Accommodation - Digs or Continential

James 007

My brother is finding it very difficult to find accommodation. He is a working professional too working in Dublin. I have suggested to him to ask our Uncle to take the ground floor of my Uncles house and pay good rent for the whole of the ground floor (front sitting room use a bedroom, family room come dining room come kitchen and garden, shower/toilet/sink downstairs). He would like to keep the whole ground floor for himself as he is early forties.

He wants to put some proposals to our Uncle as follows for the first floor 3 beds which come with a mezzanine bathroom/electric shower/toilet sink. He willing to assist in order to reduce his rent and take the burden off our Uncle as follows:

*Digs Mon-Fri, return Sunday evening, 5 nights
*Digs 7 nights
*Digs with full board (continental breakfast & evening meal)
*Digs with continental breakfast only
*Accommodation with limited access to use the kitchen for cooking
*How would one handle washing/drying clothes etc.

I am not familiar with this, so appreciate any help. Obviously what would be the best return for our Uncle.

What rules would you set down in order to have a level of control in the house for a period of time, college months (9-10 months).

uck51js9zml2yt

Where does the uncle live when all these people are living in his house.

the_syco

Generally digs = Sunday night to Friday evening, food and board, with the exceptions being Sunday evening snack and only breakfast on Friday.

Can your brother cook? And I'm not talking about unhealthy crap and microwave meals.

The only washing & drying clothes would be the bedsheets each week. The students clothes are not your concern.

James 007

the_syco wrote: »

Generally digs = Sunday night to Friday evening, food and board, with the exceptions being Sunday evening snack and only breakfast on Friday.

Can your brother cook? And I'm not talking about unhealthy crap and microwave meals.

The only washing & drying clothes would be the bedsheets each week. The students clothes are not your concern.

He can cook up to a certain level. For example typical Irish cooking:
Shepards pie could be one evening, pork chops/mash potato/veg another evening. It wouldnt be to a chef level. He also can make a good carrot cake and soft cookies with white or brown choc bits in them.

What is breakfast normally, just cereal, yohurt, fruit. Would you allow access to the kitchen

Washing thats fine, so he would strip the beds once a week and wash them. Note he would be working during the week 8 to 5pm so his cooking would be limited to times outside this.

James 007

Lucia Creamy Comedienne wrote: »

Where does the uncle live when all these people are living in his house.

The Uncle would not be in this house its normally a rental. The house is only 15-20mins walk to the Spire so suits all the colleges.

Peregrinus

I think if he's a "working professional", finding the time each day to cook, serve and clean up after breakfast, and the same for dinner, for three adults is going to be quite demanding. When it's just yourself you can order out, or eat late, or have a one-pot meal, when the demands of job or life make that attractive. You can't do that with lodgers.

the_syco

James 007 wrote: »

What is breakfast normally, just cereal, yohurt, fruit. Would you allow access to the kitchen

Washing thats fine, so he would strip the beds once a week and wash them. Note he would be working during the week 8 to 5pm so his cooking would be limited to times outside this.

So, breakfast they can do themselves, as they'll have access to the kitchen.

Can your brother get home and start cooking by half five? Everyday? Texting he students to say that he's late ain't worth jack sh|t.

TBH, unless he can make it home Monday to Thursday by half five to get the dinner on, he shouldn't do digs. It really is that simple.

James 007 wrote: »

I have suggested to him to ask our Uncle to take the ground floor of my Uncles house and pay good rent for the whole of the ground floor (front sitting room use a bedroom, family room come dining room come kitchen and garden, shower/toilet/sink downstairs).

Sitting room and one room for himself, and the rest for the students; is your brother able to house share with others? Because that's what the above is.

James 007 wrote: »

He would like to keep the whole ground floor for himself as he is early forties.

Is "being in his 40's" another way to day that he's not a sociable person?

One of your options was "accommodation with limited access to use the kitchen for cooking" - how would the access be limited?

James 007

the_syco wrote: »

So, breakfast they can do themselves, as they'll have access to the kitchen.

Can your brother get home and start cooking by half five? Everyday? Texting he students to say that he's late ain't worth jack sh|t.

TBH, unless he can make it home Monday to Thursday by half five to get the dinner on, he shouldn't do digs. It really is that simple.


Sitting room and one room for himself, and the rest for the students; is your brother able to house share with others? Because that's what the above is.


Is "being in his 40's" another way to day that he's not a sociable person?

One of your options was "accommodation with limited access to use the kitchen for cooking" - how would the access be limited?

The work hours are pretty normal, I would say cooking by half five or 6pm latest.

He very much prefers to have his own space, its not about being unsociable its about having just your own space at certain time in life.

