Can my lodger be my boyfriend??

NEWbuyer40

I am buying my first home and have been with my boyfriend for 8 months.

At the moment he is looking for a place to rent as I wanted to buy somewhere of my own and he doesn’t have a deposit. I am buying a 2 bed flat and I have suggested he become my “lodger” as i could do with some help with bills etc and it will work out cheaper for him also. Of course in the future I hope we can buy a house together and I will then sell my flat but We are not there yet.

I am worried as I have seen on various forums saying that your lodger cannot be a partner.

If he lives with me for 6 months or more apparently he can claim a % of my flat if we brake up? Can anyone clarify the best way to have him live with me and not be entitled to the flat if we brake up?

Thank you in advance.

Marvel1

As I understand and if anyonencan clarify this:
He is only to pay half of the bills, this does not include mortgage.
If for example your boiler broke, you pay for it all.

Lucky_Duck_2

If he is your partner then he is not your lodger.

If you want to protect yourself against any future claim against the property's equity then I'd suggest not expecting him to make any contribution to your mortgage even if he would be paying rent if living elsewhere

martinthebandit

Your best bet, as your not sure you want your bf to be your partner, is to find a different lodger until you are sure.

ProDave

How stable is the relationship? It's odd that at 8 months you have doubts.

Within 3 months of meeting my "girlfriend" she had moved in. 6 months later we were engaged, 18 months later we were married and have been now for 22 years.

If you see a long term future, buy a property jointly now.

ACG

ProDave wrote: »

How stable is the relationship? It's odd that at 8 months you have doubts.

Within 3 months of meeting my "girlfriend" she had moved in. 6 months later we were engaged, 18 months later we were married and have been now for 22 years.

If you see a long term future, buy a property jointly now.

Im not sure that is fair.
8 months 22 years ago probably meant you were basically married. 8 months now a days means testing the water, she/he is alright but could still turn out to be a psychopath.

sevenhills

Although the legal title to a property may be vested in one person another person may have acquired a legal interest in that property as a result of contributing financially to its purchase; if that is not the case, so long as you are not married and there are no children, you should be ok.

00ec25

NEWbuyer40 wrote: »

I am buying my first home and have been with my boyfriend for 8 months.

At the moment he is looking for a place to rent as I wanted to buy somewhere of my own and he doesn’t have a deposit. I am buying a 2 bed flat and I have suggested he become my “lodger” as i could do with some help with bills etc and it will work out cheaper for him also. Of course in the future I hope we can buy a house together and I will then sell my flat but We are not there yet.

I am worried as I have seen on various forums saying that your lodger cannot be a partner.

lodgers do not "sleep" with their LL

the issue over status is down to whether you try to claim the tax free rent a room allowance for having a lodger. He will not be a lodger so you can't. He will be your partner and you will have shared household expenses, not a taxable income for you.

NEWbuyer40 wrote: »

If he lives with me for 6 months or more apparently he can claim a % of my flat if we brake up? Can anyone clarify the best way to have him live with me and not be entitled to the flat if we brake up?

it is not based on time together. it is based on who pays for what

document his terms of payment towards the household's bills in writing: https://www.compactlaw.co.uk/free-legal-information/relationships-family-law/unmarried-couples.html

you might also want to read these:
https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/how-to-sort-out-your-finances-on-separation

http://www.advicenow.org.uk/guides/survival-guide-living-together-and-breaking

EachPenny

ACG wrote: »

Im not sure that is fair.

I agree, things are very different to how they were 20+ years ago - I blame the internet and celebs

The main issue with buying somewhere together is unpicking the details if the relationship goes wrong. How many people would enter into a business partnership - staking a large amount of capital and accepting significant liabilities - with someone they had only known for a few months?

If you remove the romance from the situation that is effectively what new couples are doing when they buy a home together. They are purchasing property together combining assets and taking on a massive debt. It is extremely unlikely either party would be able to buy the other one out and because there is an emotional relationship involved as well as financial then the potential for failure is so much greater. If you find you cannot stand the pub mate you've purchased a BTL property with then you can agree to deal with things in writing or through an agent until you are able to sell. If the partner is someone you share a home and bed with then it gets a whole lot more complicated.

xylophone

If he lives with me for 6 months or more apparently he can claim a % of my flat if we brake up?

Slow down?:)

Let the boyfriend make his own arrangements as to his living quarters until you know where you are in terms of the future of your relationship?

bizwax

In the the context of the stability of the relationship, I wouldn't fault the OP for considering a break up. It is being realistic.. on the contrary, I would put it that somebody in a relatively early stage of a relationship, who doesn't consider breakup a possibility its totally unrealistic and somewhat blinded by love.

This is the real world. Simply, you will need to consult a lawyer.

The following comes with a warning that IANAL (I am not a lawyer) but.. I would say you can't mix a lodger and partner into one just because it suits you. It's unreasonable.

You will need to protect yourself legally and if that requires a formal, preventative process then you will also need to assess the possible impact on the relationship. For that you will need to seek advice also