Rent a room scheme Scotland

span96

Hi all,

I'm a first time buyer and I'm about to finalise the purchase of my first property. I have a spare bedroom and I'm considering taking my current flatmate as a lodger temporarily. Hopefully you can help me with my questions!

- My mortgage would be a residential one. I have been advised by my mortgage broker not to tell my lender of my plans on taking a lodger since sometimes they can be a bit picky and have  issues with it ( and he said it's also very difficult they find out another person is living in the property). Does anyone have any experience/ advise on this?

- According to the rent a room scheme it's not necessary to sign up for it if lodging income is less than £7,500 which will definitely be my case (£4,500 tops). Do I need to notify them I'm renting a room in my property/ sign up for it?

-In terms of bills and such and taking into account my mortgage advisor's advise of not notifying my lender about my possible lodger, I guess all bills should be under my name. How would bills like council tax be considered though? I figured the only way my lender could find out would be by looking at council tax and vote register. Would my lodger's name be included in the property council tax and would I then pay a full bill or a single person discounted one? 

Hope you help me with my questions

canaldumidi

Best to keep all bills in your name incuding council tax.

Just adjust the rent you charge to include bills. Make sure your contract with lodger is clear.7

Don't claim single person discount obviously!

Lenders don't look at electoral register unless they have some very good reason to do so.

Make sure you understand the Scottish rules/laws about lodgers - I don't but artful does.

This thread might help:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6339007/renting-out-my-spare-room-first-timer#latest

span96

canaldumidi said:

Best to keep all bills in your name incuding council tax.

Just adjust the rent you charge to include bills. Make sure your contract with lodger is clear.7

Don't claim single person discount obviously!

Lenders don't look at electoral register unless they have some very good reason to do so.

Make sure you understand the Scottish rules/laws about lodgers - I don't but artful does.

This thread might help:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6339007/renting-out-my-spare-room-first-timer#latest

Thanks for this! The thread was also super helpful. Cheers