Need advice for getting by first subletted flat

elfmedicine

Hello,

I'm renting my first flat off a friend soon and wondering what advice anyone could give me.

Is it true I need to make sure I my deposit it put into a tenancy deposit protection scheme? What can I ask for my reference - will a written tenancy agreement do?

Any info I could get on this would be greatly appreciated... as I'm a little nervous.

Many thanks,

Amy :eek:

Yorkie1

Just because you're renting from a friend, the rules don't stop applying. Yes the deposit needs to be protected in one of the three schemes. Also your friend will need to have obtained a Gas safety certificate. A tenancy can exist without it being written but I would advise a proper tenancy for the avoidance of any doubt about specific obligations. Also make sure you do a proper inventory check-in.

Far better to have things official just in case...

NB I assume your friend doesn't have a no subletting clause in his flat lease? I'm no expert but I'm sure I've seen difficulties for either LL or tenant where flats have been sublet in breach of the main lease terms.

Fire_Fox

Agree that you should check your friend has consent to lease from their mortgage lender, also whether they need permission to sublet from the freeholder. What you do about references is between you and your friend. Your friend needs to comply with all legislation for landlords - your deposit needs to be lodged in a scheme, they need a gas safety certificate (if gas in the flat), they need to submit annual tax returns to the inland revenue. They should also inform both the buildings and contents insurers that the flat is let.