Landlords Not Accepting Housing Benefit Tenants

CarrieVS

ERICS_MUM wrote: »

I know even less about lodgers ! I’ve never seen the option of lodger when trawling through rental properties on Rightmove, could you give me a bit more info or a link?

Not the person you asked but I've spent the majority of the last five years as a lodger in three separate houses.

You have less protections than as a tenant, but that means less risk for the landlord. It's easier for either party to get out of it - fixed-term agreements aren't unknown but it's typical to be periodic from the start with only one month's notice needed. However the flexibility runs both ways, and it's usually quicker and easier to set up as well as to get out of: I used to have to occasionally relocate on short notice because of my work situation and lodging was infinitely more practical than trying to rent as a tenant when I only had a week between finding a place and moving in. (If your family member needs to move ASAP then it may be a good short-term solution even if it's not what she really wants.)

It's often also cheaper, though may not look it on the face of it as typically they have bills included. Some may include bills as a separate fixed amount per month, some include bills but council tax is extra, etc. It's up to the landlord, so when comparing costs make sure you allow for those differences.

It's not to everyone's taste sharing a property with your landlord, but it's a roof over your head. The dynamic between landlords and lodgers varies a lot: in my current place, we're more or less flatmates. Another place I felt more like a guest, and the other was an older lady renting out her grown kids' former bedrooms to three young women, and felt a little more like family (but only a little).

I've usually found lodgings on sites like spareroom.co.uk which are geared more towards flatshares and live-in-landlords. They may not use the term lodger/lodging in the advert: the key phrase is usually live-in landlord.

Computer_Beginner

The landlords I know who have lodger vary, some run it a bit like a guesthouse, change the bedding, cook breakfast for the lodger etc. Basically an unlicensed B&B type setup. They mainly take in temporary workers and charge a bit more, because the lodger gets some meals included (unofficially).

Other landlords basically let the lodger have the house to themselves, but keep one small room as theirs, so officially they live there, but in reality they spend most time at a relative or girlfriend's house nearby etc. They charge the lodgers less, but all bills kept in landlord's name, because it needs to remain his "official residence". Sometimes take lodgers with kids, but obviously charge more.

Some landlords are happy to take lodger in, then officially "evict" them, so the lodger can try for council accommodation. I've seen it work on one occasion, where the lodger had a young child.

Most of the landlords I know are happy for the lodger to claim LHA. They don't mind confirming with the council that the claimant is their lodger (some ask a small charge for the letter etc), but obviously if the LHA gets delayed, the lodger needs to pay all the rent themselves.

The only time the government really interferes with lodgers, is if they suspect they are "illegal immigrants". The "Right to Rent / Hostile Environment" policy even applies to lodgers, UNLESS, the lodger goes home at the weekend.