Flatmate Drama

Guest101

buglawton wrote: »

Do you still have a mortgage on your flat? If so you'll not be allowed by your mortgage company - Amazing, can you read it from here? to rent it out without a proper (probably Assured Shorthold Tenancy) contract in place. - An AST can be verbal and can be for individual rooms. You can give this to your lodger as the reason for getting the situation in order pronto, otherwise your best/safest option financially might be to sell the flat or keep it empty until you get a new tenant with proper AST and deposit held in escrow.

Your friend/lodger has had it good for a long time in a tough rental market and doesn't want things to change.

If the OP has moved out, the lodger is now a tenant by default.

Pixie5740

What kind of tenancy will be in place once you move out? A joint tenancy between the current lodger and a new person in which case I understand why she wants to have a say in whose wagon she shall be hitching her star to, or are you planning on having 2 separate tenancy agreement?

If it were me I would just ask her to leave and let the whole property out with a joint tenancy to other people.

pinkshoes

Southernman wrote: »

Fortunately my parents are landlords so they've taught me everything I need to know in advance. I'm also a regular lurker in that forum!

It's scary business but I do have the appropriate savings if necessary.

It is great that your parents have experience, but it is YOU that will be the landlord, so YOU that is responsible.

i assume you have looked into:
- tenancy agreements
- HMO rules (as it is not members of one family living there)
- how to legally protect their deposits.
- how bills are going to be paid
- the eviction process should your tenant (currently a lodger) turn awkward.
- gas certificates before tenancy begins
- property meets all regulations e.g. Fire doors, alarms etc...

Your friend/housemate seems to be taking the p*ss. It is YOUR property, so tell her that she either wccepts this new housemate, or you will evict her (no notice required as she is a lodger) and rent the whole property out.

heuchera

You might be better off keeping this woman as a tenant, because at least you know she's not going to trash the place and she'll pay the rent on time.

However, she does need to face reality. You can't go vetting other tenants and letting people down according to her whims and desires.

If she's afraid of someone having NYE parties, maybe look for an older more mature tenant. In my experience the noisy and disrespectful tenants are usually either young (students!) or are unemployed benefits claimants who have no real need to get up early in the morning so think nothing of making a racket all night.

Guest101

Alternative would be to rent the flat to her, and she can pick her own lodger.

Topcat1982

Rent the whole flat out for £x. The girl then has the option of renting it herself or getting together with a friend. She can't be a lodger anymore

You will need to change your mortgage to buy to let one.

RAS

Topcat1982 wrote: »

You will need to change your mortgage to buy to let one.

Or get consent to let.

Either way OP do not even consider renting the property without the proper approval, as this invalidates your insurance and gives your ex flatmate a large lever with which to threaten you in future.

BigAunty

heuchera wrote: »

You might be better off keeping this woman as a tenant, because at least you know she's not going to trash the place and she'll pay the rent on time.

.

True. However, the OP has mixed business and friendship and therefore accommodation issues face ruining their relationship which is a disaster for the professional side of things.

The OP needs her flatmate to switch from lodger to tenant mentality and to view the OP as a landlord, not a pal, but she can't seem to make this change as it involves her co-sharing with someone she doesn't know and therefore doesn't trust.

She hasn't even put the time in to facilitate something that would have gone more in her favour in terms of finding a better replacment flat mate.

The OP indicates she goes away every weekend. Perhaps there is a compelling reason for this (such as caring responsibilities) but if its for social/family reasons, and she couldn't be bothered to change her plans on a single occasion to find a flatmate, it shows what a low priority the change is to her.

It isn't realistic for the OP to bear the expense until such time her friend can rummage up someone who happens to need accommodation, wants to move in with her and earns enough to cover the bills comfortably.

The OPs pal wants the cost of being a lodger, while enjoying the rights of being a tenant, with the decision making that a landlord usually has but with none of the hassle that comes with it, such as unpaid rent and bills.

Guest101

Topcat1982 wrote: »

Rent the whole flat out for £x. The girl then has the option of renting it herself or getting together with a friend. She can't be a lodger anymore

You will need to change your mortgage to buy to let one.

Or get consent to let.

Gigervamp

Southernman wrote: »

Please bear in mind from Jan I'll be paying two sets of bills and after the 18th (2 weeks) no further viewings with flatmate there could have happened as she will have gone home for Christmas.

Why will you be paying two sets of bills? Surely, as your flatmate will become a tenant, it will be down to her to pay the bills.

You're not only charging her a room rate (plus £50 extra for the bigger room) are you?