My son phoned me today and asked me if I would consider renting out my spare room to an ex employee and current very good friend of his, who is splitting from his partner.
I know this person quite well and they really are lovely and no trouble and he works two jobs as well as doing a degree.
This person would sort all thier own food and are clean and tidy and would help me with odd jobs I can't do.
The thing is I want to hear experiences from others first as to how this impacts on your own life and if it really disrupts your privacy etc.
If you have done it in the past would you do it again? Do you rent out a room now? If so how do you find day to day living with another person in the house?
Please tell me everything you know as I said I would make a decision by tomorrow.

I have done it in the past, but hated it, as you end up feeling your home is not your own.

If you sort out the ground rules beforehand i think its a good idea.  How long does he want to stay for.

Do you want them in your front room at night watching TV or in their own space.  It sounds like they would be too busy to cause you an issue and I always find an extra meal on the plate/in the oven is here nor there as a inconveince.  As long as if your not cooking its not expected.  And it solves the issue of the room guest not being able to return.

If you sort out the ground rules beforehand i think its a good idea.  How long does he want to stay for.

Do you want them in your front room at night watching TV or in their own space.  It sounds like they would be too busy to cause you an issue and I always find an extra meal on the plate/in the oven is here nor there as a inconveince.  As long as if your not cooking its not expected.  And it solves the issue of the room guest not being able to return.

He is looking for about a year, but if it didn't work out it would be less.  A months notice on either side I think is fair.
He won't be here hardly at all and the room would be like a bedsit for him to do study, watch tele, sleep etc.  He will sort his own food and cooking and would have use of the kitchen, bathroom etc and can use the washing machine, cooker etc.
He is a lovely chap and I wouldn't mind him joining us in the living room sometimes if he wants some company.
I also know he is 100% trustworthy.
I just wonder how people have actually found the reality of someone in and out of your house, did it become a bind? Did you find you lost any privacy or was it nice having someone else in and out?

I have done it in the past, but hated it, as you end up feeling your home is not your own.

Thats what i'm worried about.  How long did you do it for if you don't mind me asking?

I have done it for the last 5 years and have had 4 people in that time.  the 1st one was in for about 5 months but he wasn't very security conscious (i.e. left patio doors wide open at night!!) so was asked to leave, the 2nd one had just split from his wife and he stayed 2 years and was great, the 3rd one was a doctor who had his family in another part of the country so only slept here and spent all his spare time with his family (left after 6 months as homesick) and the current one is a medical student.  the current one is the first female I have shared with and much prefer sharing with men.

TBH the money is a godsend, I don't really mind them being in my house as I have it set up so they have a single room as a bedroom and a double room as a 2nd living room so it is really just a shared kitchen and bathroom,  I have also now got a cleaner so I don't feel like I have to clean up after them.

I have a lodging agreement in place that my tenants sign and lodgers have very few rights, unlike if it was an assured short term tenancy.  If you want a look at it PM me your e-mail address and I will send it through.  I don't have many rules apart from no smoking, don't take the mick with having people over lots and tidy up after yourself.

Over the years I have had few people stay, some close friends in need some not so close friends in need.
Staying between 2 and 8 months.
I have always enjoyed having that extra person in the house but most peeps who have stayed have not spend that much time here so have not been in the way so to speak :). Sounds similar to what your "house guest" would be like, busy with his own life mainly needing a place to sleep :).

Speaking as one who once lodged - and felt very uncomfortable in someone else's home -I would say Do get the rules down..... in writing if necessary. It can be as hard for the lodger as it is for the landlord if you just try to find your feet without anything clearly defined. It is far too easy for a lodger to make mistakes unless it's all set out first, pref in writing in case someone forgets (either party!) and if the landlord makes a mistake and the lodger feels uncomfortable, then that's your relationship [and money] all gone down the pan.

The only thing I noticed losing was having to shut the bathroom door when i went for a pee lol and my bedroom door at night (but was doing for dogs also to stop them wandering).

Sounds like you know him so no issues of having to out of your dressing gown, saying that they would see less ina bekini unless is was a naughty nightie lol.  I managed to remain decent.

> The only thing I noticed losing was having to shut the bathroom door when i went for a pee lol and my bedroom door at night

That is the kind of thing I hated.  We are pretty casual in this house, never shut bathroom or bedroom doors, and don't get dressed until I need to leave the house, and often prefer no clothes at night.

Also having someone doing in your kitchen, where the dogs domain is I found really annoying. 

A lot depends on house layout, as my kitchen and living room are separated by a door and baby gate.

Horses for courses I suppose but I couldn't do it. I like my house to be my own. Do what I want when I want, curse when i find another mouldy coffee cup under my son's bed without worrying about anyone overhearing my expletives.
I hate it when we have workmen in to do jobs, just because they are there in the house, so I know I couldn't handle someone permanently there.

Thankyou for you input everyone.  I think I have made up my mind now and don't think I will have him here.
I feel a bit guilty as he will be desperate for somewhere and in his position I would have hoped someone would have helped me.
However I have lived on my own with my daughter and dogs for 15years now and I find it difficult having my daughters boyfriend over occasionally, having to remember to shut the door when i go to the loo and lock it for my shower etc etc.
Plus if I don't feel like doing the housework one day and there is dog hair everywhere I don't have to do it, but with him here I would have to become some sort of domestic goddess, which I certainly am not!
I'm just too stuck in my ways and although I could do with the money, I think I would rather continue to go without and keep my relaxed atmosphere here.

If he is desperate you could always offer a room but for little while only... Just to help him out a little.

Yep you sound just like me then, I would have to be desperate for the money to do it again.

I did it when I first got married first time around to help pay the mortgage (when the interest rates were over 15%), and then I did it here to help someone out short term (ended up 6 months).

My daughter has a lodger at the moment.  They have two bedrooms with ensuites and a main bathroom. They gave up their master bedroom and ensuite for the lodger - she has her own tv in there and the only issue has been when she wanted her boyfriend to stay.  This had to be limited otherwise you get two for the price of one. 
Seperate bathrooms does mean an element of privacy.  For her it also means that the two children share a small bedroom.  Their first lodger was a man seperated from his wife and he used to have his 3 children to visit - you wouldn't know they were in the house - he was so quiet - and a pleasant sort of guy who was polite but didn't keep you talking for ages.  He patched up things with his wife in the end.  My daughter took a couple in once who made so much noise :-o she had to ask them to leave after a couple of weeks.
My daughters main grouse at the moment seems to be that the lodger entices the cat in at night-time and then when it disturbs her early in the morning lets it out into the house where it goes and jumps on my daughter and wakes her up.  They have a curtain up seperating the landing and the two rooms they use.