Landlord trying to stop me any overnight guests under any circumstances

joelpellington

I have been living in my rented house share for about two months now, and a few weeks ago my landlord (who also lives here) said that the contract stated I was not allowed any overnight guests as it was for a 'single private dwelling'. At first I believed him and that he could enforce this, however after a bit of research I feel like this rule is unenforceable and unreasonable. My contract only mentions the word 'guest' to state I cannot have a 'paying guest'.

My girlfriend will stay over once or twice a week maximum, we are respectful and quiet when she is over. She has her own mortgage and I sometimes stay at her place, so she is categorically NOT living here or moving in.

My landlord is chinese and there is a slight language barrier, if anyone could shed light on the situation and let me know if he is allowed to completely ban overnight guests it would be really helpful!! Also any links to some form of official sites that can state I'm entitled to guests would work a treat as I feel this is the only way he would listen!

Mojisola

joelpellington wrote: »

I have been living in my rented house share for about two months now, and a few weeks ago my landlord (who also lives here) said that the contract stated I was not allowed any overnight guests

As you are living in the same house as your landlord, you are a lodger and have very few rights.

Your LL can decide that he doesn't want any other people staying in the house overnight and you can comply or find somewhere else to live.

Prothet_of_Doom

It's his house. You have to respect his views.

Hedgehog99

If I was your LL, I'd be pretty fed up with a !!!!!!!!!! using my hot water etc twice a week when I wanted to let the room to a single person. It might affect his insurance too.

Hedgehog99

Don't know why it rejected that word. It said free loader.

Bonfire_Bride

Hedgehog99 wrote: »

Don't know why it rejected that word. It said free loader.

Haha...was wondering why you were being so harsh/overdramatic for your post to need censoring. :rotfl:

Try and get over the language barrier to establish what is allowed. You're a lodger, therefore you need to respect the rules 110%

joelpellington

Thanks for the replies! When I looked at the property, all three rooms were up for rent, then when I signed they lettings agency mentioned that the other rooms had been rented out to other tenants. It was literally when I moved in that I found out he'd decided to take one of the rooms himself. I didn't even realise I was going to be a lodger

Regarding the bills issue, he's strangely particular that people can come round whenever, it's literally just overnight that he has an issue with. Also I stay at hers so it's not a one way street.

Is there literally no way around it!? How can he enforce such a rule when she's clearly not living here? I thought I would be owed a bit of decency that I could have a guest as long as we didn't push it with frequency.

joelpellington

His rules are pretty clear that no overnight guests are allowed, the contract just mentions other people living here and doesn't specify guests.

19lottie82

Unfortunately not. You're a lodger so your rights are very limited indeed. However the upside of this is that you're not as tied down compared to if you were renting a whole flat.

If you're not happy with the arrangement then give your notice and look elsewhere I'm afraid!

joelpellington

The contract is originally six months, so I have 4 months left to go. What if he said I needed to wait this out and couldn't drop out, could I just keep bringing her round until he evicts me then?

joelpellington

Also, I'm not an expert on the difference between being a lodger and a normal tenant? I'm still referred to as a tenant in my tenancy agreement, it looks the same as my old contract that I've at previous properties without a live in landlord