Is my Mother in law a Lodger

hamishandarchie

My 96 year old Mother in Law has lived with us for the last six years.
My wife and I are both retired and own our house. MIL has the virtual exclusive use of a couple of rooms and shares other facilities. 
MIL makes generous regular contributions to the household and we are living comfortably. 
I recently read an article about an house insurance claim that was rejected, as the owner had a lodger.
Is my MIL a lodger? Our house insurance is due in July and will discus with the insurer. What are your thoughts?

eddddy

She just sounds like a family member who is an occupant of the house. If you had your children living with you, they would be occupants as well (they wouldn't be lodgers).

Insurers will often ask how many people are living in the property - so your MiL should be included in that number.

wilfred30

I agree.  She is not a lodger.

macman

No rent paid, neither lodger not tenant.

hamishandarchie

Does her regular contribution to the household not qualify as rent?

theartfullodger

Inform insurers and see what they say.

(Or, if place burns down) they decided not covered.....)

[Deleted User]

hamishandarchie said:

Does her regular contribution to the household not qualify as rent?

Would you evict her if she didn't pay it?
Is it an express condition for her to reside in the property?

I expect the answers to be 'no'.  She's simply making gifts to family members.  

hamishandarchie

theartfullodger said:

Inform insurers and see what they say.

(Or, if place burns down) they decided not covered.....)

Policy is due for renewal in July, thought I would ask here first.
Thanks for replies

zagubov

The world seems to becoming far more bureaucratic so I don't blame you for being nervous but it looks very much like she is simply an occupant staying in your house and merely contributing her keep /expenses. 
Sadly for her, this informality means I doubt  she has any security of tenure. This might be different depending on which of the UK's three legal jurisdictions you're in.

Mickey666

zagubov said:

The world seems to becoming far more bureaucratic so I don't blame you for being nervous but it looks very much like she is simply an occupant staying in your house and merely contributing her keep /expenses. 
Sadly for her, this informality means I doubt  she has any security of tenure. This might be different depending on which of the UK's three legal jurisdictions you're in.

Interesting point.  Does that also mean that 18 year olds have no security of tenure and can be legally thrown out of the family home?  Theoretically of course

[Deleted User]

https://www.hethertons.co.uk/news/what-rights-do-parents-and-adult-children-living-under-the-same-roof-have-when-relationships-break-down/

This suggests that children over 18 can be classed as lodgers (and evicted fairly easily)

Best confirming with your insurer just to be sure