Suspect tennant is subletting a room

Dodgysailor

Hi all,

I am renting my two bedroom terrace house to a married couple and one of the rooms was normally empty. I have been told by my neighbour that someone else is living in the house with the couple but I have no ways of finding out whther they are friends or they are paying rent for it. Is there anything I can do to check this?
Cheers

jamie11

Dodgysailor wrote: »

Hi all,

I am renting my two bedroom terrace house to a married couple and one of the rooms was normally empty. I have been told by my neighbour that someone else is living in the house with the couple but I have no ways of finding out whther they are friends or they are paying rent for it. Is there anything I can do to check this?
Cheers

You could ask your tenant, he is entitled to allow anyone he wants to stay in his HOME as a guest, he is also entitled to allow a LODGER to stay in HIS spare room.

You have rented the place, until you get it back you have no say on who can stay there. It's your investment but it's not your home.

JimmyTheWig

jamie11 wrote: »

he is also entitled to allow a LODGER to stay in HIS spare room.

Surely that depends on the rental contract, doesn't it?

HB58

Better that your tenant has a lodger than that he cannot pay the rent.

kitschkitty

I can understand a landlord wanting to know that the people they are renting to are the main residents living there, but if those people can't have a guest staying with them without the LL wanting to stick their oar in I despair.

jamie11

JimmyTheWig wrote: »

Surely that depends on the rental contract, doesn't it?

No it doesn't.

Look at it from a different viewpoint, when you rent the property you can put what you like into the agreement, if you deviate far from that which a judge would consider fair then you would fail to enforce them. Look at the government 'rent-a-room' scheme.
A tenant is entitled to treat the property as his own providing he pays his rent, just as a home owner can providing he pays his mortgage.

Unless you are a skilled litigator then almost any clause you try to add to an agreement that restricts the rights of a tenant is almost bound to be found unfair. (UTCRR)

Judith_W

I don't think it constitutes subletting unless they are not living there and the other tenants have the run of the place.

DRP

Judith_W wrote: »

I don't think it constitutes subletting unless they are not living there and the other tenants have the run of the place.

i guess that is what the OP needs to establish by making enquiries.

I don't think it is as simple as 'it is their home, so LL should keep his nose out'.

jamie11

Dodgysailor wrote: »

someone else is living in the house with the couple

I rest my case.

McKneff

Judith_W wrote: »

I don't think it constitutes subletting unless they are not living there and the other tenants have the run of the place.

Spot on...........

note_2

jamie11 wrote: »

No it doesn't.

1) Look at it from a different viewpoint, when you rent the property you can put what you like into the agreement, if you deviate far from that which a judge would consider fair then you would fail to enforce them. Look at the government 'rent-a-room' scheme.
2) A tenant is entitled to treat the property as his own providing he pays his rent, just as a home owner can providing he pays his mortgage.

1) from the gov website 'However, if you are renting, you should check whether your lease allows you to take in a lodger.' so you could be able to, just check. even if you own your own house you should check with your mortgage provider.

2) utter garbage. a homeowner can redecorate, knock down walls (with permission of leasholder if leashold), a tenant cant.

very dangerous advice your giving people here, best ignore what this guys saying.