Renting a room in your house

If you’re a homeowner and live alone, the idea of taking in a lodger can seem daunting, but there are so many benefits, while the risks and commitment are low.

We’ve listed some of the benefits of renting a room in your house to help you decide whether having a lodger is for you:

Financial Benefits

Having a lodger could save you hundreds of pounds, especially with the rising rate of mortgages. In a survey where we asked nearly 4,000 SpareRoom users about their experience renting their room, 38% said that having a lodger helped to repay their mortgage, and over half (80%) said that it helped to pay their bills. Having a little extra money can also help you to save money for holidays, and other financial strains such as student loans or retirement.

Company

One of the main reasons people decide to get a lodger is because living alone can get lonely at times. 38% agreed that having a lodger helped them prevent loneliness and 47% said they would class their lodger as a friend. So whether you want a lodger to binge your favourite shows and share a bottle of wine, or just seek comfort in knowing someone will be home when you get in - having a lodger could be just what you need.

Practicality

Even if you’re not looking for your next BFF, having a lodger can be a practical solution to living alone. In fact, 29% said that was their main reason for having a lodger. If you’re going away for extended periods - or even just the weekend - a lodger could be your dehydrated houseplant saviour and could save your neighbour a trip to feed your cat. Not to mention that when you are around, there’s someone to halve the house chores with!

Low commitment and risk

Unlike 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.

Your house, your rules

Having a lodger means allowing someone to live in your home, so remember that you have full control of who you choose to live with. This means having a clear idea of the kind of lodger you want and in a capacity that best suits your life.

If you’re considering taking in a roommate, here are some useful pages to read beforehand:

Here’s what our users said…

"I’m a single mum of three children with four lodgers who I found through SpareRoom. Having lodgers has been critical for my mental health and loneliness post divorce. I have three cats and one of my lodgers has a dog, so it’s never a boring household! But we work really well together and it’s become our little sitcom family. Whilst I took on lodgers as a financial need, I enjoy having people around and it’s been a lifeline for me and the kids."

"This is my first lodger and so far everything is great. He is quiet, helpful, clean and tidy and pays his rent on time. He works full time so it doesn't really affect my lifestyle, and the rent has enabled me to retire."

"I have not had a lodger through SpareRoom that hasn't been good. You do need to know what you want and hunt it out but it's an easy site, well laid out with some good information you can pull before you go any further. In fact, a couple of them have messaged me since leaving to see if the space was empty and they could come back! I actually enjoy the whole process of looking for a lodger now!"