What is mondaytofriday?
How does the service work?
What areas does mondaytofriday service?
How current are the listings?

Using the site
What if I forget my login details?
Can I change my email address or password?
Can I change the details of my advertised room after it has been placed?
I can't see my room
How do I upload a photo?
Do I need Cookies to use the mondaytofriday site?
What type of browser do I need to use the mondaytofriday site?

Costs, Payment and Security
How much does it cost?
What do I do if I have been mondaytofridaying and want to use the service again?
Which payment methods do you accept for registration?
How secure is my payment information?
Refunds
Will my personal information be passed on to anyone else?

Guidelines for owners
General advice
Do I have to pay tax on the income I receive from renting out a room?
Can I offer additional services such as laundry or meals without affecting my tax position?
What records should I keep?
Is there any literature available from the Inland Revenue that might help me?
When I take on a tenant , is my 'Single Person Occupancy' council tax option affected ?
How will I know what sort of person I’m getting as a lodger?
What Health & Safety issues do I need to consider?
If the lodger wants to bring their own TV to use in their bedroom, do they have to have a separate licence for it?
If the owner supplies the TV for the lodger’s bedroom, does the lodger still have to have a separate licence?
What can I charge?
Will my normal household insurance be sufficient?
Who else should be informed that I am letting a room in my house?
What sort of agreement should I have with the lodger?
What sort of standards will I be expected to keep?
How can I be sure that the room has been left in order?
How can I ensure that I get my deposit in advance when it’s a very short-term rental agreement?

Guidelines for Lodgers
What precisely are you offering in terms of accommodation?
What can I expect to pay?
What guarantees will I be given that the standards I require are reached?
Who is responsible for insuring the property?

What is mondaytofriday?

mondaytofriday is an on-line advertising service linking those looking for somewhere to stay during the working week with those who have a spare bedroom they wish to let from Monday to Friday.

How does the service work?

It’s easy – for a small fee you register with mondaytofriday, either as a lodger or as an owner. Lodgers will be able to search the mondaytofriday database for a room to rent according to their criteria; owners will be able to advertise the fact that they have a room to let.

Having found a room that is of interest, the lodger contacts mondaytofriday for further details and perhaps to arrange a visit. The owner receives an email from mondaytofriday with the lodger’s contact information. To maintain security for the owner, no information is sent to the lodger. It is up to the owner to contact the lodger and disclose any information. The rest is up to the individuals concerned – whether to take things forward or to continue searching.

Both owners and lodgers register at mondaytofriday. Then, they are each charged a fee to access to mondaytofriday, (only £29.95 to advertise your room for three months or, if you which to find a room, as little as £10 to search for one month.) This means owners can advertise their room and lodgers can search the database and contact prospective owners for different lengths of time depending upon their situation. At the end of the period, they can again to continue listing a room or searching mondaytofriday.

What areas does mondaytofriday service?

mondaytofriday covers as many areas within the UK as their are rooms being offered or lodgers looking for somewhere to stay. If the owners who register with us are all based in London, our service will obviously be focused on London, but if our owners are based in towns all over the UK then the service will be nationwide. It is mondaytofriday’s aim to cover the whole of the UK.

How current are the listings?

Each listing is paid for by the owner so, unless the room has just been taken, the owner wants to hear from potential lodgers. This means that if it’s on here, it’s current.

Using the site

What if I forget my login details?

Click here and fill in your email address, we will email your details to you.

Can I change my email address or password?

Yes, as a registered user, you can edit your profile to change your personal details including your email address and password.

Can I change the details of my advertised room after it has been placed?

Yes, you can change the details of the room you have submitted to mondaytofriday; however, be aware that editing and saving changes to your advertised room will mean that the room will not be available to search until the mondaytofriday team has checked and verified it. This can take up to 24 hours.

I can't see my room

After registering at mondaytofriday ensure you make your payment at Paypal. Once you have paid and logged in, click 'my room' then click 'add room'. Once you have added your room and submitted it to the mondaytofriday team, then will then check your room for consistency and errors to ensure it's listed properly. Once the mondaytofriday team 'Accept' your room, it is available for searching. Mondaytofriday guarantee to check your room within 24 hours.

