Renting a room

chailey

I'm thinking of renting a room in my house and was wondering if anyone knows where I could obtain a free copy of a "rent a room" agreement.

s_b

i just did a google and it was all there

Arthurian

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/764701

BitterAndTwisted

You do NOT need a tenancy agreement if you're taking in a lodger! In fact you don't need any formal documentation at all. What you do need to be clear about is what the weekly/monthly payment covers and what it does not. Also, any conditions attached to someone sharing your home like contributing to household expenses, overnight guests, notice and that sort of thing.

Lodgers have absolutely no security of tenure so you can ask them to leave if things don't work out. This is where you need to be clear about what notice should be given on either side.

may_fair

chailey wrote: »

I'm thinking of renting a room in my house and was wondering if anyone knows where I could obtain a free copy of a "rent a room" agreement.

I recommend you read through the Lodger Landlord website, which is written by a solicitor specialist in landlord and tenant law, Tessa Shepperson:
http://www.lodgerlandlord.co.uk/

No free lodger agreement on offer, but she does sell one for £12.
http://www.lodgerlandlord.co.uk/2010/02/15/day-15-should-you-use-a-lodger-agreement/

Brallaqueen

I wrote my own, incorporating any house rules/lease rules and setting out the rent due, method of payment, notice period and a 'catch all' clause reducing notice period to 24 hours in case of threats or drug use.

More importantly, get them to fill in a standing order mandate form and make sure the cash is in the bank before they move in!

G_M

Brallaqueen wrote: »

I wrote my own, incorporating any house rules/lease rules and setting out the rent due, method of payment, notice period and a 'catch all' clause reducing notice period to 24 hours in case of threats or drug use.

More importantly, get them to fill in a standing order mandate form and make sure the cash is in the bank before they move in!

credit check/reference your applicants
have written agreement as above
include rules on visitors/overnight guests etc
take a deposit as well as rent before they move in
agree where they can access (share living room or not? etc) and meal/cooking arrangements
agree costs for shared items (cleaning stuff, loo paper, tea/coffee etc)

edit - and change the lock when they move out!

RexBanner

All above sounds like sound advice, but the rooms I've lodged in have worked very well with less formality and on the basis of a handshake and consideration rather than a list of rules.

The type of lodger you get will have much more of a bearing on how it goes than any agreement or rules you draw up - someone working away from home (long hours through the week, and away at the weekend) would be good, someone who seldom leaves the house or has a partner constantly round, less so.

I wouldn't bother with a credit check, but would take a reference from their current employer.

chailey

G_M wrote: »

credit check/reference your applicants
have written agreement as above
include rules on visitors/overnight guests etc
take a deposit as well as rent before they move in
agree where they can access (share living room or not? etc) and meal/cooking arrangements
agree costs for shared items (cleaning stuff, loo paper, tea/coffee etc)

edit - and change the lock when they move out!

Hi

Thanks for responding;that all sounds like good advice. As this is the first time that I'll be renting out a room, I've no experience of drafting an agreement or indeed how it should be set out. Any tips or advice on the wording or drafting of the agreement would be appreciated.