Room to let in East Ave; short lets are fine!

Area:

Oxford

Postcode:

OX4

Available:

Now

Min term:

2 months

Max term:

None

Short lets considered:

Yes

Single room:

£650pcm

Single room:

£675pcm (NOW LET)

Double room:

£850pcm

There is a lot to read but, on the plus side, I don’t use a written contract or require guarantors or references, so (if I feel I can trust you) the right person could move in very quickly.

In theory, you could even try sharing with me (and my Indonesian lodger, a doctor) on a trial basis, subject to a minimum of a couple of months - or perhaps even spend a night here (for free) to test the mattress and to meet us both properly. The last lodger who moved in for just two months in Feb 2022 (a Japanese student on a short course) then decided to stay for a whole two years - until her working visa expired in Feb 2024!

Five or six minutes spent on reading my ad now will also reveal the informality and flexibility of being a lodger (sharing with a live-in landlord) and not a tenant.

As a tenant you will probably have to sign a six- or twelve-month contract, and (without a break clause) you might even have to pay the remaining term (or at least find a replacement tenant) if you need to leave early.

Just a month’s notice applies here, but only after you have been here a full month (unless we agree a shorter term at the start, possibly at a higher rent). If you don’t love it here you’re certainly not obliged to stay any longer than two months!

As I don’t use a contract, we just need to have a good, long chat when you come to view the room, a bit like an interview where we can learn a bit about each other and whether we’ll get on.

I also need to check you know how to cook without melting my microwave (this has now happened twice!) and won’t cook on plates in the oven or go out leaving the front door open or candles lit, all of which have also happened! I’d also rather avoid regular stir-dry wok users, due to the steam and grease.

Many past lodgers have said they found it much cheaper and nicer to live in a real home, perhaps watching films together, rather than renting a room as a tenant with others who barely meet at all.

My home is a warm, charming, cosy and colourful, Victorian 4-bedroom, 2-bathroom terraced property, at OX4 1XR. I’m up in the loft; any lodgers (including the Indonesian) are on the first floor.

Recent foreign students over the last 8 years alone (from India, Indonesia (3), Malaysia (2), HK (2), Japan (4), China (3), Taiwan, Italy, France, Spain, Mexico and Peru) loved it here! I’m still in touch with them plus many others, some from over 25 years ago, now as good friends. I can show you many lovely photos of day trips out with them, plus some wonderful leaving messages! They are also grateful for the fact that I enjoy chatting - and helping to improve their English grammar.

One past Japanese lodger (who also recommended me as a live-in landlord to the last Japanese lodger) told me that she actually cried at the airport when she first left my house to fly back to Tokyo during Covid. She has even returned for two more stays!

A quick look at the photos will give an impression of the main living room, kitchen and garden, all kept nice and welcoming.

A single bedroom is available now at £650pm (all-inclusive). The (very!) large double bedroom will cost £850pm and is also available now. I may negotiate for the right person, but I only decide on that after we have actually met.

I can only take in one more lodger so would prefer to rent the double room out (of the two) for the higher income, but I will consider letting either room (and possibly even both, if someone else only needs a very short stay).

I would love to keep on having three lodgers in my home, as I did for most of the last 29 years, but Oxford CC say that I must apply to become an HMO first, despite the housing crisis! That could cost me £15K for self-closing fire doors everywhere. Therefore I can only have one more long-term lodger, but a short-term one may be fine.
East Avenue runs down to the O2 Academy on Cowley Rd, next to Jing Jing, a supermarket loved by many past lodgers from SE Asia. Of course we also have Seoul Plaza and others, plus Tesco’s is only minutes away.

In my experience over the years, female foreign students are often happy to share with an older male - and they also appreciate not needing to bring a duvet, sheets, pillows and towels from abroad, nor any mugs, plates, cutlery or saucepans…

Having had a lot of interns or foreign PhD students staying here means that I have met a lot of lovely, intelligent people over the last few years!

UK students or professionals are obviously also welcome, provided you are sociable and can also help keep the house clean and tidy. I just find that foreign students reply to my messages more often, plus appreciate living in a home - due to being so far from their own.

My house is just a few minutes' walk from South Park and is also within very easy walking distance of Oxford Brookes Uni - or Teddy Hall (17 minutes?); Carfax (22?) the Warneford Hospital (7); the Churchill (18-20) and the JR (about 25 minutes on foot, or far less by bike).

I usually only write out to people who will be working or studying at these locations. I have had three lodgers from Teddy Hall alone in the last five years, as they all recommended me to each other, which is a good sign.

St Clements (with its X13, Oxford Tube and Airline bus stops) is under 10 minutes’ walk away. I have met many foreign students arriving in the UK off the Airline Bus there. The 15 bus to town (down Morrell Ave) is just one minute away, or the 5 and 1 buses run along the Cowley Rd, all the way to town and even the railway station.

Although not everyone wants a live-in landlord (and I certainly wouldn’t have in my youth!) you get the benefits of living in a lovely warm home, with good quality bedding, towels and furniture (plus desks, chairs and lamps) provided in each room. I like the company and so have had lodgers here for many years!

There are two fridges, a washing machine, large freezer, microwave and a new (gas) cooker. There is a shed for storing cases, plus the garden itself is also a bit of a sun-trap.

It’s in my interest to ensure you’re happy and comfortable here. After 10 years of working VERY long hours (twice until 4am) and living away from home with different law firms in Birmingham, the last one as a director - with all the stress which that entailed - I now prefer not to work at all, nor to “sign on”, but to live off the rent! My pensions won’t start until I’m 65/67, so I need the rental income.

I also like amusing, intelligent conversation and enjoy introducing foreign students to British culture - especially our museums, pubs, music, art, films and literature.

