Lodger Conditions?, too slack/too strict?

Ulfar

I just have to comment in between wetting myself with laughter,

I have had a mate lodger and the rules were simple

pay your money on time,

both parties to act reasonably(occasional grumpiness from both parties occurs even between the best of mates.)

From your revised cotract the things that get me particularly are :

5. Are they responsible for your breakages because that is what it states.

6. No, they should only have to pay for a replacement.

8. Are you mad, the way this is stated is that their rent money doesn't cover internet access unless they get DSL which they pay for. Do you not have broadband just share it with a wireless hub.

15. They have to tell you they will be away from the flat but you don't so you can get someone to check up on the flat. Do you have to ask them permission to be away, do they get any say in who this stranger is checking up on things, will someone be checking up when you are away anyway.

You are a control freak and to respond in kind if I was the potential lodger I would have a few conditions to add to the agreement.

1. I assume your flat is leasehold, I would want a copy of permission or details from the leasehold showing that you are allowed to sublet.

2. If you have a mortgage, I would want a letter confirming permission to let from the lender. I would also want confirmation that you are making the mortgage payments.

3. In reciprocation I would expect you not to have overnight stays from friends off more than one night a week without consent from the lodger.

4. I would want to be able to check you are declaring the income to the taxman if required.

5. I would want assurances that you would not enter my room unless in an emergency.

6. I would expect the heating in the property to be maintained within the range 19 - 25 degrees C.

To be honest I wouldn't agree to the thing anyway as it has so many clauses that would be deemed unfair that it is unreal.

superfran_uk

Bloody hell ben, give it a rest. Play it by ear and if he messes up, throw him out. Even your revised version is somewhat nazi-esque.

00ec25

LinasPilibaitisisbatman wrote: »

Sorry but someone like you should not be a landlordd. Even the revised version is ridicolous

11- oh come on your renting to a pal. to insist on a 2nd TV licence is ridicolous.

I agree, even the revised version is still OTT in parts and is trying to set out a laymans view of what he wants to be legally enforceable (it isn't BTW). I have a very simple set of rules I use with mine which covers mutual respect for quality of life issues (cleaning up afterwards) but, as they are intelligent resonable people, they can manage their own lives without being treated as itinerant schoolchildren, "permission" in the form of notification of absence is particularly offensive.

3.0 should not be in writing, it's demeaning (unless you are a Victorian)

6.0 are you so hard up that you can't afford the inital cost of getting a key cut? By all means charge for replacements but not the first one!

8.0 I assume you have internet of your own but are afraid of bandwidth usage limits? I can sympathise with this requirement, but it would put most people off as broadband is an expectation in the rental market these days. I have a router and pay the costs myself, it's built into my rental price and I have a reasonable download package to reflect the number of users.

9.0 - so what? You are responsible for the alarm as you provided it (ie you must ensure the batteries work). What are you doing about gas and electrical safety generally, you still have a legal duty of care even in a lodger scenario?

12.0 and 13.0 14.0 have no place in a set of "house rules". Payment terms and Termination arrangements should be set out in the lodger agreeement, your list so far does not consititute such a document.

15.0 I am left speechless with the indignity of this one. I assume you are terrified they will go away leaving it unlocked, if so how will you check the property when you and they are at work, they might have been the last person to leave and you house is just waiting to be burgled, how will you get through the day with the worry of it

HOWEVER
11.0
A second licence MUST be purchased if the set is in the lodgers room, who pays for it is a matter of agreement.
Anyone who rents needs to know that the rules about TV usage MUST be included in a tenancy/lodger agreement, otherwise if the tenant/lodger has a TV set of their own, then the landlord becomes liable to the fine and extra TV licence fee.
http://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/information/landlords.jsp

PS I assume you are trying to create a pseudo legal document but as you do not have subclauses the numbering system is rubbish, stick with 1, 2 3, etc

Rimo2021

I've had lodgers on/off for >15 years and never had a single official 'rule'

I just have an informal chat with prospective lodgers about both our expectations regarding cleanliness and guests and pick someone who I feel is likely to be compatible and considerate as I believe myself to be. I tell them it's best to be open if something's annoying them and I will be the same.

I don't spell it out but of course the fact is if after a few weeks we haven't settled in happily accommodating each others needs they will have to leave - in fact this has never happened.

I believe in give and take on both sides - It might be my property... but it is both our homes and I want it to feel like a home. I've never really thought about it but if I did I would just cost in some 'wastefulness' regarding heating/lighting so that if the person turned out to be a central-heating/tumble-drying junkie - it's covered ... and if they turned out to be as green as the emerald city I could either give them a refund or just be generous in buying and sharing wine/treats etc..

superfran_uk

Aw I was hoping that Benny boy would be back with a new set of rules that I could have a giggle over!

ben1985

Nope:rolleyes:, I've totally scrapped my document and downloaded a Licence agreement for Lodger from riky.co.uk. At least this way the contract is legal, cannot be deemed unfair and should protect myself/lodger from anything bad.

I'll let you know when my first lodger arrives;)

Regards

Ben

Bogof_Babe

Well done Ben. Much better than tying yourself in knots and possibly overlooking the most important thing! Your lodger will appreciate it being official but not over-complicated, which is a good start for you both.

telfordwhite

ben1985 wrote: »

I'll let you know when my first lodger arrives;)

Regards

Ben

No luck then Ben?