Had you paid for the weekend in question?

No key on the door, I was told I wouldn't need it. Thats perhaps cuz the owner can go in every friday to turn off the radiator and then back in on a sunday to turn it back on! No I didn't pay for the night in question.

bs2014

athtrasna wrote: »

If you only rent Monday to Friday then you should clear the room on a friday unless you have an alternative agreement

My arrangement is that I leave my stuff in the room. I only take washing and whatever bits I need myself for the weekend.

ted1

bs2014 wrote: »

No key on the door, I was told I wouldn't need it. Thats perhaps cuz the owner can go in every friday to turn off the radiator and then back in on a sunday to turn it back on! No I didn't pay for the night in question.

Well if you aren't paying for the room on a full time basis then in all honesty explain how you think you have exclusive rights to it?

bs2014

ted1 wrote: »

Well if you aren't paying for the room on a full time basis then in all honesty explain how you think you have exclusive rights to it?

I don't have exclusive rights, but I don't expect people going in and moving my belongings and sleeping in or on my bed with bed linen when I'm not there. Regardless of the money side. <mod snip>

athtrasna

Mod note

OP we ask that posters remain civil and post constructively. Thanks

mojoeback

I think it's fair to ask the parents if your room is being used by others while you are not there at weekends.

If they say, no one can use it, then I think it;s fair to bring up subject of persons being in in your room last weekend.


it seems to me that they will charge you extra for weekends if you stay but not let it out to others if you don't. that needs to be clarified.

davindub

Unfortunately it is correct to say that although you rent Monday - Friday, the room is available for use by the LL at the weekends.

Obviously your stuff shouldn't be messed with but the extent of the duty of care amounts to not damaging your property rather than not moving/ using the room. Common sense would mean that bedsheets are changed etc. But they do have the legal right to use the room unless you have specifically contracted to do otherwise.

That being said, you can obviously talk to the LL about it, the least you would expect that bed linen is changed if the room is used, also you might request a lock for the wardrobe etc. But you should leave the room clear for use by others.

jimd2

What you need to do is inform the landlord that you want a 7 day arrangement. This would remove any ambiguity. You can then get a key without accusing aNyone of A repeat of the above.

bs2014

jimd2 wrote: »

What you need to do is inform the landlord that you want a 7 day arrangement. This would remove any ambiguity. You can then get a key without accusing aNyone of A repeat of the above.

I'm paying 500e a month Monday to Friday so I'm not willing to pay another 200e a month for that privilege.

jimmycrackcorm

bs2014 wrote:

I'm paying 500e a month Monday to Friday so I'm not willing to pay another 200e a month for that privilege.

If that's the case then can you see what is illogical about what you are saying?

TimeToShine

They are absolutely not allowed to let someone sleep using your duvet, pillow and linens. If they want to let the room at the weekend they need to provide these things. I would be repulsed if a stranger was sleeping in my bed two nights a week without changing into their own sheets.

athtrasna

TimeToShine wrote: »

They are absolutely not allowed to let someone sleep using your duvet, pillow and linens.

Not allowed by who? It's not a legislative thing, the OP is a Monday to Friday licensee.

It's not pleasant but the OP isn't paying for exclusive 7 day occupation.

TimeToShine

athtrasna wrote: »

Not allowed by who? It's not a legislative thing, the OP is a Monday to Friday licensee.

It's not pleasant but the OP isn't paying for exclusive 7 day occupation.

But he is paying to be treated with a modicum of dignity and respect. Basically wearing and dirtying his clothes while he's away isn't acceptable in my view.

Graham

OP could take his belongings with him on the days he's not prepared to pay for the room.

athtrasna

TimeToShine wrote: »

But he is paying to be treated with a modicum of dignity and respect. Basically wearing and dirtying his clothes while he's away isn't acceptable in my view.

You said not allowed, now you're saying it's your opinion. Big difference.

Bishopsback

bs2014 wrote: »

No key on the door, I was told I wouldn't need it. Thats perhaps cuz the owner can go in every friday to turn off the radiator and then back in on a sunday to turn it back on! No I didn't pay for the night in question.

That's not what you said in your op.
In your op you said you paid extra to stay up this weekend.
Which is it?

