Is my paying lodger actually living here

Oldlandlady

I have rented a furnished room in my house, where I also live with another lodger. The new lodger pays me "rent" in full, but stays here only 2 - 3 days a week. I was not expecting this, thinking he would live here full time. Do I have to declare him on the council Household Enquiry Form? He doesn't receive post here and doesn't want me to declare him. He says he stays with his girlfriend the rest of the time and stops here only for convenience. All his post and other documents are registered at his parents' address, where he doesn't actually live, but presumably visit regularly.

PasturesNew

I would say, thinking it through, that yours is his address, but he happens to have a gf he can stay over some times per week, but the relationship isn't such that either wants to give up their 'independence'.

It's absolutely normal for people to leave paperwork registered at parents' addresses as that's stable/secure, whereas moving around causes no end of problems with changes of address etc and sometimes insecure communal tables for mail etc.

If his gf chucked him today he'd be living at yours 7 days/week wouldn't he. Therefore it's his actual main personal address of the three places he has stuff at.

Fosterdog

It depends, are you closer to where he works so he uses yours as a base instead of commuting? Where did he live before he lodged with you?

To me it's sounds more like he officially still lives with his parents, spends most of his time with his girlfriend but needs somewhere for when he either can't stay with her or if it's not practical.

getmore4less

Does it matter

Household Enquiry Form is used to update the electoral register, you can be on multiple registers.

Ask them which register they are on?

Marvel1

getmore4less wrote: »

Does it matter

Household Enquiry Form is used to update the electoral register, you can be on multiple registers.

Ask them which register they are on?

Maybe the OP is concerned with council tax and claiming 25% single discount.

saajan_12

cjdavies wrote: »

Maybe the OP is concerned with council tax and claiming 25% single discount.

Oldlandlady wrote: »

I have rented a furnished room in my house, where I also live with another lodger. The new lodger...

Unless OP or their existing other lodger are students, I assume they can't claim 25% discount anyway

hanfrangipane

I have Monday to Friday lodgers who stay with me when they are working but have a home elsewhere that they stay at on weekends. When I spoke to my council regarding single person discount I was told if they paid council tax elsewhere then I could still get my discount if I provided a copy of their council tax bill at their main residence which was in another area.


I suppose it depends where your lodger classes as his main residence, although it sounds like he's trying to not class anywhere as a main residence to be honest!

Jenniefour

Ask him where his main residence is, which is where he'll be registered for council tax. And evidence i.e. copy.

Tammykitty

I lived away from my parents for 10 years (From uni onwards) and moved around a lot, so left my bank accounts, phone contracts etc all at my parents address, as it was a lot easier and more secure than changing them every 6 months or every year.


I finally changed them when I stopped living in house shares and moved in to a flat on my own.


Also, I don't get much post, with most things being online these days, it reduces the most of post people get, so he may be using your address officially, just not getting any letters.

teddysmum

Perhaps,he's under the impression that his girlfriend doesn't have to declare that he lives with her (benefits), if he lives elsewhere for a couple of days, saying that he officially lives between parents and his lodgings.

CIS

Oldlandlady wrote: »

I have rented a furnished room in my house, where I also live with another lodger. The new lodger pays me "rent" in full, but stays here only 2 - 3 days a week. I was not expecting this, thinking he would live here full time. Do I have to declare him on the council Household Enquiry Form? He doesn't receive post here and doesn't want me to declare him. He says he stays with his girlfriend the rest of the time and stops here only for convenience. All his post and other documents are registered at his parents' address, where he doesn't actually live, but presumably visit regularly.

If the 'lodger' does not have his 'sole or main residence' at your address then he is not regarded as resident for council tax purposes - the local authority will probably want proof he has another address elsewhere. For other purposes the definitions used may be different.

Craig