Short-term renting out a house you've recently bought

turtle99

We're considering buying a house at the moment, and want to know if there are likely to be any specific rules that would prevent us renting out that house early in our mortgage, just for a few months (to go travelling etc).

We would be planning to live in the house long-term, and the rental would only be for a matter of months.

Many thanks in advance to anyone who can shed any light on this.

davidmcn

Assuming you have a mortgage, you'll need your lender's consent. So pick one which is flexible about these things.

You'll need everything else that landlords need to do - doesn't matter whether it's "just a few months" or 12 months - insurance, gas checks, keeping records for HMRC etc.

[Deleted User]

And be aware its not unknown for people to have problems getting the property back when they return. Dislodging tenants who've paid high agency fees, who may not be able to move easily for one reason or another can be a painful and prolonged process with no winners. The minimum tenancy you can have is six months anyway.

Probably would be better to go travelling before buying.

turtle99

Thanks both for your quick replies. Very useful to check these things, for obvious reasons

Guest101

deannatrois wrote: »

And be aware its not unknown for people to have problems getting the property back when they return. Dislodging tenants who've paid high agency fees, who may not be able to move easily for one reason or another can be a painful and prolonged process with no winners. The minimum tenancy you can have is six months anyway.

Probably would be better to go travelling before buying.

Just to clarify, there is no minimum for tenancy length, just a LL cannot use s.21 no fault eviction process for first 6 months.

You can have a tenancy for any period.

OP. If you have never been a landlord, this is likely the worst mistake you will ever make.

You will need EPC, Gas safety, deposit protection etc etc. If you then want the property back, you have to go through the (only) legal eviction process, which is through the courts.

turtle99

Thanks Guest101 - I just saw also that the 6-month minimum was abolished in 1996.

And thanks also for the very clear advice - will definitely heed it.

This thread: 2073895 (can't link as a a new user) says much the same - referencing it in case these threads are useful for others in the future

Guest101

turtle99 wrote: »

Thanks Guest101 - I just saw also that the 6-month minimum was abolished in 1996.

And thanks also for the very clear advice - will definitely heed it.

This thread: 2073895 (can't link as a a new user) says much the same - referencing it in case these threads are useful for others in the future

You're welcome

Renting out property is great, but like with anything we do for the first time, we will make mistakes.

First driving lesson, first time travelling, first anything.

Given you wont even be in the country, I wouldn't do this.