Access to kitchen: For example, could he allow access to kitchen 8-10am mornings for eating breakfast and 6-8pm evenings for eating meals. He would have no control over the morning access as he would be at work anyway, but would like to set certain rules.

Is a better option to allow them cook for themselves between times 6-8pm.

Peregrinus

The problem with allowing them to cook for themselves is that your brother now has a shared kitchen, which may not appeal to him. Either he become the kitchenmaid, doing all the cleaning, wash-up, etc, for the entire household, or he accepts the range of standards of cleanliness, order, etc of the group of people that use the kitchen. And in this case it wouldn't be just a shared kitchen, but a shared family/living space also; if your brother wanted his own space he'd have to retreat to his own bedroom, which effectively puts him in the same situation as the lodgers. It's starting to look more and more like a house-share and less and less like digs.

I think if he's providing them with breakfast and dinner then it's reasonable to say that. other than for eating meals at the set times, they have limited or no access to the kitchen. Maybe they can boil water to make tea of an evening, but that's it.

Del2005

James 007 wrote: »

The work hours are pretty normal, I would say cooking by half five or 6pm latest.

He very much prefers to have his own space, its not about being unsociable its about having just your own space at certain time in life.

Access to kitchen: For example, could he allow access to kitchen 8-10am mornings for eating breakfast and 6-8pm evenings for eating meals. He would have no control over the morning access as he would be at work anyway, but would like to set certain rules.

Is a better option to allow them cook for themselves between times 6-8pm.

Where are the students supposed to socialise? Not much use for students to be stuck in their rooms all the time.

Then there is the issue of the students coming back at all hours making noise outside his bedroom.

Peregrinus

Del2005 wrote: »

Where are the students supposed to socialise? Not much use for students to be stuck in their rooms all the time.

The expectation with digs is that you don't have a socialising space at the house; it's just a place to eat and sleep. The other lodgers are not particilarly your friends, and you do your socializing at college, like everybody else.

Del2005

Peregrinus wrote: »

The expectation with digs is that you don't have a socialising space at the house; it's just a place to eat and sleep. The other lodgers are not particilarly your friends, and you do your socializing at college, like everybody else.

Must have changed since I was a student. We lived with the family.

James 007

Peregrinus wrote: »

The problem with allowing them to cook for themselves is that your brother now has a shared kitchen, which may not appeal to him. Either he become the kitchenmaid, doing all the cleaning, wash-up, etc, for the entire household, or he accepts the range of standards of cleanliness, order, etc of the group of people that use the kitchen. And in this case it wouldn't be just a shared kitchen, but a shared family/living space also; if your brother wanted his own space he'd have to retreat to his own bedroom, which effectively puts him in the same situation as the lodgers. It's starting to look more and more like a house-share and less and less like digs.

I think if he's providing them with breakfast and dinner then it's reasonable to say that. other than for eating meals at the set times, they have limited or no access to the kitchen. Maybe they can boil water to make tea of an evening, but that's it.

I think an option is to make the meals in the evening at a set time or offer continental breakfast only.If tenants arrive later in evening, he can put the meal in the microwave for 2mins for them, obviously have a rule on this too regarding 'later'.

Providing a kettle/cups/tea bags/coffee in each rooms is not problem either.

Are students willing to take up this type of digs accommodation 5-day or 7-day. Is there a demand for it.

James 007

Peregrinus wrote: »

The expectation with digs is that you don't have a socialising space at the house; it's just a place to eat and sleep. The other lodgers are not particilarly your friends, and you do your socializing at college, like everybody else.

I can understand the socialising aspect if its a stay away type 'mother' in a digs situation, but surely what peregrinus has said would work too. Students these days are whist have a certain attachment to their parents, do have more independence then when I grew up.

Peregrinus

James 007 wrote: »

I think an option is to make the meals in the evening at a set time or offer continental breakfast only.If tenants arrive later in evening, he can put the meal in the microwave for 2mins for them, obviously have a rule on this too regarding 'later'.

Fair enough. But if he does this, he's effectively saying that the living/kitchen space is available to lodgers throughout the evening to heat, serve and eat meals.

James 007 wrote: »

Providing a kettle/cups/tea bags/coffee in each rooms is not problem either.

If he does that, then lodgers also need facilities, or access to facilities, for washing up their cups.

James 007 wrote: »

Are students willing to take up this type of digs accommodation 5-day or 7-day. Is there a demand for it.

Digs/lodgings used to be quite a popular option, esp. for first-years students who didn't have, or whose parents thought they didn't have, the household skills/maturity to live independently.

