Renting 4 bed house, can I have a permanent guest?

skegyuk

Hi,

I am currently renting a 4 bed house from an estate agent.

They have done an inspection recently and are very happy with the house, but they did mention that as I had a guest staying indefinitely this was not allowed!

The guest is my brother in law and just come back from Uni. Does not pay rent but needs a place to stay until he gets a job, so that could be 10 weeks or it could be 10 months.

I was just wondering what I should go back to the estate agent with. I like the house but we pay £1300 a month rent and don't want to live somewhere if we can't help out family etc when they need a place to stay.

Any input would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Danny

kitschkitty

If you aren't sub letting, then who you choose to invite to stay as guests (and for how long) is your business and no-one elses!

The only thing that tenant (& landlord) need consider is that the people named on the tenancy agreement are responsible for the condition of the house (if a guest should cause damage etc) but that's just common sense anyway.

An inspection isn't an excuse for the agent/LL to check up on your lifestyle choices including if you invite guests to stay!

monty-doggy

As long as you are private tenants and not council or association, and not sub letting, it's non of their business!

theartfullodger

You CAN: question is, depending on what your tenancy says, are you allowed to. Sorry I can't read it from here... what does it say on the matter?

More important if you p+++ off agent/landlord they'll likely evict for no reason required using section 21 of Housing Act 1988.

Do you wish to stay? Do you need a reference for your next home?

Cheers!

kitschkitty

theartfullodger wrote: »

You CAN: question is, depending on what your tenancy says, are you allowed to. Sorry I can't read it from here... what does it say on the matter?

More important if you p+++ off agent/landlord they'll likely evict for no reason required using section 21 of Housing Act 1988.

Do you wish to stay? Do you need a reference for your next home?

Cheers!

Sorry but how will the landlord prove if the OP has a guest for 1 night or one year, and how could it be a fair term within their tenancy agreement?

Yes there are plenty of reasons a LL might want to get someone out of the house, but if the OP is a good tenant, paying the rent on time etc, (and I can't imagine 4 bed properties are the easiest to find good tenants for) then this is just ridiculous.

It's a huge pity that there are so many bad LLs out there that such things need even be a consideration.


Incidentally do (private) rental agreements generally state anything on the matter of guests (I'm not talking about subletting), it's not something I've ever come across on any of my tenancy agreements.

[Deleted User]

I have "permanent guests" (my family live with me) and the letting agent had no problems with this arrangement as long as everyone over the age of 18 was on the tenancy agreement and had a credit check. Have you inquired about this?

I believe that, although someone may correct me if I'm wrong, the reasoning behind disallowing permanent guests is the prevention of subletting. Most "permanent guests" are probably some form of lodger, which isn't permitted by the majority of tenancy agreements.

richardw

Brother is a family member, not a guest.

abankerbutnotafatcat

Per Richard above, that's how I would view it. My tenancy agreement states the property is for the residence of the named tenant and their family.

princeofpounds

Legally there is nothing the LA or LL can do to stop you having guests in your house. Even if it is prohibited in the contract they would find it very hard, maybe impossible, to get a court to end the tenancy on discretionary Section 8 grounds, particularly if you are sheltering a family member.

However, as Artfullodger points out, if they aren't happy they can just terminate your tenancy at the end of the fixed term via the Section 21 process.

Personally, I would just tell them that your brother is only here for the next X weeks, then if they want to inspect again in a quarter or more he can make himself scarce for the day.

e2000e2000e

Sounds like an agent covering his tracks, possible trying to get another tenant referencing fee! We had my sister in law live with us in our rented property for about 3 years, the letting agent was always saying she needed to be on the tenancy agreement, with the £150 fees that would cost. The land lord was aware and happy with the situation, remember your agreement is with the landlord, not the letting agent!