Taking in Lodger(s)

Scrabbles

Hi,

I was contemplating taking in a lodgers (ie. one family) as I have substantial room in the house and its pointless as the 3 bedrooms are sitting empty when they could be utilised.I work full time so i am not claiming any benefits etc.

I have had interest from a family (seem decent and nice folk) who will be paying part DSS (whether it is part or full i don't think it makes a difference?) but I am concerned with regards to the following:

1. will i have to get a HMO Licence?

2. will the council wish to check the property before paying rent?

3. will the council accept a lodger agreement for the potential family who wish to move in and pay the rent to me directly?

4. I am not sure if there is any other concerns relating to DSS and the tenants i need to be concerned with.

Thanks in advance.

G_M

Scrabbles wrote: »

Hi,

I was contemplating taking in a lodgers (ie. one family) as I have substantial room in the house and its pointless as the 3 bedrooms are sitting empty when they could be utilised.I work full time so i am not claiming any benefits etc.
Personally I'd be wary about a family. Your home will rapidly become 'their' home (you'll be out-numbered, + kids just act like it's theirs) and you'll feel like an outsider in your own home.

But your choice.

I have had interest from a family (seem decent and nice folk) who will be paying part DSS (whether it is part or full i don't think it makes a difference?) but I am concerned with regards to the following:

1. will i have to get a HMO Licence? No. Though check your council's website for HMO definitions. It varies.

2. will the council wish to check the property before paying rent?
No idea how benefits claims work. Sorry

3. will the council accept a lodger agreement for the potential family who wish to move in and pay the rent to me directly?
As above

4. I am not sure if there is any other concerns relating to DSS and the tenants i need to be concerned with.
As above

Thanks in advance.

Be very clear about 'house rules'!

Make clear the notice period if things don't work out is one week.



LODGERS (Licencees/Excluded Occupiers)
A lodger (broadly) lives in the same property with their resident landlord, and shares facilities. Unlike tenants, lodgers have few rights.

The Housing Act 1988 provides definitions of 'Resident Landlord' and 'same property' (S31 & Schedule 1 (10).

There is advice for landlords considering taking in lodgers here:

LodgerLandlord (21 tips from solicitor Tessa Shepperson + General information site)

Landlordzone (Various articles on taking in lodgers)

Renting out rooms in your home (Government info)

Rent a Room Scheme (Government scheme for tax-free income from lodgers)

Miss_Merlot

Agree not to rent to a family - you will be outnumbered should things go ugly.

Use https://www.spareroom.co.uk to rent out each room separately - less of a chance for a "you against them" scenario arising that way. Be picky - don't just go for the first set of people to come along. Why do DSS when you don't have to?

We have had three lodgers in the last couple of years and it's been a really positive experience for all of us each time - but that's with one person living with me and OH, so it feels like "our" home still.

I think the rules change when you are renting out multiple rooms.

sniggings

I would think if on benefits they would need a tenancy not just a "lodger" and with a tenant you have to give them way more rights.

also as they will be claiming, the benefits people will want to know about your income and ask questions you may not want to share.

I would think they would also only pay a "fair share" of the rent, i.e if the rent, mortgage was £100, they would look to only pay a fair share of that.

You would be better getting a true lodger, hardly any rights, and you would get just as much rent.

Guest101

sniggings wrote: »

I would think if on benefits they would need a tenancy not just a "lodger" and with a tenant you have to give them way more rights.

also as they will be claiming, the benefits people will want to know about your income and ask questions you may not want to share.

I would think they would also only pay a "fair share" of the rent, i.e if the rent, mortgage was £100, they would look to only pay a fair share of that.

You would be better getting a true lodger, hardly any rights, and you would get just as much rent.

I doubt they would require a full tenancy agreement, but I'm no expert on that.

The OPs income would be irrelevant, not the same household.

I believe they get paid a rate, not a share of anything. But worth checking.

G_M

Miss_Merlot wrote: »

Use www.spareroom.co.uk to rent out each room separately - less of a chance for a "you against them" scenario arising that way.

But be aware that this then could result in creation of an HMO......

jamie11

sniggings wrote: »

I would think if on benefits they would need a tenancy not just a "lodger" and with a tenant you have to give them way more rights.

also as they will be claiming, the benefits people will want to know about your income and ask questions you may not want to share.

Completely wrong.

The landlord's financial affairs are no business of any 'benefits people'.

If the landlord lives in the same property then the family would be lodgers by definition.

Scrabbles

Thanks everyone for your input.

I will bear it all in mind the family seem really nice so i dont feel they will give any problems. I was really just concerned with the DSS part and how the council would view this. So confusing lol

I was considering taking lodgers in different ones but then i would need to get a HMO Licence and thats too much headache and costly. I thought if its one family then would not have to and save the bother of the HMO.

Thanks again for all your advice.