I suspect nowadays it might be less popular, since students have higher expectations of independence/autonomy.

The larger colleges all have accommodation offices, which attempt to assist students in finding accommodation, and which maintain registers of accommodation that is on offer. It might be worth your brother's while to make enquiries at one of those, to find out if digs is still much of a thing, and whether there is great demand for it.

James 007

Del2005 wrote: »

............Then there is the issue of the students coming back at all hours making noise outside his bedroom.

This is something that he just needs to set out the rules regarding entering the house at this time. Do digs accommodation limit students coming in at certain times of the night, I doubt it.

James 007

Peregrinus wrote: »

Fair enough. But if he does this, he's effectively saying that the living/kitchen space is available to lodgers throughout the evening to heat, serve and eat meals.


If he does that, then lodgers also need facilities, or access to facilities, for washing up their cups.


Digs/lodgings used to be quite a popular option, esp. for first-years students who didn't have, or whose parents thought they didn't have, the household skills/maturity to live independently.

I suspect nowadays it might be less popular, since students have higher expectations of independence/autonomy.

The larger colleges all have accommodation offices, which attempt to assist students in finding accommodation, and which maintain registers of accommodation that is on offer. It might be worth your brother's while to make enquiries at one of those, to find out if digs is still much of a thing, and whether there is great demand for it.

Thanks for this I will pass it on. When I said he can microwave it I meant my brother puts it in the microwave for 2mins and hands it to the tenant who can take the meal to his room. Perhaps have a dinner serving time 6:30pm, anything outside this the latter applies within reason. Washing the cups and plates, they bring them down in the morning and place them in the dishwasher.

Peregrinus

You can try and set expectations, but they are difficult to enforce, and of course you can't lock people out. And students will be students.

As Del2005 points out, traditionally digs were provided in a family home. There were one or two students, they were outnumbered by the family members, and the presence of kids in the house did have an influence on both expected and actual behaviour; there wasn't too much rolling in drunk at 2:00 a.m. There might be a different expectation where digs are provided in a houseful of independent adults.

Teyla Emmagan

James 007 wrote:

Thanks for this I will pass it on. When I said he can microwave it I meant my brother puts it in the microwave for 2mins and hands it to the tenant who can take the meal to his room. Perhaps have a dinner serving time 6:30pm, anything outside this the latter applies within reason. Washing the cups and plates, they bring them down in the morning and place them in the dishwasher.

So they don't even get to sit down at the table to eat their dinner? They're human beings you know!! With digs you ate with the family, not alone in your room like a dog.

Is your brother really going to be home at 5.30 making dinner every day for the rest of his life? Has he nothing else to be doing? I can understand if he was a housewife with kids to feed but it sounds like he's a single young(ish) man.

You should contact student accommodation services in one of the local colleges and ask to speak to someone who already does this if you're serious.

James 007

Teyla Emmagan wrote: »

So they don't even get to sit down at the table to eat their dinner? They're human beings you know!! With digs you ate with the family, not alone in your room like a dog.

Is your brother really going to be home at 5.30 making dinner every day for the rest of his life? Has he nothing else to be doing? I can understand if he was a housewife with kids to feed but it sounds like he's a single young(ish) man.

You should contact student accommodation services in one of the local colleges and ask to speak to someone who already does this if you're serious.

Teyla, We mentioned dinner is served at a set time at the kitchen table. If the tenant is not there, they mention it to my brother in advance, the meal is cooked same time every evening, the tenant knocks on the door outside the serving times, the meal is put in microwave and they take it to their room. No one is treating them like dogs, there needs to be set time for meals.

This is not for the rest of his life, this is for one college term only.

Will follow up regarding the advice etc.

James 007

Peregrinus wrote: »

You can try and set expectations, but they are difficult to enforce, and of course you can't lock people out. And students will be students.

As Del2005 points out, traditionally digs were provided in a family home. There were one or two students, they were outnumbered by the family members, and the presence of kids in the house did have an influence on both expected and actual behaviour; there wasn't too much rolling in drunk at 2:00 a.m. There might be a different expectation where digs are provided in a houseful of independent adults.

Thats fine, i understand, but its a matter of setting and monitoring these rules.

Mrs OBumble

Peregrinus wrote: »

You can try and set expectations, but they are difficult to enforce, and of course you can't lock people out. And students will be students.

As Del2005 points out, traditionally digs were provided in a family home. There were one or two students, they were outnumbered by the family members, and the presence of kids in the house did have an influence on both expected and actual behaviour; there wasn't too much rolling in drunk at 2:00 a.m. There might be a different expectation where digs are provided in a houseful of independent adults.

