Simple tenancy agreement

cherry76

My neighbour who is recently widowed is renting two bedrooms in her house at a very competitive price. She has asked me to help with a simple tenancy agreement. Can anybody help pl? The house rules are simple, no noise, tidiness and respect each other privacy. 1 month notice to end agreement. Payment by standing order. Is there anything else. Thanks

km1500

to be clear - are these lodgers living in the house she lives in (eg a three bed house, each has a bedroom and everyone including her shares the kitchen)  or do they have separate lockable accomodation? 

AlexMac

Assuming they are sharing space it’s not a AST. Don’t call it a “tenancy”; call it a “Lodger Agreement”. My granddaughter knocked one up; a simple one pager, including the stuff you mention , plus clarity about exactly which rooms were the lodger’s, which were shared and which were private to her. 

Your call if you want to include anything about guests (boyfriend, girlfriend, other..) sleeping over. 

My granddaughter was OK about that but when her (“traditionally built” in the words of Alexander McCall Smith; ie chunky) lodger and her big, athletic boyfriend broke the newly assembled bed, she made em replace it

i think she also inserted something about her providing basic foods; tea, milk, condiments etc, covered in the rent. 

Or if you want to get legalistic, lots of free draft Lodger Agreements on Google

Slinky

Giving a month's notice is potentially fraught with issues if she has a problem tenant. We've seen it all too often on here.  Also are things like heating, lighting, broadband included in the rent? Another area fraught with issues if the lodgers run up bigger bills by leaving lighting, heating, oven on etc. Or the lodger who likes to take daily long baths using lots of hot water and blocking use of the bathroom.

propertyrental

1 weeks notice either way and rent paid weekly (rent book required if weekly).

NEVER use the words 'tenant' or 'tenancy'.

Make sure you understand the tax rules - income tax and possibly Capital Gains Tax if more than 1 lodger.

Now read

Post 10: Lodgers: advice & links for landlords & lodgers

theartfullodger

Sorry for her loss.

Remind her also that rent a room scheme only permits ALL rent up to £7500pa - taxed above.

She needs to keep records.  And might get HB or UC/HE to pay part of rent....

Anyone who starts renting property out without first having signed agreements in place is ... well, in need of help - to be polite 

Good luck & congrats for helping her