Renting and visitors?

couldxbe

Hi,

I was recently going to rent a property. However, I mentioned off-hand that my boyfriend lived 2 minutes away with his parents, and the conversation veered towards how often he would be around.

Is this normal? I would have expected that he'd have been round fairly often.. I have a few questions.

Is it 'against' the law to have someone over 18 staying round at the property on a regular basis? I wouldn't want to put him on the tenancy agreement (because I want it to be my house..) but at the same time I would like him to come round often...

(I didn't take the property..)

missile

It would be your home and you can do whatever you want within the terms of your agreement.
I expect LL/agent may have been concerned that you were applying to rent as a single and intended to have a permanent house guest or sublet.

couldxbe

missile wrote: »

It would be your home and you can do whatever you want within the terms of your agreement.
I expect LL/agent may have been concerned that you were applying to rent as a single and intended to have a permanent house guest or sublet.

In terms of subletting, you mean receiving money from my boyfriend for visiting my house? This was a one bedroom (very small) property, only enough room in the bedroom for a double bed and a chest of drawers. Chances of subletting were extremely low.

In terms of permanent house guest- what does this entail? My mother rents a property, and I have a bedroom, and as far as I'm aware I'm not on the tenancy agreement even though I live there during holidays (recently graduated from university). Is this something that would be an issue, for example if he decided to stay round a lot?

I ask because I don't want this to become a big issue (I have cats, so there's one major issue already!) I just feel that the letting agencies/landlords can be a little intrusive.

BitterAndTwisted

A lot of landlords can be concerned that a tenant could decide to move someone in and they won't be on the tenancy agreement. Then, should the tenant decide to move out and leave the other person behind, it can be very difficult indeed to get them out legally. I suspect this may have been what this landlord was thinking about.

Still, no landlord is your Mum, so who you have staying overnight and how often is your own concern. If you're viewing a new property with a landlord in tow it might be best not to mention this.....

couldxbe

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

A lot of landlords can be concerned that a tenant could decide to move someone in and they won't be on the tenancy agreement. Then, should the tenant decide to move out and leave the other person behind, it can be very difficult indeed to get them out legally. I suspect this may have been what this landlord was thinking about.

Still, no landlord is your Mum, so who you have staying overnight and how often is your own concern. If you're viewing a new property with a landlord in tow it might be best not to mention this.....

Okay, it's just a bit of common sense should prevail I think. I mentioned it in passing as a reason why I liked the location of the property. Why would he chose to stay in this property (after I have vacated - his main reason for visiting I hope!) when his parents live in a much nicer, detached home, 2 minutes walk away?

Anyway, the landlord in this particular property lived next door (converted house) so it did feel a little like I was going to be living with my grandparents.

I'll be more careful with what I say, I didn't realise there was such paranoia surrounding renting!

mqandy

A couple of the landlords I've had can't shake the idea it isn't their own home any more. We had an inspection once (when I was new and naive enough to allow near monthly 'inspections') and LA remarked 'Oh, you've kept this nicely for him [LL]'.

'well yes, it's my home!' was my reply. The whole industry seems to forget this!

societys_child

the landlord in this particular property lived next door (converted house)

It's quite possible then that the flat was originally part of his home. Some LL have trouble "letting go" in these circumstances.
Could have been a right curtain twitcher,
Probably just as well you didn't take it.

Edit: just what mquandy said, should have refreshed the page before posting . . .

jimjames

mqandy wrote: »

A couple of the landlords I've had can't shake the idea it isn't their own home any more. We had an inspection once (when I was new and naive enough to allow near monthly 'inspections') and LA remarked 'Oh, you've kept this nicely for him [LL]'.

'well yes, it's my home!' was my reply. The whole industry seems to forget this!

On the other hand they may just want a property kept in good order so that when a tenant leaves it is in a fit state to rent to someone else rather than any feeling of having it as their home. Poorly maintained property means either spending to fix it or difficulty getting new tenants both of which will hit the LL in the pocket.

mqandy

jimjames wrote: »

On the other hand they may just want a property kept in good order so that when a tenant leaves it is in a fit state to rent to someone else rather than any feeling of having it as their home. Poorly maintained property means either spending to fix it or difficulty getting new tenants both of which will hit the LL in the pocket.

Maybe. But not in this case. LL used to let it to the woman he was having an affair with before she died of cancer, as we found out when he lost his temper with us for suggesting it had a damp problem...

missile

couldxbe wrote: »

In terms of subletting, you mean receiving money from my boyfriend for visiting my house? This was a one bedroom (very small) property, only enough room in the bedroom for a double bed and a chest of drawers. Chances of subletting were extremely low.

In terms of permanent house guest- what does this entail? My mother rents a property, and I have a bedroom, and as far as I'm aware I'm not on the tenancy agreement even though I live there during holidays (recently graduated from university). Is this something that would be an issue, for example if he decided to stay round a lot?

I ask because I don't want this to become a big issue (I have cats, so there's one major issue already!) I just feel that the letting agencies/landlords can be a little intrusive.

As I said, it would be your home and you can do whatever you want within the terms of your agreement. It should be obvious why a LL may not like tenant moving into a "very small property" with a permanent house guest and a cat.