granny flat worries

jacky_horn

Mam and dad live rent free with us in our house. My house has a granny bungalow attached. We are wanting to go to Australia for a year and rent out our part of the house for an income for that year.

Estate agents said we should plaster over the internal connecting door so tenants have the house fully to themselves without even being aware of the granny bungalow. It has a front door of its own at the side of the house.

Great idea, but we pay lowest band council tax for the whole property. If it is divided for the year, will it mean that mam and dad have to start paying full council tax themselves and be considered to be living in a different house? Could this have big consequences down the line somewhere? I feel very uneasy about this. We also will have to separate gas electric and water as they are one supply for the whole house.

Can anyone see a simple solution to what is becoming a real headache please.

nikorusama

I think you should post an add on Gumtree and find some tenants that don't mind the connecting door, you'll be more than likely to find someone on there. Obviously you'll have to pick the tenants wisely (for example collecting references) and also you don't have to pay estate agent fees.

Wyndham

I'd also put bolts on both sides of the door so that both sides can have guaranteed privacy. As a tenant I think I would be worried about someone having a key to the connecting door without me having any control, and you parents need to be careful about the tenants deciding to enter as well.

nikorusama

yeah I agree with Wyndham, that sounds like a good idea. You might even find someone nice enough to go and help your parents out with a bit of shopping each week as well.

jacky_horn

Wyndham wrote: »

I'd also put bolts on both sides of the door so that both sides can have guaranteed privacy. As a tenant I think I would be worried about someone having a key to the connecting door without me having any control, and you parents need to be careful about the tenants deciding to enter as well.

Can't believe I never thought of that. Thanks

jacky_horn

nikorusama wrote: »

I think you should post an add on Gumtree and find some tenants that don't mind the connecting door, you'll be more than likely to find someone on there. Obviously you'll have to pick the tenants wisely (for example collecting references) and also you don't have to pay estate agent fees.

Don't know gumtree but I soon will!!!!! Thanks

jacky_horn

nikorusama wrote: »

I think you should post an add on Gumtree and find some tenants that don't mind the connecting door, you'll be more than likely to find someone on there. Obviously you'll have to pick the tenants wisely (for example collecting references) and also you don't have to pay estate agent fees.

Hi just been on Gumtree and would you believe it - they don't have a renting section for the North east of England, but I could still look into renting privately

PasturesNew

You should already be paying separate council tax on the annexe.

minxtress

jacky_horn wrote: »

Hi just been on Gumtree and would you believe it - they don't have a renting section for the North east of England, but I could still look into renting privately

Yes they do
http://www.gumtree.com/flats-and-houses-for-rent-offered/tyne-and-wear

and they have the same for other areas of the north east

jacky_horn

minxtress wrote: »

Yes they do
http://www.gumtree.com/flats-and-houses-for-rent-offered/tyne-and-wear

and they have the same for other areas of the north east

Thank you very much!

CIS

You should already be paying separate council tax on the annexe.

I would agree - it sounds like a self contained property that also happens to have access to the main property.

http://www.voa.gov.uk/publications/public_fact_sheets/self-contained-units-factsheet.pdf