Best rental arrangment

hethmar

My son is moving in a few weeks to be nearer his work and is renting his 2 bed flat to a chap he used to work with and who in fact has been his lodger for 3 years. Said chap has found someone else to share with him - a girl in her 30s - they both seem very responsible and the friend has being paying his lodging costs by direct debit for 3 years with no problems.

Son had thought the friend would take over the whole flat and then charge the girl as a lodger but said friend says he is fearful of this responsibility in case the girl leaves or whatever and he is landed with the full cost of the rent.

What is the best sort of formal agreement to make with these two separately please?

Catti

IMHO, If they are both tenants, then they will both be responsible for the rent so better for your son to have that security.

hethmar

I guess they would only be responsible for their share though.

silvercar

If they are not going to be responsible for each others rent then they need separate tenancy agreements.

Bit of a nightmare if the girl leaves as your son would be responsible for finding someone to replace her.

Catti

I would personally want them to enter into a joint and several agreement where they are both responsible for the entire rent. Even if one wanted to move out, they would both remain responsible for the duration of the tenancy.

hethmar

Thanks guys but I think they are reluctant to do that. As I said, for 3 years the guy has been a lodger and he has been no trouble whatsoever re paying and behaviour and so on. The girl is a colleague of his from the same firm and they arent involved in any way (the girl isnt like that ) so they want a separate agreement.

We shall just have to keep fingers crossed that its works ok.