If you have done this but still can't find your room try to broaden your search criteria so it is not too limited.

How do I upload a photo?

mondaytofriday gives you the opportunity to upload a photo of your property. This can be a picture of the outside, for example, a particularly nice aspect or the room you are renting out or a nice aspect of your house that looks inviting. To upload a photo, click on 'my room' and edit the room. Scroll down to Photo and then click Browse... Locate your photo on your hard disk and click 'Update room!" If you are unsure how to edit a photo for your room, there are resources available on the web to help.

Note that a photo is not required for a listing on mondaytofriday. NOTE: We only accept files of the following format: jpg, gif or png and the file must be smaller than 100K is size.

Do I need Cookies to use the mondaytofriday site?

Your computer needs to have Cookies enabled to be able to use mondaytofriday.

What type of browser do I need to use the mondaytofriday site?

mondaytofriday has been developed and optimised for Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 and above. If you are using an earlier version of Internet Explorer, we recommend that you upgrade your system. Users of Netscape products would benefit from using Netscape 5.0 and above.

Costs, Payment and Security

How much does it cost?

To register either as an owner costs only £29.95 for three months, or a lodger costs as little as £10 to use the service for one month. This means that when you've registered you will be asked to pay a fee. When you have paid your fee mondaytofriday lets you use the service as an owner or a lodger for the specified period. When you login to mondaytofriday after this period, you will be asked to pay again - its that simple.

What do I do if I have been mondaytofridaying and want to use the service again?

Lets look at an example:

If you are a lodger who has found somewhere to stay four months, or you are an owner who has taken in a mondaytofriday lodger for say two months and you haven't accessed mondaytofriday during this period of time, you simply return to mondaytofriday, login and pay for another 30 days and use the service as before. You are in control.

Which payment methods do you accept for registration?

It only takes a few moments to pay and you can choose to use your credit or debit card. If you are a Paypal customer you can use your Paypal account.

We regret that Paypal cannot process cheques or Postal Orders. However, click here to find out about mondaytofriday by phone.

How secure is my payment information?

mondaytofriday has partnered with Paypal to ensure your payments for access to mondaytofriday are taken smoothly and securely.

What's more, with Paypal behind the service, you can be assured that your personal details are safe. To find out more about Paypal and the wealth of content available visit www.paypal.co.uk.

Refunds

You have the right to cancel your payment and receive a refund within seven days. However, due to the nature of the service, mondaytofriday Ltd reserves the right to refuse a refund.

Will my personal information be passed on to anyone else?

No. Your details will not be passed on or sold to any companies or individuals. The only information which will be available publicly will be that which has been provided by owners for the rooms they are seeking to let. Owners can remove or update their rooms whenever they wish (see above). We remind you that no contact information is made public on the mondaytofriday website and contact is made only when lodgers request that their email address is forwarded to a particular owner. It is then up to the owner to contact the potential lodger and provide further personal or contact details.

Guidelines for owners

General advice

To obtain general advice on becoming a landlord, it is advisable to visit The National Landlords Association website which provides information on legal matters, taxation, discount insurance issue schemes and much more.

Do I have to pay tax on the income I receive from renting out a room?

As long as the total rent you receive during the tax year is no more than £4,250, you do not have to pay tax on that income.

If the rental income amounts to more than £4,250, you can choose between paying tax on the profit you make from letting the room (the rental income minus any expenses you incur) or paying tax on the amount of rent over £4,250.

Can I offer additional services such as laundry or meals without affecting my tax position?

If the income you receive from letting and additional services totals less than £4,250 then you do not have to pay any tax but, if the total is more than £4,250 (even if the rent alone is less), you will have to pay tax.

What records should I keep?

You should keep a careful note of the rents you receive and any expenses that are incurred. You must keep these records, with receipts/invoices, for six years after the tax year in question.

If the amount earned through letting a room (and/or providing additional services) comes to more than £4,250, this must be declared on your tax return.

Is there any literature available from the Inland Revenue that might help me?

Yes, the Inland Revenue’s leaflet "IR150: Taxation of Rents – a guide to property income" is very helpful. This can be ordered by calling 08459 000 444 or by emailing saorderline.ir@gtnet.gov.uk. Most of the Inland Revenue’s leaflets are also available on their website at www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk

When I take on a tenant , is my 'Single Person Occupancy' Council Tax option affected ?

