More householders taking in lodgers
Friday, 24 September 2010 6:00 PM
Some 210,000 homeowners in the UK have taken in lodgers, a study by insurance firm LV= has found.
The Live-in Landlords report revealed that the number of households with lodgers has risen by 15 per cent over the last three years to reach levels last seen in the 1960s.
Additionally, the profile of the average lodger-lord has changed, with more young couples taking in an extra person compared with a decade ago, when houses advertising a room tended to be owned by high-income individuals.
John O'Roarke, LV= home insurance managing director, said renting a room can be a good way for new homeowners to make up some of the expense of buying a house.
"However, homeowners do need to be aware of their rights and responsibilities as a lodger-lord," he advised.
"Accidents happen and problem lodgers can be a real headache, so families should always inform their insurer before they let someone move in to their property."
In a recent Daily Mail interview, Matt Hutchinson of spareroom.com said there has also been a huge increase in the number of over-50s taking in lodgers.
