I’m a female student in London and currently renting a room in an off-campus house.
Right now I’m the only one living in the house, but one of the tenants (who holds a lease for another room) has been trying to rent out his bedroom at a very low price.
Today he asked me to open the door for his subtenant, who I didn’t know is a guy who is at least in his 30s. I did, but afterward I realized how vulnerable that put me in. I basically opened the door to a complete stranger who wasn’t screened by anyone, not even the landlord nor the tenant, and I have no idea what could have happened if things went wrong.
I know I technically don’t have the right to control who he rents to, but the thought of living under the same roof with an adult male is making me really anxious.
Fortunately, the person backed out last minute, which gave me time to reflect. Now I’m really worried that if the price keeps dropping, it might attract people who aren’t serious or trustworthy.
The house is advertised as student housing, but it’s not actually affiliated with Western university, so I understand there aren’t strict restrictions.
Has anyone been in a similar situation? Is there anything I can realistically do, or should I just trust my instincts and move out to something like female-only housing?