We have 2 spare rooms...

never_mind

Hi all

me and my OH have 2 spare rooms in our apartment in North County Dublin (Ashtown). We are considering buying a house together but want to bring in some tenants to help with the savings. I was a long term tenant (+12 years) so i feel like I've paid my dues to the entire thing... but here's the question. It's a big apartment, very warm, only done up recently (OH has flare for design) and parking. But we want our weekends to ourselves. A few quick ones:

1. What should we look at renting the room for for Mon - Friday
2. Do we include bills (I would say yes as it'd be too complicated to do pro rata)
3. Do you think we would get someone for this?

We want our weekends as my OH usually has the kids staying over so this wouldn't be an option to open it up Mon-Sun.. I hate when people do this but we don't know if there's any other option.

Anyone have any experience doing this? We are very set in our ways but easy going. I don't want to pull a fast one at the same time!

blindside88

I can’t see a problem with it once it’s very clear in the ad that it’s strictly Monday to Friday and no weekends under any circumstances. I’d say you’ll have a lot of takers from the likes of mature students

vectorvictor

never_mind wrote: »

Hi all

me and my OH have 2 spare rooms in our apartment in North County Dublin (Ashtown). We are considering buying a house together but want to bring in some tenants to help with the savings. I was a long term tenant (+12 years) so i feel like I've paid my dues to the entire thing... but here's the question. It's a big apartment, very warm, only done up recently (OH has flare for design) and parking. But we want our weekends to ourselves. A few quick ones:

1. What should we look at renting the room for for Mon - Friday
2. Do we include bills (I would say yes as it'd be too complicated to do pro rata)
3. Do you think we would get someone for this?

We want our weekends as my OH usually has the kids staying over so this wouldn't be an option to open it up Mon-Sun.. I hate when people do this but we don't know if there's any other option.

Anyone have any experience doing this? We are very set in our ways but easy going. I don't want to pull a fast one at the same time!

Your market here is people from down the country working or studying in Dublin during the week. A Sun night to Fri morning let will be a lot more attractive to potential tenants who head home for the weekend on a Friday. They would want to be staying in Dublin on a Sunday to be able to get to work/college.

But be prepared for the odd occasion they don't want to get home and if you allow it even once you may find yourself with a problem.

Daft average rents minus 15-20% would be a good guide.

If you are not used to sharing be careful about renting two rooms out in one go it will be a dramatic lifestyle change with a lot of new personalities and quirks to learn to put up with

wirelessdude01

Really will have to be a Sunday evening to Friday morning scenario. Include utilities in the advertised rent. Be very clear that weekends are and always will be out of the question and that the room will need to be left empty.

never_mind

Great advice, all! And yes, I had suggested one person as well but the OH wants us to save as quickly as possible. We will have a look and see but even if we got in two at 450 per person would be a huge help.

vectorvictor

never_mind wrote: »

Great advice, all! And yes, I had suggested one person as well but the OH wants us to save as quickly as possible. We will have a look and see but even if we got in two at 450 per person would be a huge help.

That rent sounds fair and would keep you under the tax exemption limit (about 14k I think).

Just really consider the cost of the earnings i.e. Significant loss of privacy, 3 sets of people cooking meals, watching TV, juggling showers, laundry etc.. Tenants rarely come home and just go to their room so choice of people is very important as you will be spending a lot of time around them

Samuel T. Cogley

Get one to start with and see how you go. Getting two in, especially as first time hosts, is just asking for trouble IMO. You only need give it a month or two to find your feet.

never_mind

never_mind wrote: »

Hi all

me and my OH have 2 spare rooms in our apartment in North County Dublin (Ashtown). .........

We want our weekends as my OH usually has the kids staying over...........

Do the kids stay in the rooms? If so potential tenants need to remove all personal items and bedding etc every Fri and move in again the following week?

And you reckon your landlord will be ok with this arrangment?

Is there parking for the new folk too?

never_mind

Augeo wrote: »

Do the kids stay in the rooms? If so potential tenants need to remove all personal items and bedding etc every Fri and move in again the following week?

And you reckon your landlord will be ok with this arrangment?

Is there parking for the new folk too?

Kids stay in the guest rooms currently but will be on fold out beds in sitting room over weekend.

OH owns the apartment so no landlord.

Loads of parking in the complex for guests. I don't even have an assigned spot and find loads of spots.

smeal

If I were you personally I would advertise a 6 month lease at first with the possibility of extension to give yourselves an opportunity to test the waters. There are plenty of people out there who have no interest in staying in Dublin at weekends and head off back home on a Friday.

