Lodgers moved child in without my permission

Richyd1404

Good evening

The title basically says it all
I am a live-in landlord, and have rented the spare room out to a couple who had moved over long distance.
Their child (who was living with his uncle for the time being) had come over to visit, but hasn't left. They didn't ask my permission to move him in and for now I'm living with a family (the child is sleeping in a sleeping bag in their room) This makes me feel uncomfortable as I sometimes feel like it's me renting out a room from them.
I know the easy thing would be to ask them to leave (they did sign a contract which states I can give them 28 days notice to leave) but with it being so close to Christmas I guess you could say I haven't got the heart and am being too soft.
So my questions are, is it legal for all 3 of them to be here? Will this affect my house insurance? Do I have legal right to ask them to leave if there is a child involved?

Thankyou

Mojisola

Richyd1404 wrote: »

I am a live-in landlord, and have rented the spare room out to a couple who had moved over long distance.

Their child (who was living with his uncle for the time being) had come over to visit, but hasn't left. They didn't ask my permission to move him in and for now I'm living with a family

Have you told them that you aren't happy with their child living in the house?

duchy

How long has the child been there ?
Is it possible they will be returning to their home after Christmas (for example is the child staying for the school holidays)
Have you actually asked them ?

Richyd1404

The child's been here around a month or so.
I haven't said anything as of yet, I've decided I'm going to have to but wanted some advice in advance.

G_M

Step one is to bake (or buy if you must) a cake, make tea, and sit them down. Explain you are not happy. You understood when you let the room you were getting 2 lodgers, not 2 + a child, and that the arrangement cannot continue. Either the child must go, or they all must.

If you can resolve amicably and child leaves - great. If not:

step two is to give writen notice.

Unfortunately

Richyd1404 wrote: »

......(they did sign a contract which states I can give them 28 days notice to leave)

You're mad! Why on earth did you give a 28 day notice period? I would always recommend 1 week. Once you give notice, life in your home with them inevitably becomes, at best, awkward (and at worst, don't go there!)

But that's the contract you gave them, so write toute suite.

Yes it's legal. No the child makes no difference.
Who knows about your insurance? I can't read your policy from here.

ps - are you single or do you have a partner/family? I would never take in lodgers who outnumber me. So if you are single I suggest in future you just get one lodger.

If you live with a spouse/partner, then 2 lodgers is easier to manage.

mrginge

You can ask them to leave for any reason.
If you haven't got the guts to do so then you're probably not cut out to be a landlord.

Richyd1404

It's best I buy one, baking isn't one of my strong hobbies!
It's not so much as having the guts, I just feel it's unfair to ask a child to leave so close to Christmas. I was curious as to whether I'd have to go down the legal route but it seems like a simple chat will suffice.
Thanks very much.

Mojisola

Richyd1404 wrote: »

It's not so much as having the guts, I just feel it's unfair to ask a child to leave so close to Christmas. I was curious as to whether I'd have to go down the legal route but it seems like a simple chat will suffice.

If you have to give them 28 days notice, no-one will be leaving this side of Christmas.

G_M

A simple chat suffices if they agree to whatever you want.

If not, follow the legal route by serving a written notice.

marksoton

Celifein wrote: »

The world would be a much nicer place if more people took the tea and cake approach to conflict resolution.

Indeed, but only if you follows Sun Tzu's sage advice!

SailorSam

mrginge wrote: »

If you haven't got the guts to do so then you're probably not cut out to be a landlord.

That's why i could never be a landlord. People would walk all over me.