{"id":2816,"date":"2018-03-07T10:02:39","date_gmt":"2018-03-07T18:02:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dolly.com\/blog\/?p=2816"},"modified":"2026-04-28T07:53:06","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T14:53:06","slug":"4-key-tips-renting-out-spare-room","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.taskrabbit.com\/blog\/4-key-tips-renting-out-spare-room\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Essential Tips for Renting Out Your Spare Room"},"content":{"rendered":"

Who couldn\u2019t use a little extra income these days? One way to grab some extra cash: making use of extra space in your house.Maybe you have a spare room in your home and the additional payment could help you to whittle down your mortgage faster. Or perhaps you\u2019re a single homeowner and a friend is looking for a place to live for a while. There are a variety of reasons why you may want to rent out a room in your house, but there are a few important things to consider first. Here\u2019s <\/span>how to rent out a room in your house<\/span> while still protecting your assets and your sanity.<\/span><\/p>\n

Get Your Spare Room Ready<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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One of the first steps towards <\/span>renting a room in your home<\/span> is to get that space ready by <\/span>clearing out the closets<\/span><\/a>, moving out the furniture (or give the bed and dresser a thorough cleaning if you\u2019re advertising a \u201cfurnished room \u201d), and assessing anything that needs to be fixed or refreshed. Not only will this allow the new roommate to move their stuff in, but you may be able to charge more if your room looks fresh with a new coat of paint, updated bathroom, and stain-free carpet or floor. (Plus, you may want to consider adding locks to the doors if you don\u2019t already have them. This will both protect your valuables and allow your tenant to feel that they have security and privacy.)<\/span><\/p>\n

Moreover, check to see if there are any safety hazards that you may be legally liable for, and get them fixed. For example, you don\u2019t want someone tripping over a buckle in the carpet and ending up with a broken ankle.<\/span><\/p>\n

Understand the Law for Renting Out a Room<\/h2>\n

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And speaking of protecting yourself legally, you should look into your city\u2019s zoning laws and your state\u2019s landlord-tenant laws. For instance, California landlords must meet the requirements that meet the \u201cstandards of habitability\u201d such as having electrical wires, gas lines and plumbing in good working order. Call your city hall for local laws and check out your secretary of state\u2019s website for state laws. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Additionally, take the time to write up a lease agreement that outlines how much the rent is and when it\u2019s due, what additional costs will be added (such as utilities), if you require a security deposit, and any other details that you have concerns about. <\/span>HandyPDF<\/span><\/a> has a great template to get you started, or you may want to check out <\/span>Legaltemplates<\/span><\/a>. Be sure to have legal council review it first, though. Even if you\u2019re <\/span>renting out a room in your house to a friend<\/span>, a little bit of time and a small fee can save you from immeasurable grief down the road.<\/span><\/p>\n

Advertise Your Room for Rent<\/h2>\n

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Source: Canva<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Maybe you don\u2019t have a friend or acquaintance looking for a room and you need to advertise that you\u2019re <\/span>renting out a room<\/span>. Here are some tips for attracting potential renters:<\/span><\/p>\n