Will formal tenancy doc protect me from bailiffs?

hounslow_boy

Hi,

can anyone offer advice on this? My cousin is living with us, has a back bedroom and use of kitchen and bathroom. It's an informal arrangement, he pays us what he can when he can.

Turns out he's in lots of debt and worried about court orders and bailiffs.

This makes me worried too - I really don't want bailiffs entering any room in my house and taking what they like!

If I set up a formal tenancy agreement document that clearly states he is a tenant in my house with use only of the back bedroom and the kitchen/bathroom - will that offer me some legal protection against bailiffs taking my stuff away?

Most concerned.

Thanks.

DarnIt_3

Is he on the electoral roll? Is he on the tenancy?

If not then contact the debtors and state he doesn't live there! Worst case is that they ask for a copy of your tenancy agreement...although I seriously doubt this would happen.

edinburgher

If not then contact the debtors and state he doesn't live there!

But that's lying, not sure it's the best course of action to take.

Gordon_Hose

You need to figure out what kind of debt and how much, also whether he has CCJ's etc.

If he has no CCJ's then there won't be any bailiff's, just letters and phone calls.

hounslow_boy

DarnIt wrote: »

Is he on the electoral roll? Is he on the tenancy?

If not then contact the debtors and state he doesn't live there! Worst case is that they ask for a copy of your tenancy agreement...although I seriously doubt this would happen.

Hi, he is on the electoral register at my address. There currently is no tenancy agreement.

I can get a tenancy agreement made up, but will it satisfy bailiffs that he only occupies one room in the house? And that they cannot go into other rooms?