Flat sharing when self isolating

Dirtypop

Hi, Id be grateful for any advice on this, im in a joint tenancy at the moment and my flatmate is moving out. I have a health condition so am having to self isolate, where does this leave me with getting someone else in to share as it would be putting me at risk, can my landlord force me to get someone else in or make me pay full rent?

sharpe106

Yes why should the landlord lose out because you are self isolating? But surely you were living with another person anyway so what difference does it make? 

Dirtypop

It will be getting someone in from another household which is against gov guidelines

poppy12345

People can still move house now. How do you think the most vulnerable people manage when they are living with someone who's had to work all through the lockdown? There's people that post on here that have done exactly this. The person that moves in with you has their space and you have your space, you can still stay 2 metres apart from them. I don't know what the problem is here.

Dirtypop

The problem is that its a small flat with shared lounge area/kitchen and bathroom so impossible to stay 2 metres apart, I don't think I'm being unreasonable to be concerned 

sharpe106

You can be concerned but why should the landlord lose out? Look at it from the other way if you were the landlord would you be happy to lose half the rent? 

mobilejo

You said you have a joint tenancy - is it an AST with your name + person B on it? Or do you both have your own separate agreements with the landlord? 

If its a joint tenancy, even if person B moves out and decides they're not paying anything, the landlord can still request all of the rent from person A. You are both jointly & severally liable, so the landlord can pursue either one of you individually or both of you for the full rent. Its unlikely the landlord will pursue the leaver, so he will look to you for the full rent.

If you have separate agreements with the landlord (like a rent-a-room situation), then of course it is up to him to put someone else in the property if he wants to. You couldn't stop him from doing that if that is what he wants to do.

diggingdude

Just pay the full rent and enjoy your flat.......or accept you share a property and someone is moving in 

craig88b

Or you could maybe offer the landlord 80% rent of the other room and they might decide it’s beneficial for them not to have the hassle of finding someone else and less wear and tear.