LionelNashe

Sounds like the youngsters let their friends shag in your room. The parents probably wouldn't be too happy to hear it.

CollyFlower

Next time you go away strip your bed of all bedding and lock them away in the wardrobe.

jimmycrackcorm

TimeToShine wrote:

They are absolutely not allowed to let someone sleep using your duvet, pillow and linens. If they want to let the room at the weekend they need to provide these things. I would be repulsed if a stranger was sleeping in my bed two nights a week without changing into their own sheets.

I foresee a supreme court case with a.multi-million payout for the op.

Or more likely, a do not resuss directive for this thread.

ted1

bs2014 wrote: »

I don't have exclusive rights, but I don't expect people going in and moving my belongings and sleeping in or on my bed with bed linen when I'm not there. Regardless of the money side. <mod snip>

If you are not paying for it , then it's not your bed

ted1

bs2014 wrote: »

I'm paying 500e a month Monday to Friday so I'm not willing to pay another 200e a month for that privilege.

Hence at the weekend the landlord can do what he wants with his room.

MarkR

There is a previous precedence, the case of the three bears vs goldilocks.

Seriously though, 5 day or not, I wouldn't be happy sharing sheets with a stranger. Bring it up with the LL, and see what they say.

BabySlam

OP, you could say to the owners " I understood the room was exclusively mine and the rent reduction of 200 was because I am not actually using it at weekends". Say "I did not understand that you would allow other people to use the room at weekends". See what they say- that may have been the owners understanding also.

cogotazo

As far as I understood, it only happened once last weekend, when the parents were away, and there was kind of a party. So was this an isolated case, or a common practice?

allibastor

As others have said, ask the Landlord.

If you are only paying for Monday to Friday then you are out of luck, as with all things akin to AirBNB they should at least let you know if they use the room at the weekend, and make sure all things are cleaned and changed before you get back.

pilly

I think you're out of luck OP. Unless you pay for the weekend then the room can be used. Personally I would take the bed linen off the bed each time you go home.

Dial Hard

Was your bed definitely slept in or was your coat just moved? It's entirely possible your room was just used as the "coat room" during the party and your coat got moved with people looking for theirs at the end of the night.

goz83

I would be taking the bed linen with me to be washed anyway. Who leaves bed linen on the bed for more than a week?

My understanding of such an arrangement is that while the room is not being used each weekend by the OP, the reduction of rent is due to the fact that he is not there, using heat and other facilities. In my mind, it would not be the case that the room can be used by anyone else and access is only granted to the LL to turn on/off the radiator (which is very cheap imo).

Needs to be cleared with the LL, isolated incident or not.

_Brian

This sounds like a horrible arrangement but you would have nonsay what happens in the room over the weekend or any nights you don't pay for it.
It's your bed 5 nights a week and theirs to do what they please with for the other two.

Would you not start paying for it full time and then you would have control over what happens in it and could expect to lock it when your not there.

emeldc

athtrasna wrote: »

If you only rent Monday to Friday then you should clear the room on a friday unless you have an alternative agreement

My son rents a room Mon - Fri. He lives in that room. All his stuff is in that room. There is no question of anyone ever entering his room at the weekend. Explain how it would be practical to load up all his stuff every weekend and drive 100 miles home and then do the reverse on Sunday night. Would you accept if you were renting a room Monday - Friday that it was ok for someone else to be shagging their brains out on Saturday night in 'your' bed with or without your bed linen just because you don't have exclusive rights. It was always my understanding that the Mon-Fri thing was to afford the owners a weekend without the lodger, not so that they could re let the room.

OP if you can't get any satisfaction with the LL, start looking for another room. What you have experienced is not the norm. TBH the thought that some scrote was sleeping in my bed would make my skin crawl. I'm not sure I'd want to hang around for too much longer.

Ms Doubtfire1

I'd be pretty black and white in this: you're renting 5 days a week, so exclusivity and no access to the room by your LL on the other 2 days are non existent.You'd have to rent full time if you want that.

JuliusCaesar

There's no doubt about this, the owners want a Mon-Fri arrangement to have the house to themselves at weekends.

