Renting/Lodger

atencorps

Hi,

In need of some tenancy advice. I rented a room from a live in landlord on spareroom. At time of renting price was agreed and the landlord confirmed the room had a lock on the door and even provided lock when I moved in.
Suddenly after 4 weeks the landlord has turned round saying they don't like me locking door and the price agreed isn't sufficient.

The advert stated no minimum or maximum rental terms.

Can the landlord demand I leave ? and if so is there a minimum notice period ?. especially since I have not broken any terms. No contract was signed .

Thanks

agrinnall

You're a lodger, and the only tenancy terms are whatever you have agreed. If you didn't agree any then you can be asked to leave with little notice (possibly none). I'd start looking for somewhere else to live and next time make sure you agree the terms before you start to pay rent.

Slithery

Indeed.


In the absence of any written contract the notice only has to be 'reasonable', if you are paying per week then one weeks notice would be acceptable.

allypally26

If there is a lock on the door doesn’t that mean the OP is a tenant instead of a lodger?

00ec25

allypally26 wrote: »

If there is a lock on the door doesn’t that mean the OP is a tenant instead of a lodger?

no
the LL must have granted exclusive use of the room to convert the status from lodger to tenant.
a mere lock does not do that, nor is a lock a requirement of being a tenant. What matters is what is in writing

sevenhills

atencorps wrote: »

Suddenly after 4 weeks the landlord has turned round saying they don't like me locking door and the price agreed isn't sufficient.

Is what you pay low? If you feel safe and secure, is locking the door a problem? I had a lodger, no lock on the door.
You have got to trust each other, you have access to the whole house, the landlord must trust you.

FreeBear

I too have a lodger (things have settled down with them). The only lock on the door is a thumb latch operated from inside. Aside from a couple of rooms, they have free run of the place. Trust on both sides in this situation is essential. And yes, I would oppose putting a proper lock on the door - One reason being that it might create a tenancy.

With a "licence to occupy", the only protection the lodgers have are what is written in to the contract - Even then, there is little in the way of protection if I wanted to kick them out.

If the OP doesn't feel secure without a lock on the door, then it is probably best to look for new accommodation.

Red-Squirrel_2

FreeBear wrote: »

I too have a lodger (things have settled down with them).

You let your violent lodger stay after his battered girlfriend fled?

FreeBear

Red-Squirrel wrote: »

You let your violent lodger stay after his battered girlfriend fled?

It was (hopefully) a one off event, and now that I'm aware of the background story, a little more forgiving. A notice to vacate triggered the involvement of some outside agencies, and they are now getting the help & support that they need.

I see no need to go in to details, suffice to say I'm satisfied there will be no repeat of the incident.

Red-Squirrel_2

FreeBear wrote: »

It was (hopefully) a one off event, and now that I'm aware of the background story, a little more forgiving. A notice to vacate triggered the involvement of some outside agencies, and they are now getting the help & support that they need.

I see no need to go in to details, suffice to say I'm satisfied there will be no repeat of the incident.

I just hope his girlfriend is ok, there is no ‘background’ that makes domestic violence forgiveable.

G_M

The notice period required is whatever was agreed, whether in writing or verbally, at the start.

If there was no agreement, it must be 'reasonable notice'.

A rule of thumb to 'reasonableness' (though this is not a definitive definition) is 1 weeks notice if rent is paid weekly or 1 months notice if rent is paid montthly.

Referring to posts above, if there has been violence, that would probably affect how a judge would define what is 'reasonable' in a specific case.

See also
* Lodgers: advice & links for landlords & lodgers