Roommate Finder

[Acordionist]

I am separated and live by myself in The Villages in a house with one empty room and bathroom for guests. I would like to find a suitable person renting it . Is this the right venue to find one?

[vintageogauge]

Advice. Be very cautious and lock up anything that has any value to it. I'm not paranoid, but there are a lot of bad people out there, a lot of good ones too but it only takes one bad one and they are very hard to get rid of.

[Stu from NYC]

Be careful.

[Toymeister]

The Correct venue is VH4R Home Rentals in The Villages Florida The Villages Rentals (http://www.vh4r.com). You pay for an ad there.

[Davonu]

…I'm not paranoid…
But always remember…even if you’re not paranoid, it doesn’t mean they’re not out to get you. :)

[villagetinker]

IMHO, I would not do this, if absolutely necessary, I would add at least one additional lock to you bedroom door to secure your valuables, etc.

[dougjb]

Actually, it is not that hard to do. But, plan on taking your time and do not just sign off on the first person waving money at you. Why not prepare a list of questions you wish to ask the person...such as what their sleeping times are...find out if they like to cook...ask them if they are neat (a good test for this is when they are leaving, walk them out to their car and look inside, does it look like they are tidy?)...ask them if they have boyfriends or girlfriends or just friends...how long have they been acquainted with the Villages....so they smoke... Don't make a decision about the person right away. Tell them that you are interviewing several people and might have to speak with them again. Lay out some ground rules..such as all common areas must be picked up and cleaned and that you both share chores around the house. In other words, find out if this is a person you can live with. As far as locking things up. that is probably not a bad idea. But, find out a lot about the person before agreeing to have him as a roomie. Also, get a very substantial security deposit (Florida statutes has rules on this and how you maintain it). get first and last months rent. If they squawk about the money, you do not want them. They need to be financiallys secure. And get references.

[Stu from NYC]

Actually, it is not that hard to do. But, plan on taking your time and do not just sign off on the first person waving money at you. Why not prepare a list of questions you wish to ask the person...such as what their sleeping times are...find out if they like to cook...ask them if they are neat (a good test for this is when they are leaving, walk them out to their car and look inside, does it look like they are tidy?)...ask them if they have boyfriends or girlfriends or just friends...how long have they been acquainted with the Villages....so they smoke... Don't make a decision about the person right away. Tell them that you are interviewing several people and might have to speak with them again. Lay out some ground rules..such as all common areas must be picked up and cleaned and that you both share chores around the house. In other words, find out if this is a person you can live with. As far as locking things up. that is probably not a bad idea. But, find out a lot about the person before agreeing to have him as a roomie. Also, get a very substantial security deposit (Florida statutes has rules on this and how you maintain it). get first and last months rent. If they squawk about the money, you do not want them. They need to be financiallys secure. And get references.

Very good advise

[mtdjed]

I am separated and live by myself in The Villages in a house with one empty room and bathroom for guests. I would like to find a suitable person renting it . Is this the right venue to find one?

In answer to your question, this is not the right venue to find one.

Assuming you are not renting and talking about your house.

Just remember that it is not just the bedroom and bath you are renting. It is the whole house (Perhaps excluding your bedroom and bath). Living Room, Dining room, Kitchen, Lanai, Garage, Laundry room, driveway, mailbox, utilities, etc. Imagine how someone could abuse that area. Friends, mess, cleaning, dishes, clothes, vacuum, dusting, window cleaning, refrigerator. Temperature issues, noise, hours. Took my wife and I 57 years to train each other, and you are thinking of taking a stray off the street.

Good luck. A possibility I would be looking for is downsizing.

[La lamy]

AirBnb is where I found my first rental for TV. Not sure if it was legal of them to do, but it was for only 1 1/2 months. I agree with others that VH4R is the way to go.

[DanteFi]

With the right person, something to consider!

[MrChipster]

Do not forget a lease. And make it month to month, it will be easier to get them out if there are issues. You need a signed document with rules to live by.

Also the recommendation about first and last months rent is wording that will catch you. Always call any monies collected to cover any future costs, damages, unpaid rent, etc…. “The security deposit”. If these monies are referred to as first and last months rent that is the only place they can be used.

My last line of defense has always been to sign the lease at the tennants current residence, that way you get to see how they live, be nosy ask to use the bathroom before any signing, and keys are not provided until all funds clear.

Just a few things I learned the hard way.

[4litehous]

IMHO, I would not do this, if absolutely necessary, I would add at least one additional lock to you bedroom door to secure your valuables, etc.

Actually, a better idea is to put a deadbolt on your master bedroom closet--then your entire wardrobe area becomes a safe in a sense!!

