Room to let in East Ave; short lets are fine!

My home is a warm, charming, cosy and colourful, Victorian 4-bedroom, 2-bathroom terraced property, at OX4 1XR. I’m up in the loft with my own bathroom; any lodgers (currently just an Indonesian doctor, 26, who has been here for over seven months) are on the first floor.

A Japanese student (the last lodger to leave) originally moved in for just two months but stayed on for over two years before flying home. Another Japanese lodger told me that she actually cried at the airport when she first left my house to fly back to Tokyo during Covid. She has even returned for two more stays!

An Indian once moved in just two days after our very first video chat, as we got on well and felt able to trust each other - and she stayed a year. I’m still in touch with all three of these females. Like them, lots of other foreign students have also loved it here! This also shows how informal it is.

Although not everyone wants a live-in landlord (and I certainly wouldn’t have in my youth!) you get the benefits of living in a lovely home. There is good quality bedding (duvets, pillows, sheets etc), plus towels and furniture (and also desks, chairs and lamps) provided in each room along with all mugs, plates, pans and cooking utensils in the kitchen too.

There is a lot to read but, on the plus side, I don’t use a written contract or require guarantors or references, so (if I feel I can trust you) the right person (female only preferred this time) could move in very quickly. I just need to see your passport (if you’re British) or your Right to Rent code (if not). I did have only male lodgers for 12 years in the past…

Five minutes spent on reading my entire ad now will also reveal the informality and flexibility of being a lodger (i. e. sharing with a live-in landlord).

A tenant may have to sign a six- or twelve-month contract, and might even have to pay for the remaining term (or at least find a replacement tenant) if they need to leave early.

Just a month’s notice applies here on either side as a lodger if we don’t get on, but you can’t give me notice until you have been here a full month (unless we agree on a shorter term at the start, and at a much higher rent - e. g. £850 or £1050 for just a month). If you don’t love it here you’re certainly not obliged to stay any longer than two months.

As I don’t use a contract, we need to have a good chat when you come to view the room, a bit like an interview where we can learn a bit about each other and whether we’ll get on. Please don’t come expecting just a 10-minute viewing. If you don’t have a profile up, then please don’t simply ask to view, but tell me about yourself, where you will be based, what you do, and when and for how long you want the room (and which one).

I also need to check you know how to cook without burning my pans or melting my microwave (this has happened!), won’t cook on plates in the oven, or go out leaving the front door open - or candles lit! I’d rather avoid stir-fry wok users, due to all the grease. People who only eat out or only use the microwave are fine (I might even make a slight reduction in rent!) but if you bake cakes that’s fine!

I can probably only take in one more lodger besides the Indonesian, so would prefer to rent out the double room for the higher income, but I will consider renting either or both.

In my experience (built up over 25+ years) foreign students are often happy to share with an older male - and they also appreciate the fact that they only need to bring clothes and no bedding, plus I’m happy to help with their English grammar.

It’s in my interest to ensure you’re happy and comfortable here. After 10 years of working VERY long hours and living away from home with different law firms in Birmingham, the last one as a director - with all the stress which that entailed - I now prefer not to work at all, nor to “sign on”, but to live off the rent. My pensions won’t start until I’m 65/67, so I do need the rental income!

I like amusing, intelligent conversation and enjoy introducing foreign students to British culture - especially our museums, pubs, music, art, films, TV and literature.

We have had the occasional house meal or meals out and I often invite my lodgers to join me in the pub on Fridays; some like to improve their English and meet new people there. It’s not compulsory but, if you dislike pubs or never drink alcohol, perhaps don’t apply!

There is fast wi-fi, a good TV, and a cleaner for the bathrooms and common areas. I pay for the TV licence, fast wifi at £65pm and Sky+ at about £100pm and council tax at about £200pm in addition to all the usual utility bills, which are also already included in the rent.

I could charge more (especially after my water, gas and electricity bills shot up) but a good atmosphere and nice, friendly company is far more important to me than the money. I'm happy to wait for the right person, someone who will fit in well, will chat and be happy to say hello or goodbye when arriving home or heading out - and might come out for the occasional meal or drink.

There are books, paintings, CDs and DVDs everywhere. The modern art (on all three floors) was all painted about 20-25 years ago by a Peruvian lodger and artist; I was his Best Man when he later got married! We are also still in touch - over 20 years after he lived here.

The Indonesian doctor and I would now prefer only a female next, partly as you will be sharing the downstairs bathroom with her. As a live-in landlord I believe that I’m permitted to express a preference in my own home and hopefully SpareRoom will confirm this…

No matter how well we get on in any initial meeting or video chat, the first month’s rent and deposit (for example £650 or £850 for each) both need to be paid before the room is “yours”.

The "worst-case" scenario here is that if you agree to take the room at £850 rent + £850 deposit, and pay the £1700 in advance (for example), but then change your mind just before moving in, perhaps to live with friends instead, the deposit of £850 would (of course) be refunded as you can’t damage the room without moving in, but not the first month’s rent - as that is the notice period you must give to “leave”.

Someone I trusted and who firmly gave me his “word” to pay both rent and deposit (in cash) on the day he landed in the UK, cancelled while on the Airline bus coming here. I was actually waiting at the bus stop to meet him at 8pm one winter’s night, so I’m very, very firm on this now. The room is only “yours” if you have paid.

Short-term arrangements are fine, but at a higher rental rate - to cover extra cleaning, or the risk of missing out on an equally nice but much longer-term lodger.

I am willing to have a lodger with a cat (but NOT a dog, rats, snakes, rabbits or hamsters - I’m very sorry).

As I'm a live-in landlord, you will be a lodger and NOT a tenant (Google "tenant v lodger" or view the Citizens’ Advice website and please at least read the SpareRoom article on this website). You should also read the DailyInfo articles such as the Newbie’s Guide to Renting - which is particular to Oxford.

My house is NOT an HMO which means that things are very informal. Your deposit also doesn’t need to go into a govt deposit scheme; if you are a tenant it certainly should, so check! I still expect a full deposit for someone staying only a month or so. You should also arrange your own contents insurance, (try Endsleigh) especially if you have a bike.

I don’t allow fans, heaters, clothes driers or similar electrical items in bedrooms due to the condensation and mould caused - and bedroom doors should be left open if you’re out to let air circulate and avoid past problems recurring. This is why trust on both sides is essential.

My apologies for the length of this, but it seemed sensible to address all possible queries.

Some people have STILL asked if I would have couples here - or a dog… No! Feel free to ask me about anything else, such as partner visits, but not these two points. My ad (and this paragraph in particular) is clear enough!


I want a lodger who has read the entire ad and understands that I’d like to share my home with someone nice, intelligent, sociable, tidy and considerate. If that’s you, get in touch!