Find a Roomie with a Free Rental Advertisement

1. Don’t rush into anything without giving it a bit of thought however, otherwise you could end up with even bigger problems than you’ve got now!
2. Are you willing to allow them to bring a pet such as cat or dog?  These are all things that should be mentioned when you are writing out your free rental advertisement and so you must consider them before starting to write it.

What about the room itself?  How big is it?  Are you offering just a bedroom (with perhaps a chair and desk)?  How will they eat?  Will you give them use of your kitchen or will you provide them with a microwave to cook their own food?  Will they only be allowed use of the bathroom (unless you have a room with an en suite bathroom in which case you can insist they  only keep to their own area if you wish) or will they be allowed to sit in the living room to watch TV for example?

How much rent will you charge your new roomie for use of your spare room?  This is something that is a must mention for your free rental advertisement so that people don’t ring you up just to ask the price!  What’s included for this price?  Will you provide an evening meal for example?  Who will be responsible for the bed linen laundry and general room cleaning and is this included in the room rent price?  How much do you need as a damage deposit?  Work out exactly what they’ll need to pay upon moving in, what they’ll pay monthly/weekly after that, what they’ll get back when they leave, and what they get for their money.  This is the important bit for many people seeking a home through a free rental advertisement.

Another thing you need to do before placing a free rental advertisement is to check out the legalities of renting out your spare room.  If you already rent the property, there may be something in your lease agreement that prevents you from sub-letting a room.  If you own the home, you need to check that you don’t have a similar clause in any outstanding mortgage agreements that are relevant to the house.  Are there any local laws that prohibit sub-letting for one reason or another?

While making enquiries about the legality surrounding whether or not you can actually rent a room to someone else, you should also pick up any information about the legalities of having a tenant in your home.  For example, who is liable if they say any of their stuff is missing?  Who is responsible for repairs in the rental room?  What happens if they leave owing you money?  Do a little research to make sure that you are protected by law BEFORE you place that free rental advertisement.

Finding a roomie to help with the running costs of your home can be a great financial help, and with a free rental advertisement it needn’t cost you a penny, but do your homework before placing the ad.  That way you’ll be sure that you’re not breaking the law, are protected against any possible fraud, and get the kind of person you want to share your home with.