Lodgers' rights to have guests

mart.vader

zurpher wrote: »

Our landlords have a complete house for themselves as we live in a separate extension. They can stay in their house and do whatever they enjoy doing.

We have a separate entrance. We have a bedroom, living room, dining room and bathroom to ourselves. We also have a kitchen that is mainly for our use but they use storage in that room and therefore come in more regularly. When we first viewed it, it felt like a proper flat.

Perhaps you are, in fact, tenants, and not lodgers? In which case, everything, including the law, is different.

Edit: overlaps with B&T's post above

GDB2222

They have a shared kitchen, I assume (but don't know for sure) that that makes them lodgers.

Svenena

My aunt's old house had an annex, a kind of granny flat, with it's own entrance, kitchen and bathroom. It felt like a separate flat. BUT there was a door between it and the main house and they didn't have separate addresses. Maybe the set up is something like this? Not sure whether having the door there would make a difference between lodgers/tenants - if OP gives more details, I'm sure people will be able to clarify the advice given.

Errata

Tough. If you want to be in charge of your own fate rent a property instead of lodging in someone else's house.

poppysarah

GDB2222 wrote: »

They have a shared kitchen, I assume (but don't know for sure) that that makes them lodgers.

From what the OP said the owners use it for storage rather than cooking which sounds like a bit of a nuisance too.

It's going to depend on tenancy ... and maybe council tax.

OP: is the property listed as a sep one for council tax purposes?

krlyr

zurpher wrote: »

Our 'rent' is only slightly below market. It seems to me that it is not worth it to give up your rights as a tenant (which are already fairly limited in England). Landlords should not only want the money but also except that they have people living in their property which goes beyond just sleeping under a roof.

I understand that many of you seem to be property owners yourself and therefore take a rather one-sided view.



They have mentioned no parties but we understood it as a proper party and not merely having three or more friends over.



A larger group is around 8 people for me.

Our landlords have a complete house for themselves as we live in a separate extension. They can stay in their house and do whatever they enjoy doing.



We have a separate entrance. We have a bedroom, living room, dining room and bathroom to ourselves. We also have a kitchen that is mainly for our use but they use storage in that room and therefore come in more regularly. When we first viewed it, it felt like a proper flat.

At the end of the day, it's not a flat arrangement, it's a lodger arrangement, and you have less rights. If you're only paying slightly less than you would to be a tennant or rent your own flat then I'd suggest doing that.
Whether you think a few friends doesn't make it a party, or that a large group has to be 8+, is irrelevant, it's what the landlords think as they set the rules. They could say no friends if they really wanted to. Seems to be a mix of different opinions and a lack of communication, this should have been discussed when you moved in so everyone was clear, and you should have asked permission for the dinner rather than assume it.
You having guests around does affect them, in the sense that it's their property and the guests could cause damage, more wear & tear if it was regular, could cause a noise disturbance (your idea of noisy and their idea of noisy could differ) and so on.
This is my opinion as someone who's rented/houseshared for the last few years (finally getting on the ladder - because I'm fed up of having to consider other people when living my day to day life!)

Badger_Lady

zurpher wrote: »

I understand that many of you seem to be property owners yourself and therefore take a rather one-sided view.

This is a bit assumptive... yes I rent out rooms in my house, but I also rent a room during the week. So I guess you're the one-sided one

Slinky

I got 'moved on' from being a lodger in a flat, simply by being at home too often (ie when I wasn't at work!) The 'landlady' who was subletting to me said she preferred her the arrangement she had with her previous lodger who spent most of her time at her boyfriend's place! Well she would, wouldn't she, it was money for storage of her tenants stuff.

Unfortunately when you're a lodger, you're at the whim of the owner, although I have to agree given that the space you are occupying is largely separate from the main property, if you're being considerate and respectful of their 'stuff' and not noisy, it does seem a bit unreasonable.

G_M

My last lodger but one was a darling!

She used the place during the week to be close to her daughter and help with her childcare, so out most of the day, and often evenings too. At weekends she went home to her husband! Oh, and every year she came to me to suggest a rent rise!

After her there was a lad whose girlfriend came for the weekend and stayed.... and stayed.... and stayed. He didn't last long before I decided enough was enough.... was enough.

Unfair on him? Did I want my cake (rent) and eat it (privacy)? Yes!

So now, no lodgers.

seven-day-weekend

We have had lodgers on and off throughout our 40 years of married life.

I would not object to them having one or two guests providing they met in the lodger's room, did not make a noise and did not stay overnight.

I would object to them having eight guests at a time and dinner parties!!