The €400-450 mark with utilities included seems fair enough if there is absolutely no guarantee of having a weekend here or there.

Also try not to be too strict on the house rules. After all, these people are paying you over €100 a week to "Live" in your house so you need to let them do just that and are doing you a favour in the long run. I seen a Mon-Fri ad recently where they were looking for a tenant to live in the family home and the tenant wasn't allowed to use the kitchen until after 8pm. They should be allowed to treat the common areas as their own and not like a prison! Although if you do want to discourage them from taking up the entire space maybe stick a telly in the bedroom especially if its a student?

uck51js9zml2yt

smeal wrote: »

If I were you personally I would advertise a 6 month lease at first with the possibility of extension to give yourselves an opportunity to test the waters. There are plenty of people out there who have no interest in staying in Dublin at weekends and head off back home on a Friday.

The €400-450 mark with utilities included seems fair enough if there is absolutely no guarantee of having a weekend here or there.

Also try not to be too strict on the house rules. After all, these people are paying you over €100 a week to "Live" in your house so you need to let them do just that and are doing you a favour in the long run. I seen a Mon-Fri ad recently where they were looking for a tenant to live in the family home and the tenant wasn't allowed to use the kitchen until after 8pm. They should be allowed to treat the common areas as their own and not like a prison! Although if you do want to discourage them from taking up the entire space maybe stick a telly in the bedroom especially if its a student?

It's not a lease and the occupiers are not tenants. They are licensees. Be careful how you phrase things.

never_mind

Think we might even do a three month lease and take it from there - some golden advice here!!!

Samuel T. Cogley

never_mind wrote: »

Think we might even do a three month lease and take it from there - some golden advice here!!!

Don't do any lease!

You're binding yourself by contract (IMO) where you don't need to. Just say it's week to week and either party can give a weeks days notice. Don't get stuck with some randomer who does something anti-social.

blindside88

You don’t need to do any lease. They are licensees when renting a room in your house. You can terminate the agreement at any stage

enricoh

Plenty of lads leave the west early Monday morning and head home Friday afternoon. Loads of lads on a site I was on in Dublin did it during the tiger. I'd aim for these, u have 3 nights to yourself. Plus you have no crap with sob stories some weekend.

Caranica

never_mind wrote: »

Think we might even do a three month lease and take it from there - some golden advice here!!!

Read above. Do not give a lease. These would be licensees not tenants. A lease will potentially give them rights they are not entitled to.

The Nutty M

I commute early Monday morning to Dublin and leave on Friday. I stay in a 6 bed house with a family of 3 generations. €120 for my 4 nights,all bills included,dinner cooked every night including steak on Thursday night. Im more than happy with it and so are my 2 other work colleagues who rent rooms off her. There is no contract/lease/agreement other than an understanding we can be hoofed out at any time and we can leave at any time.
There are lots of these types of arrangements going on in Dublin as stated by a few posters. A few lads were going to be put on shift work so had to leave her house as it didn't suit her.

Graham

Mod Note: Rotten12, do not post on this thread again.

Franz Von Peppercorn

Samuel T. Cogley wrote: »

Don't do any lease!

You're binding yourself by contract (IMO) where you don't need to. Just say it's week to week and either party can give a weeks days notice. Don't get stuck with some randomer who does something anti-social.

Yes. I was renting out to a worker from limerick (friend of a friend) and it was 2-3 nights on the week. He could work from home.

Basically every night was a cost and he didn’t pay if he wasn’t here, nor was I obligated to put him up. In summer I have extended family staying for a week. This was known beforehand. Great for him as he only paid for the nights he was there. No holidays etc

I did get a cleaner. The bedding was included. Utilities were included.

Franz Von Peppercorn

The Nutty M wrote: »

I commute early Monday morning to Dublin and leave on Friday. I stay in a 6 bed house with a family of 3 generations. €120 for my 4 nights,all bills included,dinner cooked every night including steak on Thursday night. Im more than happy with it and so are my 2 other work colleagues who rent rooms off her. There is no contract/lease/agreement other than an understanding we can be hoofed out at any time and we can leave at any time.
There are lots of these types of arrangements going on in Dublin as stated by a few posters. A few lads were going to be put on shift work so had to leave her house as it didn't suit her.

That’s fairly cheap considering the meal as well!

dory

You could get some ideas from these people for house rules.... note one of the last few lines "We are looking for self caring (taking shower at least daily)".


http://www.daft.ie/cork/house-share/passage-west/the-drive-harbour-heights-rochestown-road-passage-west-cork-992376/