In theory, yes, but it varies from local council to local council so we recommend that you check with your local Council Tax office to find out if you are affected.

How will I know what sort of person I’m getting as a lodger?

mondaytofriday does not assess potential lodgers or source character references for them and, as a result, can not be held responsible for the suitability of lodgers (see Terms of Use). Whether you decide to let a room to someone is entirely up to you – only you can decide whether you feel comfortable having this person living in your house.

However, there are various things you can do to help you make your decision:

• First, you can use the professional pre-screening service, Experian. Experian provides a pre-screening service for owners to check on lodgers for a small fee.
• You can take out your own references – Bank or Building Society, Employer, Previous owner/landlord or a character reference (although these may be written, you should also be able to call the author to back up the information supplied).
• You can check whether the individual has a criminal record.
• Get them to fill out a lodger application form asking for various personal details.

Questions to ask them (on the telephone or when you meet):

• Why is the person looking for a room Monday to Friday?
• Likes, dislikes, family, hobbies?
• How much time will they be spending in your house (e.g. working hours)?
• What work do they do?
• How will they spend their evenings?
• What will they do for meals?
• Go through some "house rules" and see how they react.

Observations:

• Personal appearance
• What car did they drive / was it clean & tidy?
• Were they personable and friendly?
• Were they on time?

But, ultimately you will have to rely on "gut-feel". You will learn to hone your instincts over time.

What Health & Safety issues do I need to consider?

Your property must be safe; care must be taken with regard to fire safety, electrical safety, gas safety (if applicable), furniture and furnishings and the general safety of the building (inside & outside).

Fire – your local Building Inspector and Fire Prevention Officer offer advice on fire safety (e.g. emergency escape routes, smoke alarms, fire extinguishers etc)

Electrical – the electrical system and all appliances supplied must be safe.

• · Appliances should be complete & in working order; retain purchase receipts.
• Secondhand items should be checked.
• Operating instructions and user warnings must be provided for all appliances.
• Flexes should be kept in good order & properly attached to appliances/plugs.
• Earth tags should be in place.
• Plugs should be of an approved type with sleeved & neutral pins.
• Plugs and sockets must conform to BS1363 or BS1363/A for heavy duty uses.
• Fuses must be of the correct type & rating.
• Lodgers should be made aware of the location of and have access to the main consumer unit, fuses & isolator switch.
• All fuse ratings should be noted on the inventory.

If in doubt, consult a qualified electrician. It is advisable to have the electricity and appliances checked regularly by a qualified electrician. All equipment should be checked on lodger change-over. Records should be kept of all inspections.

Gas–users are required by law to ensure that all gas equipment and appliances supplied are safe. The Health and Safety Executive provide a .pdf version of their Gas Safety leaflet on their web site at http://www.hse.gov.uk. Also you can call their Gas Safety Advice Line on 0800 300 363.

• · Fittings & flues must be maintained in a safe condition.
• Annual safety checks must be carried out on all gas appliances & flues.
• Gas installations and appliances must be checked immediately before the start of any new tenancy, even if a safety certificate is still current.
• Only CORGI registered gas installers are qualified to make installation, maintenance and safety checks.
• Records of safety checks (issued by CORGI installers) should be kept for 2 years.
• Copies of the CORGI installers safety check report should be given to each lodger within 28 days of the safety check, or to new lodger before occupation.

Furniture & Furnishings – all furniture must comply with the 1993 amendments to the Furniture & Furnishings Regulations 1988. In order to comply, furniture must carry a permanent, non-detachable manufacturer’s label.

• All upholstered items must have fire resistant filling material.
• All upholstered items must pass the "match resistance test" as prescribed.
• All upholstered items must also pass the "cigarette test" as prescribed.
• Bed bases & mattresses are not required to bear a permanent label, but compliance will be indicated if the item has a label stating it meets BS7177.

It is a criminal offence to supply any item which is unsafe, e.g. a bedside lamp with exposed wires. Particularly hazardous items are best avoided altogether, e.g. glass furniture, oil heaters.

It is advisable to carry out an annual Risk Assessment of your home to ensure its safety – documenting this will also provide evidence of “due diligence” on the owner’s part in the event of an incident.

