Should I take my friend's offer of his flat?

Indie_Kid

A friend of mine has mentioned several times that he is looking to move and has found somewhere to live. He knows I'm looking for somewhere to live as well.

He said that he could rent out his flat to me; which should be ready in around 3 months time. (my tenancy is up in June)

However, there is a slight issue:
Currently, he doesn't have a buyer; but is looking for one. He said that if he did find a buyer, he doesn't know what this will mean for me.

I am looking for a flat or houseshare and haven't found anything suitable yet. I am hoping to meet up with him at some point and we'll discuss this properly.

But would it be worth it?

My only other option is halls if I don't find somewhere to live - I would rather not live in halls, for various reasons.

Any other advice on flat hunting, etc. would be very much appreicated.

Thank you.

lightSwitch_3

It sounds like an informal agreement rather than an AST. If that is the case and you will have to move again within a short period of time then I would agree but ask him to drop the rent. I don't think you have much to lose especially if you travel light. I did this to my landord and got him to drop the rent by half.
Arranging gas, elec, phone, internet, coucil tax, water is a pain if you are only going to be there for a short period. Rent the place as a lodger and keep all the bills in his name expect the phone. I had this arrangment with a landlady and it worked really well. I promised her not to leave the heating on all day just because it wasn't in my name. She was very happy when she got her monthly bills because they were lower than when she reside in this house. We were both honest so it worked really well.

BitterAndTwisted

Even if your friend finds a buyer immediately they put the property on the market (unlikely) you should still have a couple months, maybe longer, to plan your onward move. Depends on how likely you are to find somewhere else suitable in that time-frame. Once the property is on the market you need to be aware that you will have people wanting access to show viewers around so you will need to keep the place spotless and tidy 24/7

Indie_Kid

lightSwitch wrote: »

It sounds like an informal agreement rather than an AST.

What's AST?

Even if your friend finds a buyer immediately they put the property on the market (unlikely) you should still have a couple months, maybe longer, to plan your onward move.

Yeah, he said this. He also said that I might be lucky enough to still live there when he does find a buyer.

Jowo_2

An AST is an assured shorthold tenancy agreement, the basic contract for tenants and landlords to rent private residential property.

Strictly speaking, you can't rent the place as a lodger - lodgers live in the same property as their landlords, sharing amenities like the kitchen, lounge or bathroom. Once a landlord moves out of the property and its not longer their primary residence, the remaining occupant becomes a tenant with stronger rights.

To the OP - its only worth it if it meets both your needs and you don't think it will sour your friendship by changing it into a landlord/tenant relationship. If something goes wrong with the tenancy, you can lose a friend. The potential benefit is both of you are happy with an informal relationship, its a mutual favour. The potential downside is that this informality can lead to disputes - how would you feel about the landlord accessing the property while you are there? how would you feel about a constant stream of buyers viewing it? how would you feel living there not knowing when your friend will ask you to leave and what if this should happen just before your exams?

lightSwitch_3

AST= assured shorthold tenancy.

it is a six month residential contract, if you leave before the six months are up you have to still complete six months of rent, however he can't kick you out before this time is up unless you agree to leave. Don't sign an AST, rent as a lodger and let him take care of the bills.

lightSwitch_3

Jowo wrote: »

An AST is an assured shorthold tenancy agreement, the basic contract for tenants and landlords to rent private residential property.

Strictly speaking, you can't rent the place as a lodger - lodgers live in the same property as their landlords, sharing amenities like the kitchen, lounge or bathroom. Once a landlord moves out of the property and its not longer their primary residence, the remaining occupant becomes a tenant with stronger rights.

To the OP - its only worth it if it meets both your needs and you don't think it will sour your friendship by changing it into a landlord/tenant relationship. If something goes wrong with the tenancy, you can lose a friend. The potential benefit is both of you are happy with an informal relationship, its a mutual favour. The potential downside is that this informality can lead to disputes - how would you feel about the landlord accessing the property while you are there? how would you feel about a constant stream of buyers viewing it? how would you feel living there not knowing when your friend will ask you to leave and what if this should happen just before your exams?

Actually this is all true. However if the LL keeps the bills in his name and keeps a room for himself and lives there on a off then the LL is covered. As long as the friend (T) understands that his friend (LL) has compromised by reducing the rent for the inconvenience of uncertainty and viewings then they should be OK. If things go awry then LL can come back and say sorry lodger but I want you out by tonight.

Jowo_2

My understanding is that the landlord has to live there on a permanent basis as their primary residence in order for the other occupant to qualify as a lodger - having a spare room there or bills in their own name is irrelevant.

lightSwitch_3

Jowo wrote: »

My understanding is that the landlord has to live there on a permanent basis as their primary residence in order for the other occupant to qualify as a lodger - having a spare room there or bills in their own name is irrelevant.

It won't be a spare room, it is his bedroom in his flat with continuous habitation probably from the day he bought it with a lodger in it.

Fire_Fox

lightSwitch wrote: »

It won't be a spare room, it is his bedroom in his flat with continuous habitation probably from the day he bought it with a lodger in it.

As Jowo quite rightly said:

Jowo wrote: »

My understanding is that the landlord has to live there on a permanent basis as their primary residence in order for the other occupant to qualify as a lodger - having a spare room there or bills in their own name is irrelevant.

lightSwitch_3

Fire_Fox wrote: »

As Jowo quite rightly said:

Yes but from a pratical point of view I don't think it will be a problem showing you live there and sometimes stay with your girlfriend. Or you go off somewhere and come home on the weekends.