Have we got ourselves in a mess already? Two bed flatshare - one name on contract

helpmeimagraduate

I really feel like I have been treated unfairly on here. I have never use Money Saving Expert before and I have been genuine throughout in everything I have said. I may have said something unfortunate, but it was definitely not racist at all and you ought not to bandy that term around because it can be a very damaging allegation to make against somebody indeed.

jamie11

helpmeimagraduate wrote: »

I really feel like I have been treated unfairly on here.

No you haven't been treated unfairly at all, you have the answers you were looking for.

Talking to you about perceived racist comments may do you some good by making you think about what you write in the future.

If I were an alternative colour and said I wouldn't interact with white people because........whatever, that would be being racist. You must realise that we have all nationalities posting here, it's rare that you can tell their colour or race unless they choose to tell you.

It's easy to be gracious and admit your comment was out of order.

Kynthia

As a few others have said, it would seem like your friend is the tenant and you are a permitted lodger. This means that if you and your friend fall out, you can move out without risking owing the landlord anything for the remainder of the contract and don't have to try to get your name removed. However you have little security and your friend is responsible for the whole rent and the condition of the property. Being joint tenants or tenant and lodger both have advantages and disadvantages so you can decide which you prefer. However what concerns me is that your friend will be a landlord to you and therefore should be declaring the rent you pay for tax.

JuicyJesus

helpmeimagraduate wrote: »

I may have said something unfortunate, but it was definitely not racist at all

Yes, it was. It wasn't "unfortunate", you deliberately wrote something which very clearly said you think non-English people will scam you. I've not misinterpreted you or said anything out of context, THAT IS WHAT YOU SAID.

burnoutbabe

why would she declare any tax, you don't pay any tax if you don't own the property.

helpmeimagraduate

jamie11 wrote: »

No you haven't been treated unfairly at all, you have the answers you were looking for.

Talking to you about perceived racist comments may do you some good by making you think about what you write in the future.

If I were an alternative colour and said I wouldn't interact with white people because........whatever, that would be being racist. You must realise that we have all nationalities posting here, it's rare that you can tell their colour or race unless they choose to tell you.

It's easy to be gracious and admit your comment was out of order.

I didn't say anything about colour, please don't twist things. The comment was unfortunate as I admitted, but I don't think it's fair to force me to say it was out of order to feel more comfortable being granted a tenancy by an English letting agent. Were you ever 21 years old moving to a big city for the first time? It's a huge financial committment and I don't have rich parents to bail me out if it goes wrong. The reality is that I want things to go smoothly, I just didn't express it in the best way.

princeofpounds

The tax liability for your friend is a very interesting point. Well done that poster.

terryw

burnoutbabe wrote: »

why would she declare any tax, you don't pay any tax if you don't own the property.

Can you please provide a link for this please. Thanks.

helpmeimagraduate

UPDATE: I have looked at the contract between my friend and the LL. She is named as the only tenant. The tenancy is described as an Assured Shorthold Tenancy. There is also a covenant saying that the tenant agrees "not to sublet, assign, part with possession of this Property, nor to allow any other person live at the Property."

So me being there is going to be in breach of tenant's covenants?

How can an estate agent overlook things like this, and also the tax implications? Why can't it just be a joint tenancy for goodness sake.

burnoutbabe

terryw wrote: »

Can you please provide a link for this please. Thanks.

https://www.gov.uk/renting-out-a-property/paying-tax

But in any event, the cost of rent payments onwards would be allowable against the rent charged so no tax due.