Consent to let on a new mortgage - first time buyer

Yorkie1

You need to look at the council website where you wish to buy. From what you've described, you're not looking at a property which would fit the mandatory licensing rules.

However, mention has been made of 'discretionary' licensing rules. Each council differs so Havering council may not be right for your local council.

You also need to check whether an Article 4 Direction is in force for any area you want to buy. This means that you need planning permission to create a HMO (however defined) - so need to know whether this will be the case before you buy.

Yes, your insurance will need to know if you want to take on lodgers. Some policies only allow 1 lodger - you'd need to check the small print before making plans based on >1 lodger.

As for mortgages, as another poster has said, most lenders don't need to know (it's tenants they're more bothered about) i.e. where you aren't resident) but again check first.

Kynthia

As lodgers don't have the rights of tenants, and as you'll be living at the property then lenders don't' usually need to know about lodgers. Make sure you understand the difference between lodgers and tenants as it's all about the contract with lodgers, so you don't want to grant a fixed term or long notice period and then be stuck with someone in your home you aren't happy with. The House Buying, Renting & Selling section of the forum has had some good threads on the subject recently. You will need to get an annual gas safety certificate, which many resident landlords don't realise.


You might find page 7 interesting for Havering:
http://www.havering.gov.uk/Documents/Housing/Private-tenants/Leaflet.%20Licensing%20of%20HMOs.pdf