If the lodger wants to bring their own TV to use in their bedroom, do they have to have a separate licence for it?

No, they don't have to have their own licence.

If the owner supplies the TV for the lodger’s bedroom, does the lodger still have to have a separate licence?

No. As long as the lodger has a licence for their own TV, the lodgerey does not need a separate licence.

What can I charge?

As you are only letting your room from Monday to Friday, and not for the whole week, this should be reflected in the rent that you charge (otherwise the lodger might as well look for a week-long arrangement). Around 60% of the usual week-long rental would be appropriate. You should research what other owners with similar properties in similar areas are charging to guide you and consider how much of the house you are prepared to let the lodger use (e.g. will they be allowed to use the kitchen, living room, garden, etc).

Will my normal household insurance be sufficient?

No, it will not. You should inform your insurance company that you are letting a bedroom and ask them what additional cover you need, for example:

• Public & occupier liabilities.
• Loss of rental and the cost of re-housing your lodger in the case of fire or flood.
• Emergency repairs.
• Costs of evicting a bad lodger.
• General legal costs.

Who else should be informed that I am letting a room in my house?

You should inform your mortgage company; they may insist on certain conditions, such as a lettings’ policy. If your property is leasehold, you should also inform the leaseholder. If you are a lodger yourself, you should inform the owner of the property.

What sort of agreement should I have with the lodger?

It is advisable to have a written agreement with your lodger which includes an inventory; this should be signed by both parties. The agreement should also include details of:

• · The rent – the amount, when & how this is to be paid.
• The period of the let.· Which rooms/facilities the lodger is entitled to use.
• Whether the owner is able to use the room at weekends.
• Any "house rules" that the owner wishes the lodger to observe, e.g. smoking policy, noise late at night, use of telephone, etc.
• Security arrangements.
• Late payment.
• Termination of the agreement.

What sort of standards will I be expected to keep?

Because the rental is likely to be relatively short-term, the lodger will expect high standards. Be sure that everything is in working order (e.g. lights, TV, fridge if provided) and that curtains, carpets, etc. are clean.

How can I be sure that the room has been left in order?

The safest way is to have a signed Inventory Agreement (see above) and to charge a deposit. This will stipulate exactly what has been provided and who is responsible if anything is lost, broken or damaged.

IT IS ADVISABLE TO HANG ONTO THE DEPOSIT FOR A WEEK AFTER THE END OF THE TENANCY while you make sure that everything has been left in order.

How can I ensure that I get my deposit in advance when it’s a very short-term rental agreement?

The most effective way is to have an arrangement with a credit card company (e.g. VISA, who deduct 2.5%). If a client fails to show up then you can deduct the deposit immediately without any problems, whereas a cheque takes a week to clear and can be stopped.

Guidelines for Lodgers

Lodgers may find it helpful to clarify the following points with their prospective owners:

What precisely are you offering in terms of accommodation?

Is the accommodation a house or flat? How many people live in it? How many of these people are lodgers or members of the owner household? Is there a garden? Is the property on a main road, etc., etc.?

Practical details…

• Can I make use of the washing machine / dryer?
• Can I make use of the oven / microwave?
• Can I smoke in the room / in the garden?
• Is there a TV in the room?
• Which other rooms in the house can I use?
• How secure will the room be?
• How will I collect the key / what happens if I lose the key?

What can I expect to pay?

You will be expected to pay a weekly or monthly rent plus a deposit, refundable at the end of the rental period, provided everything is left in good order.

The rental should be around 60% of the going rate for a room in a similar shared house let for the whole week as opposed to Monday to Friday.

There might be a reduced-rental incentive for longer-term rental, but this will be at the discretion of the owner – you should discuss it with him/her.

What guarantees will I be given that the standards I require are reached?

The owner will probably have a rental agreement that you will both sign. If this is not the case, you could suggest putting something in writing. You should insist that the agreement contains clauses about the standards you require.

Who is responsible for insuring the property?

The owner is responsible for insuring the house, including your room, but not your personal property. This may, however, be covered by your own household insurance (where you live permanently) or it may be possible to extend the latter to cover possessions in the rented accommodation.

 

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