Hi fellow Ozbargainers,
I would like to set some house rules for my lodgers as I want to rent two bed rooms in my house. Some of you might have lived in share houses, some may be still living, some of you are land lords, some of you, lodgers/boarders/tenants.
I have come up with some rules for my house and I would like you to go through them, comment on them, suggest improvements or additions. Be aware that there are about 36 rules. Feel free to use the document or parts of it as needed.
House Rules
- Payment of Rent is the responsibility of the lodger, and the lodger would keep track of the payment day and pay up ON or BEFORE the due date. Non-payment or delays could result in fines and/or immediate eviction.
- The outside security door, the main door and the rear door are all to be locked at all times.
- The common areas like kitchen, dining, living, corridor, back yard, front yard and the lodger’s room need to be cleaned periodically using broom, vacuum or/and mop as appropriate. The cleaning roster, if in place should be strictly adhered to.
- The condition of the property is to be clean and hygienic at all times.
- When toilet paper roll is empty, it needs to be replenished and the cardboard roll cap is to be disposed in the bin.
- The toilets and bath rooms are to be maintained cleanly and hygienically at all times. There is to be no water on the toilet floor.
- The toilet rolls, dish washing liquid, air freshener, etc can be shared – speak to the land lord about the sharing rules.
- The lodger is to use his/her own cutlery, plates, cooking utensils and appliances.
- There are to be no food materials, left overs, bread crumbs left on the bench tops or in open utensils left out without immediately cleaning.
- The kitchen sink condition is to be clean at all times. Utensils have to be washed immediately after use. Food that is left out in the utensils needs to go into the bin rather than forcing it down the drain.
- The condition of the stove is to be clean and hygienic. Spillages are to be cleaned immediately.
- The lodger would take all steps and measures to use the things, utensils and appliances safely.
- The ventilator/exhaust needs to be used while cooking.
- Cooking time must be limited to 30 minutes and the lodger should be considerate of other people.
- The lodger would use a cleaning sponge of their own.
- The taps need to be turned off gently but firmly so there is no leakage of water.
- The lodger would close the doors softly, so as to not cause noise disturbance. Remember, the others could be sleeping.
- This is not a dormitory or a back packers housing, so keep the noise to a minimum, limited to the room you are staying in. Do not use profane language or swear.
- The lodger would not download via torrent sites, would not indulge in anything illegal over the internet.
- The lodger would not use drugs. Failure to comply will cause immediate eviction.
- The lodger would be using electricity and appliances ‘smartly’ and ecologically, reducing the carbon footprint. There is to be no unnecessary wastage of any utilities – gas, electricity or water. If there is any undue increase in utility bills, the lodger may be asked to pay up. There is to be no use of a heater without the express permission of the land lord.
- Washing machine load selection should be appropriate and only TOP LOADER detergent is to be used. Run a decent load rather than 4 – 5 clothes. Run the washing machine in the morning while the sun is shining.
- The bins need to be cleared as and when they are full in its appropriate disposal bins outside. The outside bins need to be placed along the verge during their pick up days and conversely, brought back in after their collection.
- There are to be no guests unless pre-approved in every instance. There are to be no parties or sleep overs in the house.
- There is no smoking inside the house.
- If you are a smoker, the designated smoking area is the back yard. Dispose the cigarette butts responsibly in an ash tray. Dispose the rubbish from ash tray every day.
- Any damage done to appliances or property, etc is to be reported immediately first and fixed in a timely manner.
- The lodger would remove foot wear before entering the house and use a separate pair of foot wear inside the house.
- Fan ventilator would be turned on before taking a hot shower. It has to be left on for some time after use (with the door closed) so the steam would be sucked out of the bath room. Keep the shower time short.
- Vehicle parking is to be at a pre assigned area only.
- The lodger would not be using the land line phone.
- The lodger would be storing kitchen utensils and food material in designated areas only. Stuff inside the fridge would be initialled for easy identification.
- The lodger should be aware that there is video recording for security purposes in the house.
- The lodger would ask before borrowing something, and would place things back in their original places after use.
- The lodger would be respectful to every other person in the house and their privacy.
- The lodger would follow any other house rules that may be set by the land lord.
Perhaps you should designate seating arrangements in the living room to avoid conflict amongst your lodgers.
eg "That is my spot. In an ever changing world that is a point of consistency. If my life were expressed as a function on a 4 dimensional Cartesian coordinate system, that spot would be 0.0.0.0.
In the winter that seat is close enough to the radiator to remain warm and yet not so close as to cause perspiration. In the summer it’s directly in the path of a cross breeze created by opening windows there and there. It faces the television at an angle that is neither direct, thus discouraging conversation, nor so far wide as to create a parallax distortion. I could go on but I think I’ve made my point." Sheldon