Permitted Occupier

vikingtraveller

Hi, i have a slight conundrum, myself and my girlfriend are planning on getting a flat up North (well she is moving up north so i don't have to keep on travelling to see her) and she can't do that until i have a place, so should i explain to the Letting Agency about the problem, because if they ask for her signature she won't be able to sign until i actually move into a place, i have her details which they can take but she won't physically be around to sign anything.....

So would it be best to tell the LA about this or just take the property on alone then ask the LL if she can move in as a permitted occupier as she will not be paying towards the rent in any way as i can easily afford the rent and bills myself

Answers on a postcard....

thanks

[Deleted User]

The letting agent could post the tenancy agreement to your girlfriend and she could sign it in the presence of a witness.

Depending on the tenancy agreement you may be able to have your girlfriend move in before being a permitted occupier however enforcing a "nobody can stay more than a night" clause in a tenancy agreement wouldn't be easy for a letting agent / landlord. You can't be evicted because you have let your girlfriend move on without "permission" although it may prompt the LA / LL to seek eviction at the earliest possibility, unlikely though.

vikingtraveller

cheers, i want to be as honest as possible and the viewing i have is with the landlady (not sure why as on the agents website it said they do the viewings) so i might ask her and ask her whats the best way she would like to deal with it, as we want a long term let together and want to be good tenants so honesty is always the best way to go

Guest101

I'd avoid telling them, move her in, and if it comes up, just say it wasnt the intention when you signed, but saw no problem as rent was being paid, at worse they'll ask to add her to lease. most likely the LL will be fine with it.

But that is a law of averages, assuming you keep flat well maintained and rent paid on time.

sandsni

Assuming you actually like the place and the LL when you view - Is there any reason why having your GF on the tenancy would create problems (like poor credit etc.) or is it just that she won't physically be around when you go to sign the agreement?

My experience is that when I've discovered Ts lying about one or two fairly important things it makes me wonder what other things they've lied about in their application. And once trust is broken it doesn't make for a great LL/T relationship. Obviously this LL might have a completely different attitude to the whole thing, but my suggestion would be to sound out the LL during the viewing and explain the situation about your GF moving in later. As citricsquid said, there's nothing to stop your GF signing the agreement with a witness and posting it back before she moves up.

vikingtraveller

@sandsni

she has a normal credit rating, not positive or negative as she is 18 and hasn't got any loans/credit cards or anything like that, its just that she isn't actually here to sign the agreement and such, she will also be claiming DLA and i will tell the LL that as well but we wont be claiming any other benefits as i'll be paying all the bills just on my wages alone, but im going to be honest, if the LL doesn't like it then we will look elsewhere