Renting a room

Under the Rent-a-Room scheme homeowners can make up to £4,250 in rent receipts without paying tax, but this figure will increase to £7,500 from April next year.
Although I am one of the landlords that could benefit from this increase, which has been unrealistically low for many years, I am also deeply concerned that many landlords will immediately hike room rents and price people out of housing. It takes the amount that can be charged for lodgings from £82 to £144 a week.

I have rented a room for years now. I live in a university town so it is easy as I rent mainly to students: mature post'graduates. I always say I ask for references but never take them up as I go by whether I like people or not.I don't have a contract but simply ask for 4 weeks notice. I have been very lucky this way.

Ex-tenants still call me or email me for a chat. I love having people here. We don't always see each other every day but it is good knowing they are there. The only rules I have are to wash up in. I am not fussy about when I eat so if someone is cooking when I go in the kitchen I just wait till they have finished.
I don't clean their rooms and don't go in the room when they are not there. If it is not cleaned from one year's end to another ...as is often the case...I simply spring clean it when they leave and decorate. It is only dust.
As for having people to sleep: the room is rather too small but once I know them I trust that their girl/boy friend will be decent and am always right. I would infinitely rather have male than female students. Girls sre more unreliable and untidy, believe me.
As say, I thoroughly enjoy letting a room but have only had students on the whole.