If I'm renting a property (long-term), can I rent out a room to help?

mbchepburn

Basically what the title suggests.

I've found a nice house in Lancaster, with 3 bedrooms. I personally only need 2, but will I able to rent out the 3rd room? I just see people paying £100p/wk for renting out the room. I'm just unsure if I'm within my rights to do that?

Cheers,

Cam

lessonlearned

Most likely not. Check your lease for clauses re sub-letting.

abankerbutnotafatcat

My lease says for exclusive use of the tenant and his/her family. I'd want to know if my T was doing this. If they couldn't afford the property on their own it would be a concern. That said, if one person wanted to rent a three bed place I'd already have asked the question. Ask your prospective LL as even two ppl is an under-use of the property I.e. from LL's perspective indicates low wear and tear, but the risk will be a person not on the lease (so LL has no recourse to) having key access which I wouldn't want.

G_M

As above. Check the tenancy agreement to see what it allows/prohibits.

Speak to the landlord - Many LLs use standard agreements (ou'd be surprised how many don't even know what clauses it has!) and may be willing to delete that clause. Openness is the key.

If a LL finds out you are breaking the terms of the tenancy and have been hiding the fact they are likely to be highly miffed, and may seek to end the tenancy.

If they know what the situation is, and trust you because you've been honest, they are more likely to be flexible.

If renting through an agency it can be more difficult. Agencies too use standard agreements (which frequently prohibit sub-letting) but are often less flexible - they have their 'policies'...

Of course, a landlord can instruct his agent to ignore the 'policy' with respect to his property, but getting to speak to the landlord, before signing the tenancy agreement, can be well-nigh impossible when going via an agency.

tim123456789

abankerbutnotafatcat wrote: »

My lease says for exclusive use of the tenant and his/her family. .

In legal terms a "lodger" is a member of your family, (and it is not sub-letting), so this, or any similar, clause is no impediment to you having one.

The LL may not like the idea and he may use it as an excuse to give you whatever statutory notice is available to him, but IMHO he will have absolutely no chance showing a breach of contract, should he wish to try to use this to terminate the contract early.

[Deleted User]

You could always have the new person added to the tenancy agreement, in which case it wouldn't be subletting. It might cost you money to amend the contract if you're renting through an agency though.

maginot

Sub letting is when you are not living in the property and renting the property out (or part if it) and would be against the lease, renting a room would be okay. However if the LL does not like it, you could get a section 21 quickly and asked to leave.

Kynthia

[Deleted User] wrote:

You could always have the new person added to the tenancy agreement, in which case it wouldn't be subletting. It might cost you money to amend the contract if you're renting through an agency though.

This gives the other person equal responsibility as well as equal rights in the property to the OP. This might not be what the OP wants as what if it doesn't work out with this stranger, the OP wouldn't be able to give them notice.

Unless the tenancy agreement prohibits lodgers, there are two options:
Take in a lodger without informing your landlord. It shouldn't affect your landlord in any way as you are still the only one responsible for the condition of the property and all the rent. Whatever your lodger does or doesn't do has no impact on the landlord as any damage is your responsibility and all rent is your responsibility. The lodger has no tenancy and no right to stay, and you can tell them to leave with reasonable notice. You are responsible for your lodger. However many landlords don't understand this and worry, or just don't like having people living in their property that they don't know about. Therefore if they find out it can strain relations or trust and possibly cause them to evict you. However many landlords wouldn't evict a tenant who was paying rent and were treating the property well.
Ask your landlord for permission. Explain the above about how the property is still your responsibility, the lodger has no rights and it won't affect them at all. Also explain how it means you will have more money and be even more likely to afford the rent long term, which means less hassle and no voids for them. However they might still say no.

thesaint

Have you seen the tenancy agreement?
What is "long term"?