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Lodger or Tenant?

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Comments

  • G_M
    G_M Posts: 51,977 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    edited 31 August 2012 at 7:37PM
    There are argumants to say this set up makes you a lodger, and other arguments to say you would have more rights/protection.

    Whether in fact this type of set-up is an AST, Excuded Occupier or Ocupier with basic protection can ultimately only be determined by a court.

    If you make an issue of this now, you will never find out as you will not get to live there.

    If the LL is "a nice guy", resolves any repair issues /complaints promptly, and generally looks after you, you will never find out as you will not need to go to court.

    Only if the place starts to fall apart or the heating breaks down, and the LL does nothing, or the LL suddenly tries to evict you within 24 hours, will there be an issue.

    You could then threaten (and follow up) 'illegal eviction', 'harassment', 'failure to register the deposit' etc. If it then went to court, THEN you'd find out what rights/protection you had! If any.

    Personally I would not worry. Take basic precautions eg
    * get receipts for all deposit, rent etc
    * have clear (ideally written) agreement about whether you can have overnight guests, visitors (for how long...?), frequency/reasons why LL might want access, delivery of your post (shared letter box?), elecoral registration etc etc.

    If both sides are clear about ground rules and happy with them then don't rock the boat.

    But clearly if you want the freedom to invite long-term visitors, want absolute privacy, or other things AST tenants take for granted but this LL may not agree to, then walk away. Not worth arguing over (guaranteed to sour the relationship). Just find an AST elsewhere.

    Inventory? More a problem for him than you. If the cooker is missing when you leave, how will he prove it was ever there.....?

    TV licence is strange. If you ARE a lodger and it's a single residence I don't believe you need your own licence, but I may be wrong.
  • pmlindyloo
    pmlindyloo Posts: 13,100 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Just googled TV licence - if you live in an annex you need your own licence - sorry, can't post the link.
  • terryw
    terryw Posts: 4,396 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Combo Breaker
    Just out of interest - what is the monthly rent/lodger charge? Thanks.
    "If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
    Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools"
    Extract from "If" by Rudyard Kipling
  • alexkxx
    alexkxx Posts: 19 Forumite
    Its 475 (400 + 75 for utilities)
This discussion has been closed.
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