Converting basement to flat

Pythagorous

I am considering converting the basement in my house into a self contained flat (its got its own entrance from outside, possible kitchen area and shower etc). I plan to partition off the area from the main part of the house with a temporary stud wall so that a tenant will effectively be cut-off from the rest of the house.

I would prefer to rent the flat out as a lodger as I wouldn't have to jump through the tenancy agreement loops etc.

Can anyone advise if this is possible, given the room will be cut off from the house?

elona

I am not an expert but I think that having their own entrance makes them a tenant.

Ian_W

Blimey pythagorous, you're busy to-night? :rotfl: Is this as well as renting your house out while you're away for a year or instead of it??

I'm no expert but I think you may need to check with the Council as you may need PP to convert into flats as opposed to it being a single dwelling. Then there's the lender & the insurers - busy day to-morrow!:eek:

Of course, I don't suppose many landlords want to bother with tenancy agreements - but that's the law for you - a bummer!!

BobProperty

I would agree with what has been said already, lodgers share facilities with their landlord/lady. If the place is self-contained it is a tenancy.

pboae

What if you put a door in the stud wall? Then it would be part of your flat, but if it could be locked from both sides you'd both have privacy. I don't know if that would count though.

What would you do about utilities as well? Presumably as a lodger the rent would have to be all inclusive?

cattie

If you are thinking of doing this you would probably have to clear it with your mortgage lenders as you would be changing the structure of the property from a single dwelling into 2 seperate flats.

Pythagorous

Thanks guys!

Ian W - This is for when I come back!
Pboae - Thought of that as well, but as you say it may not be enough.

clutton_2

if you are going away for a year, i would strongly advise you to put this in the hands of a letting agent. So many "foreign-absent landlords" come back to utter chaos.