[JoelJohnson]

I once took a ride from a stranger, I said "how do you know I'm not a serial killer?", He said, "I doubt it, what are the chances of two serial killers being in the same car?"

So be careful.

[skippy05]

The better option might be to sell and get a single wide in the Villages mobile home section.

[Sandy and Ed]

You are probably not alone. There are plenty of widow and widowers here that were left alone in a two or three bedroom house. They found another significant other, pooled resources and share one residence. Perhaps that would not be your choice but I’ve seen such arrangements

[DrHitch]

Yes,
The "home to share" subset of listings is a logical place to post. As others have stated, do a lease agreement in writing, and make that portion of home truly **** friendly/barren....


The Correct venue is VH4R Home Rentals in The Villages Florida The Villages Rentals (http://www.vh4r.com). You pay for an ad there.

[Justputt]

I would avoid renting. Once you become a landlord, they have renter rights. Read some of the squatter (a.k.a. Adverse Possession) nightmares. Consider how many, how long, and how often they may have friends over and overnight. Are they party animals, sketchy, poor hygiene habits, drink excessively, etc. Consider the property is in your name, which means any problems they create on your property are yours to deal with, even if they leave. What if you meet someone (that does happen in TV) and get serious, maybe want to move in together, or become "unseparated" now you have to try to remove a renter. IMO, go slowly, make friends, let nature take its course.

[Steban]

I am separated and live by myself in The Villages in a house with one empty room and bathroom for guests. I would like to find a suitable person renting it . Is this the right venue to find one?

I would exhaust all other options before allowing a stranger to move into my home. A friend maybe, a stranger absolutely not. The bad scenarios far outnumber the possible positive outcomes.

[NoMo50]

Pleas consider what happens in that situation if the relationship goes sideways. Once your "roommate" becomes a resident/tenant, it can be very difficult to get rid of them if things go badly. You would likely have to go through an eviction process, which even if smooth, could take months.

[Stu from NYC]

If you do choose to do this strongly suggest consulting with a lawyer to draw up a lease protecting you and to give you info so you know your rights if it does not go as you wish

[OhioBuckeye]

You know when I see this kind of stuff I instantly think of young people, they do this & so many times their new live in’s always seem to have an excuse for not being able to pay or pay on time. Then they have a heck of a time getting them out, just me I wouldn’t do it. Sounds like you need some place that you can afford not a new tenant. Who pays Property Taxes, your HOA, it just sounds like your asking for some problems or are you actually asking for the opposite sex to move in with you? I’m not trying to be a wise guy but I personally think your asking for trouble!

[Jayhawk]

I am separated and live by myself in The Villages in a house with one empty room and bathroom for guests. I would like to find a suitable person renting it . Is this the right venue to find one?

One or two episodes of Judge Judy will convince you to abandon this idea.

:boom:

[BlueStarAirlines]

Pleas consider what happens in that situation if the relationship goes sideways. Once your "roommate" becomes a resident/tenant, it can be very difficult to get rid of them if things go badly. You would likely have to go through an eviction process, which even if smooth, could take months.

If you want to see a real life example of this, if you have Netflix watch "Worst Roommate Ever". The first 1-3 episodes can be skipped, but the last few concern a roommate that stopped paying their rent.

[macawlaw]

Do a background check on any renter who you are seriously considering. This situation, while it could offer benefits, also opens you up to significant risk. Good luck.

[Snowbirdtobe]

If I were looking for a place to live your post would cause me to pass on you.
If I moved in would the old lover be back or just waiting outside to see the new person?
Your post projects instability and would be a big red flag for me.
To get a quality housemate you should project stability. You may not want to find a friend but they will become closer than many of your friends and know things about you that no one outside of your household will ever know.

[RICH1]

Another Invite for Murder…. but they seemed so nice , before they took my money and threw my lifeless body in Weirsdale

[RICH1]

Actually, a better idea is to put a deadbolt on your master bedroom closet--then your entire wardrobe area becomes a safe in a sense!!
What’s the chance of two Murderers living in the same house!

[karenzeee]

Another option is on Rent From A Villager. There is an area for just shared homes.
https://www.rentfromavillager.com/sharedhomes

[Stu from NYC]

What’s the chance of two Murderers living in the same house!

Give me a few minutes while I look up murder statistics in the Sun.