We have had occasional house meals or eat out and there have even been trips to Stonehenge, Stratford, Cambridge and the Cotswolds.

I often invite my lodgers to join me in the pub on Fridays; some like to improve their English and meet new people there. It’s not compulsory but, if you dislike pubs or never drink alcohol, perhaps don’t apply!

There is fast wi-fi, a good TV, and a cleaner for the bathrooms and common areas. I pay for all this (TV licence, fast wifi at £65pm and Sky+ at about £100pm and council tax at about £200pm) in addition to all the usual utility bills, which are also already included in the rent. Apart from taking turns to buy loo rolls, the rent is all-inclusive. Some people in my road rent and pay £800-£900 each, with all these bills on top! Other houses in my road somehow have six people sharing, presumably with no living room!

I could charge more (especially after my water, gas and electricity bills shot up) but a good atmosphere and nice, friendly company is far more important to me than the money.
Usually I prefer postgraduates over 23 who have lived away from home before; they are (usually!) bright enough not to completely fill the kettle when making just one cup of coffee, and know how to cook without using metal forks on non-stick frying pans!

A male friend once moved in for just three months in 2005; he ended up staying with me for more than 12 years! When he left in 2017, three female foreign students from HK, Malaysia and Indonesia all moved in. I’m still in regular touch with all of them, including the long-term male lodger, but I now prefer female lodgers after some grim experiences with males.

It’s VERY informal here. One past lodger from India moved in just two days(!) after our very first WhatsApp video chat - and stayed very happily for a year.

She’s in London now but we are still friends and text often; we even met up at Blenheim Palace and in the pub at Christmas - and also spoke for well over an hour the other week!

I'm happy to wait for the right person, someone who will fit in well, will chat and be happy to say hello or goodbye when arriving home or heading out.

This is also partly to ensure that anyone leaving the house knows if they are the last one to go out - and will then actually double-lock the front door and close any open windows.
You are welcome to speak to or text current or past lodgers for any reassurance (especially about me!) that may be needed. I can also send numerous photos and screenshots of lovely leaving messages of thanks from past lodgers via WhatsApp. Obviously I’ll send you my mobile number and my address if you reply to a message from me.

There are books, paintings, CDs and DVDs everywhere. Visitors (i. e. your or my friends) are welcome here and they always love the bright colours and the relaxed atmosphere. The modern art (on all three floors) was all painted about 20-25 years ago by a Peruvian lodger and artist; I was his Best Man when he later got married! We are also still in touch over 20 years after he lived here.

The Indonesian doctor (26) and I would now prefer only a female next, partly as you will be sharing the downstairs bathroom with her. As a live-in landlord I believe that I’m permitted to express a preference in my own home…

No matter how well we get on in any initial meeting or video chat, the first month’s rent and deposit (for example £650 or £850 for each) both need to be paid before the room is “yours”. This is because I don’t use a written contract; it’s the only way I know you are serious about wanting the room. I only provide my bank details after we have met, are both happy - and you have met at least one of any other lodgers living here.

The "worst-case" scenario here is that if you agree to take the room at £650 rent and £650 deposit, and pay the £1300 months in advance (for example), but then change your mind before moving in, perhaps to live with friends after all, the deposit of £650 would (of course) be refunded.

Clearly, if you never move in at all, you can’t damage the room! The “lost” £650 would represent a month’s full notice which should always be given anyway (verbally is fine) if you ever wish to leave. Someone I trusted and who firmly gave me his “word” to pay both rent and deposit in cash on the day he landed in the UK, cancelled while on the Airline bus coming here (while I was actually waiting at the bus stop to meet him) so I’m very firm on this now.

Some agencies may try to charge you for the full unexpired term, or find a replacement, once you have signed their contract. Without a contract I certainly won’t do that.

I’d simply prefer you to stay a minimum of two months before giving me notice, unless we agree a very short term at the start. Short-term arrangements are fine, but perhaps at a higher rental rate - to cover extra cleaning, or the risk of long vacant periods, or just missing out on an equally nice, longer-term lodger.

I am willing to have a lodger with a cat (but NOT a dog, rats, snakes, rabbits or hamsters - I’m very sorry).

As I'm a live-in landlord, you will be a lodger and NOT a tenant (Google "tenant v lodger" or view the Citizens’ Advice website and please at least read the SpareRoom article on this website). You should also read the DailyInfo articles such as the Newbie’s Guide to Renting - which is particular to Oxford.

My house is not an HMO which means that things are very informal here. Your deposit also doesn’t need to go into a govt deposit scheme; if you are a tenant it certainly should, so check! I still expect a full deposit for someone staying only a month or so. You should also arrange your own contents insurance, especially if you have a bike.

I don’t allow fans, heaters, clothes driers or similar electrical items in bedrooms due to the condensation and mould caused and the size of some electricity bills I have had!

My apologies for the length of this, but it seemed sensible to address all possible queries.

Some people have STILL replied and asked if I would have couples here - or a dog… No! Feel free to ask me about anything else, such as partner visits, but not these two points. My ad (and this paragraph in particular) is clear enough!

If you have read this far, I really hope you have picked up a flavour of life here surrounded by books, films, art, humour and music, and might be interested in a chat or coming to view my home - despite the presence of a laid-back, live-in landlord!

If you don’t have a profile up, please tell me a bit about yourself (e. g. age, what you are studying or where you’re working, when and for how long you might wish to stay) rather than just demanding a viewing! Some people have just said “When can I view?”, and that isn’t ideal!

Location info

• Oxford
• OX4

Extra costs

Deposit (Room 1)

£650.00

Deposit (Room 3)

£850.00

Bills included?

Yes

Amenities

Furnishings

Furnished

Garden/terrace

Yes

Balcony/Patio

Yes

Disabled access

Living room

shared

Broadband included

Yes