Getting in a lodger, could this plan work?

So it looks like my wife and I will be living separately shortly. At first thought it seemed sensible for us both to find new places. She would take the two kids and I would need somewhere that is big enough for them to stay.

A thought did just pop into my head this evening. How about staying in our house and taking in a lodger. Now we rent so I don't know if I can even do this but that is the second hurdle.

We live in a 100 QM house in Kolbermoor, nr Rosenheim. About half an hour to the south of Munich (EADS) if you drive fast. About an hour to the center if traffic is OK. Salzburg is also an hour. There is a garden , fully decked out kitchen , Sky TV, Internet and I would provide full furnishings. I could take in a student from Rosenheims College as well I suppose. The other bonus for outdoor types is the mountains are pretty close.

The catch would be that I would have the kids 2 nights a week and every other weekend, plus holidays.

The current rent is 900 warm for the whole house. I don't know if it would be fair to ask for half of that but given I would provide the TV , Internet, Sky etc I'm guessing that might not be unfair.

So how feasible does it sound?

Shoot - Can I have the house and you take my place in Schwabing ?

take me, take me! (i wish, but unless you help me find a job over there and don't mind a dog living with it wouldnt' work-heck if you had me you'd also have a babysitter if you needed one)

or i could try to convnice some people to switch with you if you want a different Munich subrurb

Slightly positive feedback so far but, really, are people prepared to commute and put up with not being able to just get lathered and fall home on a U-bahn? The prices are significantly lower down here but there is a price in mobility to pay. It's beautiful though.

I think nothing of the commute because I used to live in Edinburgh and work on Glasgow. A three hour a day commute. I'm not sure what the travel culture in Munich is.

What commute? I work from home!

since you're finding me a job you can find one near by

I don't know what your plans are if you don't stay in the house. but if you plan to move to Munich, I reckon you won't get a flat for much less than that, if what I've seen here on TT is to go by. Obviously money is going to be tight at first, but remember that to your kids, where you are now is home and if you can keep that connection it will be something that will keep your kids wanting to come back there. When I got divorced I decided to keep the house, we'd bought it so it involved me buying out my ex, but it meant that my kids kept their own rooms with their own stuff in them. Loads of their toys used to commute with them between homes, sometimes left with me, sometimes taken to their Mums.
Now my youngest daughter is living with me again she has told me that she always regarded this place as her home and her Mums place, which is in Holland, was just where she lived.
I made considerable financial sacrifices keeping up the contact with the kids, the house, airline tickets, turning down a permanent staff position at BMW, but I consider it all worth it, because my kids still see me as their Dad and are happy to come here.

I want to be within walking distance of the kids. She wants to stay here as the kindergarten is good , the taggesmutter is around the corner and my kids friends are around the corner.

I really thought she should stay here for a year, as is her right, and I move out but for some reason she wants to move out. It was just a pie in the sky idea I had earlier in the evening to try and keep this place and take in a lodger. The more I think about it the less a stupid idea it seems though. The thought that this is my kids home hadn't occurred to me but is a very good point.

We had a lodger. Was fine until he got a girlfriend with a 2 year old. I babysat whilst they sat around smoking in their room, radiater full blast and an extra heater on with the window wide open. Everytime I went down into the cellar I could see the lecky metre spinning around, thought the house might take off!
We now have a bigger electricity bill to pay.
Make sure you get a student in, they are out all the time!
Hope it works out

or someone who would love to play with your kids/babysit for the fun of it

Pas, it is an excellent idea but you need to be extremely clear and upfront about your expectations, flexibility, etc. And as the lodger will be in contact with your kids, you should think if your wife has a say...

So you're warning me off Mere then

It's a very valid point about my wife needing to buy in as well. I wouldn't want to just lodge with anybody anyway. It could be fun or it could be a nightmare. I used to share with Grieg Mullholand who is now MP in north leeds. I have a story or two there. I also know the editor of the news of the world. Must make a linkage there some day.

darn it! what about if i give references?!! (and you still have to accept my dog as living with us and find me a job, minus that i'm definatly your man, well.. uhh.. girl.)

Well unemployment in Rosenheim is very low but the Dog would be a deal breaker.

It's a nice dog...kids like dogs...

Go on give her a try

Hi Pas
well the situation is slightly different but prehaps you can take some perspective from it!!
a friend of mine shares a house with a family and they have another lodger as well as having students for short periods on exchange!!
now of course it is a large place and they share, but the family have 2 kids (sorry not sure how old, but still well below teenager from memory!! think grundschule age)

he is really happy, has been there for 3 years now or so, the other lodger has also been there for over 2 years. so it is more like a w.g. but with a family!!

from what i understand is they cook seperately from the family (due to work times, friend is a shift worker) but also together if they are there at the same time. we have had a party at the place for his past 2 birthdays and the family were not to be seen (i think the kids were also staying away for the night!) course they don´t accept such parties on a regular basis!! i know the 2 lodgers (friend included) help out with babysitting (i guess you probably wouldn´t have this as a huge issue due to the access you have to your kids, maybe only on the odd occasion during the holiday periods?) but they have use all facilities, watch t.v with the family, or by themselves in the lounge if the family have gone to bed. they don´t feel uncomfortable!! course i can honestly say my friend is one of the most nicest, unfussy, flexiable persons you could meet. but he also goes out partying and returns in the wee hours sometimes but this doesn´t bother the family (as he doesn´t cause a ruckus when getting home of course, out of respect to them!)

the only question is can you afford to trial it for say 6 months or so? (wife agreeing of course) i think if you set some ground rules, make sure the person knows they are on a trail basis, but to expect them to share half the rent maybe a tad harsh. i mean if it included all extra costs, but maybe a slightly lesser rent but half the bills etc. (i can´t tell you what the split costs are in my friend situation unfortunately!!)

opps, just re-read your post, and you said half including costs. that is reasonable!!

point being that if you are flexiable and reasonable, it is just a matter of finding the right person and it can work!! (not all have had the same experiences as playtime!!)

at the end of the day, you want to be close to your children and in oder to do that, anything is worth considering!!

best of luck, and i hope you can stay nearby whatever you choose!!