You really need to talk with them.

They'll probably be horrified that the kids partied and maybe had a friend stay over in your room.

Talk to the landlord.

If it was me, I'd be putting a lock on the door - doesn't have to be obtrusive - http://www.ie.screwfix.com/smith-locke-cadenza-lob-lock-door-handles-pair-polished-chrome.html is cheap and doesn't look wrong in a private house - and apologising profusely to you, and giving the kids hell. Mon-Fri lodgers aren't that easy to come by!

goz83

goz83 wrote: »

I would be taking the bed linen with me to be washed anyway. Who leaves bed linen on the bed for more than a week?

The vast majority of people I would imagine, changing sheets every week under normal circumstances would be total overkill however in this instance and annoying as it is I think removing them is the best course of action.

Even if the op just puts them away and puts them back on the bed again rather than having to bring them home and wash them at least he knows someone else isn't sleeping on them.

emeldc wrote: »

My son rents a room Mon - Fri. He lives in that room. All his stuff is in that room. There is no question of anyone ever entering his room at the weekend. Explain how it would be practical to load up all his stuff every weekend and drive 100 miles home and then do the reverse on Sunday night. Would you accept if you were renting a room Monday - Friday that it was ok for someone else to be shagging their brains out on Saturday night in 'your' bed with or without your bed linen just because you don't have exclusive rights. It was always my understanding that the Mon-Fri thing was to afford the owners a weekend without the lodger, not so that they could re let the room.

OP if you can't get any satisfaction with the LL, start looking for another room. What you have experienced is not the norm. TBH the thought that some scrote was sleeping in my bed would make my skin crawl. I'm not sure I'd want to hang around for too much longer.

It's not uncommon at all for B&Bs to have weekday guests every week who have to pack up on Friday so the rooms can be booked over the weekend by weekend visitors. Especially B&Bs near grind schools I've seen have this setup.

Realiatically this needed to be cleared at the start. In a lot of these cases the reason for a 5 day let is for the owners to have the place to themselves but there are people who may want the use of the room, for instance their own son or daughter might be home at weekends and need the room etc.

emeldc

Harlow Scrawny Dwarf wrote: »

It's not uncommon at all for B&Bs to have weekday guests every week who have to pack up on Friday aonthe rooms can be booked over the weekend by weekend visitors. Especially B&Bs near grind schools I've seen have this setup.

Where does the OP say it's a B&B. No point in trying to come up with reasons why the Op should ship out at the weekend. If he/she was not told to move everything out at the weekend then the owners should afford him the respect he deserves by keeping his room private. What if the OP is female. Would it be OK for some perv to rummage through her knicker drawer. Gross.

emeldc

emeldc wrote: »

Where does the OP say it's a B&B. No point in trying to come up with reasons why the Op should ship out at the weekend. If he/she was not told to move everything out at the weekend then the owners should afford him the respect he deserves by keeping his room private. What if the OP is female. Would it be OK for some perv to rummage through her knicker drawer. Gross.

It was more directed at the poster saying it would be unheard of for people to pack up their stuff every weekend and bring it home and the same on Sunday evening/Monday morning.

If you are in a scenario where it's a 5 day let and the room might be used you just bring enough clothes etc for the week and bring them home again rather than having a big heap of stuff. I'm sure a locakable press could be arranged for a few items you don't want bringing home like a radio etc.

BetsyEllen

If you're only paying for Monday-Friday then you have no say in what happens in the room on a Saturday and Sunday.

My suggestion would be to put a lock on a wardrobe in the room (with the owners permission).
Then when you're leaving on a Friday, roll up your duvet and put it in the wardrobe along with your pillows and bed sheet. Plus anything of value.

That way if anyone is sleeping in the room on the days you're not paying for it, they won't have the choice of using your sheets.

bs2014

Thanks for the suggestion. Its not a B&B. The parents were aware of the party so I'm assuming they also were aware of people making use of my room. I wonder did any of the party goers crash on the parents bed....I suspect not.

bs2014

bs2014 wrote: »

Thanks for the suggestion. Its not a B&B. The parents were aware of the party so I'm assuming they also were aware of people making use of my room. I wonder did any of the party goers crash on the parents bed....I suspect not.

