tenant has taken in lodger without telling me

accountingbod

Hi all

I have found out that my tenant has taken in a lodger without telling me.
Firstly, i must say that i don't mind if my tenant wants to share the flat with someone else but he has already had him move in etc.. he has taken a security deposit from him as well.

My concern is that without me knowing, there is someone else who has a key to this property and who i could receive calls from if something needed attention.

Is this something that my tenant should make me aware of? I think it is even just out of courtesy?
I'm going to call him to say something to that effect - 'I dont mind but please let me know.'

RAS

Is your insurance still valid?

Does he have the proper insurance to cover damage by his lodger?

accountingbod

i'll check my insurance. I dont think it states no. of occupants.
I'm not sure about insurance covered from his side.

julieb1987

What does it say in your actual tenant's tenant agreement? Mine says we cannot sub-let. Does yours say that? Is your tenant taking money? I take it you won't have any references/credit checks on this lodger. Could be anyone. You probably have grounds to terminate the contract here. Do you use an agency? You should get credit checks and references...god know who he/she is!

Voyager2002

accountingbod wrote: »

Hi all

I have found out that my tenant has taken in a lodger without telling me.
Firstly, i must say that i don't mind if my tenant wants to share the flat with someone else but he has already had him move in etc.. he has taken a security deposit from him as well.

My concern is that without me knowing, there is someone else who has a key to this property and who i could receive calls from if something needed attention.

Is this something that my tenant should make me aware of? I think it is even just out of courtesy?
I'm going to call him to say something to that effect - 'I dont mind but please let me know.'

That is a serious situation, since the sub-tenant will not be covered by a tenancy agreement.

DELLBOY_2

On a positive side it means it easier for them to pay the rent .

accountingbod

i actaully know because it is an ex of someone i work with who is a lodger and i know he is okay to a degree and i know his credit and reference status from the person i work with as they are still friends.
The tenant agreement does say no lodgers i think but i'm flexible on this.
Don't use an agency.

accountingbod

we have not signed a new tenancy agreement - we just agreed to let it roll on the terms of the previous one.

cooltt

I would check your legal possition if things go wrong with this guy like others have said.
However it would have been polite for your tennant to tell you about it, i suspect he didn't cause he may be making a couple of quid out of it which is naughty.

It's not being mean or nasty to speak to your tennant you simply have to protect yourself and your property on this one, get him on the TA and make it formal?

I've been a tennant for years now with different landlords and i wouldn't do this without asking because it says i can't on every TA i've signed. When my partner has moved in with me i've got the LL to change the TA accordingly. It's the right thing to do.

GDB2222

accountingbod wrote: »

we have not signed a new tenancy agreement - we just agreed to let it roll on the terms of the previous one.

Well, the previous one is the tenancy agreement then. Any standard agreement will have a clause against sub-letting.

DELLBOY_2

i would make a point in contacting the tennant and renewing the terms on the lease