What is being discussed here is not traditional digs. It is a boarding house. Not something that happens much in Ireland, but we'll see more of it as demand outstrips supply.

IMHO access to laundry facilites must be included.

Also be very clear that the residents are licensees in your brother's home: the fact that he is renting the building from someone else is irrelevant.

James 007

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

What is being discussed here is not traditional digs. It is a boarding house. Not something that happens much in Ireland, but we'll see more of it as demand outstrips supply.

IMHO access to laundry facilites must be included.

Also be very clear that the residents are licensees in your brother's home: the fact that he is renting the building from someone else is irrelevant.

I am not sure how you differentiate between the two: digs and boarding. Digs is boarding as such isn't it. Is it normal for digs to allow access to laundry facilities. Licensees can be written into contract, thats okay.

I suppose overall he is looking for the best approach to go on this. At the moment it seems to be: Digs, continental breakfast (access to kitchen 9-11am) with set dinner time (6:30-7:30pm), 5 or 7 days. Any comments on this. Does anyone on here currently do it.

Del2005

James 007 wrote: »

I am not sure how you differentiate between the two: digs and boarding. Digs is boarding as such isn't it. Is it normal for digs to allow access to laundry facilities. Licensees can be written into contract, thats okay.

I suppose overall he is looking for the best approach to go on this. At the moment it seems to be: Digs, continental breakfast (access to kitchen 9-11am) with set dinner time (6:30-7:30pm), 5 or 7 days. Any comments on this. Does anyone on here currently do it.

Digs you live with a family in their home. Boarding you live in a room in a building with limited access to facilities, like a hotel.

A lot of colleges start lectures at 9. He'll need to have breakfast from 7am, or earlier, not 9am so the students can get to college, gym etc. How does he plan on restricting access to the kitchen at 11 if he's in work?

Is he going to be supplying desks and chairs in the rooms? Because if he expects them to live in the rooms they'd better be proper facilities.

johnnyskeleton

Why cant he just share the house with them? If he wants his own space, he has his own private bedroom, where he can eat his meals etc. If he really wants his own kitchen he could look for a one bed apartment as a full house might be a bit much for him.

artichoke

James 007 wrote: »

The Uncle would not be in this house its normally a rental. The house is only 15-20mins walk to the Spire so suits all the colleges.

From what I hear about the housing crisis in Dublin I'd say people are now so desperate to find a room, they would put up with anything and with a house right in city centre your brother will get the rooms rented no bother with or without kitchen/laundry facilities. There are students that have to live in hostels in dorm rooms because there is nowhere to rent and professionals living in B&B's desperate to find anywhere to live. And some sleeping in cars, they would be glad to even have a room to stay in!

the_syco

James 007 wrote: »

Access to kitchen: For example, could he allow access to kitchen 8-10am mornings for eating breakfast and 6-8pm evenings for eating meals. He would have no control over the morning access as he would be at work anyway, but would like to set certain rules.

If the students make their own meals, it's less digs, and more shared accommodation.

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

IMHO access to laundry facilites must be included.

Really depends on the setup. If in do digs, you eff off home for the weekend, and bring your dirty clothes with you. If you do shared accom, then maybe yes.

Have lived in digs in my first year of college.

James 007

Del2005 wrote: »

Digs you live with a family in their home. Boarding you live in a room in a building with limited access to facilities, like a hotel.

A lot of colleges start lectures at 9. He'll need to have breakfast from 7am, or earlier, not 9am so the students can get to college, gym etc. How does he plan on restricting access to the kitchen at 11 if he's in work?

Is he going to be supplying desks and chairs in the rooms? Because if he expects them to live in the rooms they'd better be proper facilities.

Okay guys, 7:30 to 11 for breakfast, he is working at 8am so they can have free reign during this time.

Desks/chairs are already in the room, its already a rental

James 007

artichoke wrote: »

From what I hear about the housing crisis in Dublin I'd say people are now so desperate to find a room, they would put up with anything and with a house right in city centre your brother will get the rooms rented no bother with or without kitchen/laundry facilities. There are students that have to live in hostels in dorm rooms because there is nowhere to rent and professionals living in B&B's desperate to find anywhere to live. And some sleeping in cars, they would be glad to even have a room to stay in!

Thanks for that.

Okay. Digs 5 or 7 day, which would work best.
Breakfast: 7:30 to 10am weekdays
Meals: Set and finish 6:30 to 7:30pm
Meals outside this time are prepared, 2-3mins in microwave can be done

caviardreams

Has he thought about the tax implications of this?

caviardreams

caviardreams wrote: »

Has he thought about the tax implications of this?

Falls under the rent a room scheme so tax exempt up to 14k.