[scooterstang]

When I was younger I owned my own house and needed roomates to help with mortgage payments and utilities. I averaged a yearly turnover rate. Things were fine and then they weren't!! One of them was selling drugs out of my house while I was working and another got so drunk he fell asleep with a cigarette in his mouth and damm near burned my house down with me living in the basement with no way out. I just happened to come upstairs to get a Diet mountain dew and saw a glow from the hallway going to his room! I opened the door and the mattress was burning all around the edges and he was passed out. I had to lift him thru the flames onto the floor and then I dragged the mattress thru my house and threw it in the front yard(luckily it was pouring rain outside to put it out. man if I would not have woke up he would be dead and so would I.

[Stu from NYC]

When I was younger I owned my own house and needed roomates to help with mortgage payments and utilities. I averaged a yearly turnover rate. Things were fine and then they weren't!! One of them was selling drugs out of my house while I was working and another got so drunk he fell asleep with a cigarette in his mouth and damm near burned my house down with me living in the basement with no way out. I just happened to come upstairs to get a Diet mountain dew and saw a glow from the hallway going to his room! I opened the door and the mattress was burning all around the edges and he was passed out. I had to lift him thru the flames onto the floor and then I dragged the mattress thru my house and threw it in the front yard(luckily it was pouring rain outside to put it out. man if I would not have woke up he would be dead and so would I.

Wow

[HJBeck]

Be very careful with this. You may have your house cased with your add. Some nasty people use this site.

[DaddyD]

Almost all replies are from people warning OP about all the bad & terrible things that "might" happen to them if they rent out a room in their house. People telling OP to watch episodes of Judge Judy & Netflix's "Worst Roommate Ever!" shows to learn what might happen to them if they rent out a room in their house. Really? Is this a statistically valid concern?

These are television shows designed to "entertain" viewers--the producers find the absolute worst people / situations & put them on television to entertain our voyeuristic tendencies...yet people are really warning OP that these are people & situations they are likely to experience if they rent out a room in their house?!? Really?? How about the tens of thousands of other people who rent out rooms in their house and have a good experience??

The OP has received some good advice. As a former landlord, I 100% agree that if you have someone fill out a rental agreement, label the first & last months rent as a "security deposit". Most importunately, "accidentally" leave one page missing from the application that you can then take to the applicants current residence to have them fill out--get a peak inside their current house & car--whatever condition they keep their current residence in is how you can expect they will keep yours. Some additional suggestions:
1) Forget about asking for personal references--anyone they put down is going to have nice things to say about the applicant. A better suggestion is to ask for their employment history & contact info. for their last 3 employers. If they are jumping from job-to-job every few months, that's a red flag. But if they keep a job for a year or two and their job references check out, that a huge green light.
2) One stipulation you could have is that anyone who wants to rent a room from you must be able to pass a criminal background check and have a credit score of 750 (or whatever # you are comfortable with). Make sure the social security # they give you truly is theirs. While a good (or even decent) credit score doesn't mean you'll necessarily get a long with the person, if they don't have a criminal record and DO have a decent credit score, it's extremely unlikely they'll turn into "THE ROOMMATE FROM HELL!!!"

Good luck OP.

One thing I've noticed is that as people age & get frailer (both physically & mentally) they get more much more cautious, sometimes even fearful. But more often than not, the things we worry about never even happen.

[Stu from NYC]

One thing I've noticed is that as people age & get frailer (both physically & mentally) they get more much more cautious, sometimes even fearful. But more often than not, the things we worry about never even happen.

But when they do happen it can be catastrophic

[dewcrews]

I might be interested for January thru April at which time I'll be returning to my Michigan home. We have a Villa in Fenney that I've rented out for those months. My husband is not yet retired and is Michigan full time. However, he may come down for a visit once a month. If you'd like more information you can contact me at dewcrews@aol.com.

[PatB1123]

Quiet widowed female would like to rent a room in a female Villager's home with private bathroom and kitchen privileges. When in The Villages, I spend my time bicycling, attending line dance classes, and reading in my room.

[Stu from NYC]

Quiet widowed female would like to rent a room in a female Villager's home with private bathroom and kitchen privileges. When in The Villages, I spend my time bicycling, attending line dance classes, and reading in my room.

Hope it all goes well for you.

[A.JORDAN]

Hi,
My name is Austin, I'm looking for a roommate also. I will be travto the villages for a week or so at a time, multiple times a year. I'm looking for another guy in the villages to live with. I haven't retired yet, I'm looking to experience and explore the villages.. I've been to the villages a couple of times, don't know anyone but love the lifestyle, looking to meet new friends and have some fun. Feel free to reach out, and ask any questions you have.
Thanks, Austin



I am separated and live by myself in The Villages in a house with one empty room and bathroom for guests. I would like to find a suitable person renting it . Is this the right venue to find one?

[coralway]

You live by yourself? Count your blessings

[Decadeofdave]

Do they have to listen to accordion music!? Lol