I wouldn't be so sure, when I'd have had house parties when the parents were away all rooms would get used including my parents. Usually I would sleep in it myself and let someone else have my room but it would still be used.

harr

I had the same kind of set up when I was in college...4 nights a week in a family home..I know the family I stayed with would use my room on occasion if they had guests over during the weekend..nothing I could do about it..
What I used to was drop my bedding into laundrette on Friday mornings before I headed home and pick it up Mondays..I got myself a small lockable chest which I left my stuff in over weekend...my bed and room were always clean and left the way I left it on a Friday..
Have a word with landlord and ask if the room was used and if it will used at weekends on a regular basis...up to you then to secure your stuff over weekends once you are clear on who uses the room..
It's sounds like they might only use it on occasion or when needed..

.......

This post has been deleted.

Graham

Surely it would take all of approximately 3 minutes to have an adult conversation with the homeowners.

You're obviously of the opinion that the room is exclusively yours 7 days a week while paying for 5.
The homeowners appear to be of the opinion that the room is theirs to use on the days you're not paying for it.

You can either tell them your expectations and see if they agree.
Accept the room is only yours on the days you pay for it.
Pay for the exclusive use of the room 7 days a week.
Seek alternative accommodation elsewhere.

emeldc

Graham wrote: »

Surely it would take all of approximately 3 minutes to have an adult conversation with the homeowners.

You're obviously of the opinion that the room is exclusively yours 7 days a week while paying for 5.
The homeowners appear to be of the opinion that the room is theirs to use on the days you're not paying for it.

You can either tell them your expectations and see if they agree.
Accept the room is only yours on the days you pay for it.
Pay for the exclusive use of the room 7 days a week.
Seek alternative accommodation elsewhere.

I can only speak from personal experience in looking for student accommodation for my own kids but 7 day rentals in someone else's house was never actually an option because quite frankly the owners didn't want you there at the weekends. But I don't know if that's the OP's case.

Graham

emeldc wrote: »

But I don't know if that's the OP's case.

Nail on the head. Nobody here does.

The OP is a paying guest in someones house, they're the only ones that can answer.

ted1

emeldc wrote: »

Where does the OP say it's a B&B. No point in trying to come up with reasons why the Op should ship out at the weekend.

He only pays for 5 days and doesn't want to pay the extra 200 for the 7 days. No point in making up a reason as a valid one already exists

ted1

bs2014 wrote: »

Thanks for the suggestion. Its not a B&B. The parents were aware of the party so I'm assuming they also were aware of people making use of my room. I wonder did any of the party goers crash on the parents bed....I suspect not.

It's not your room at the weekend!!

emeldc

emeldc wrote:

Where does the OP say it's a B&B. No point in trying to come up with reasons why the Op should ship out at the weekend. If he/she was not told to move everything out at the weekend then the owners should afford him the respect he deserves by keeping his room private. What if the OP is female. Would it be OK for some perv to rummage through her knicker drawer. Gross.

He doesn't pay for weekends. I can't see why anyone would expect exclusive access for something they aren't paying for!

As for your "what if the op was female" ridiculousness, that's just silly.

Samuel T. Cogley

Just my 2 cents.

Although I clearly want my lodger to freeze :pac: I've just done a 5 day deal and reduced the rent accordingly. I personally wouldn't dream of going in their room on the off days, the reduction is for not having to share the communal space/walking around in the nud, when they're not they're. However have to stress that's just ME. There are no regulations to these agreements.

Frankly though it sounds like the parents went away, a party was had, and I expect the parents will be as pissed off as you are. Have a chat, but don't force the issue it's like it or lump it in these Rent a room efforts I'm afraid.

emeldc

Deleted User wrote: »

He doesn't pay for weekends. I can't see why anyone would expect exclusive access for something they aren't paying for!

As for your "what if the op was female" ridiculousness, that's just silly.

According to post #5, the arrangement is that the OP can leave their stuff in the room over the weekend. Who, in their right mind would agree to something like that if the assumption was that the room could be let to someone else. Seriously?
This most likely was just a one off because the parents were away but if it wasn't I'd be looking for somewhere else.