Guide to taking in a Lodger

What is a Lodger?

A Lodger is a person who rents a room in your home without having exclusive rights to any part of the property. Usually there is a formal arrangement in place that sets out the rooms that the Lodger can use and those that they share with the rest of the household (e.g. the kitchen, living room and bathroom) for an agreed payment.

Close family members such as a parent, step parent or parent-in-law, a son or daughter, step son or step daughter, a son-in-law or daughter-in-law, a brother or sister are not normally classified as Lodgers so you need to be fully aware of this.

Do I need Permission to take in a Lodger?

As a Private Home Owner

--You may need to inform your Mortgage Provider.

--You may need to inform your Insurance Provider.

--You may need to inform the Local Council (Council Tax).

--You may need to inform DWP if you Claim any Benefits.

As a Council Housing / Housing Association / Housing Trust etc Tenant (Social Housing)

--You may need to Request Permission from your Landlord to have a Lodger.

--You may need to inform your Insurance Provider.

--You may need to inform the Local Council (Council Tax).

--You may need to inform DWP if you Claim any Benefits.

We would recommend that you always get Permission in Writing from the Landlord.

Do I need to provide a Furnished Room?

To comply with the Governments Rent a Room scheme to earn a tax free income you must provide a Furnished Room.

How much can I charge a Lodger for a Room?

This will depend on the area where you live and what condition your property is in. Have a look on www.SpareRoom.co.uk at other rooms available in your area to get an idea what the going rate is likely to be.

How do I Evict a Lodger?

It is easier to evict a Lodger than a Tenant but you will still need to give ‘reasonable notice’ to the Lodger if you intend to evict. We would always recommend a written agreement between you and your Lodger(s) so the conditions are agreed upon in advance.

Will I be Taxed on my Income and do I have to Declare it?

Under the Government’s Rent a Room scheme you can earn up to £7,500 a year tax free by taking in a lodger and, provided you don’t earn more than this, you won’t need to declare it. Important if you do earn over the amount you must inform your Local Tax Office ASAP.

Do I need to Comply with the New tenancy Deposit Laws?

The law only applies to Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST) so you can take a deposit without having to use the tenancy deposit scheme. (Ensure you have a Lodger Agreement signed by Lodger and Yourself)

Do I need to Comply with Right to Rent Laws?

As of 1st February 2016, the law requires everyone renting out property in England to check whether their tenants are legally allowed to live in the UK, regardless of the type of agreement, whether they're written or verbal. (this includes Lodgers so you need to be aware of this)

Right to rent checks introduced for landlords in England

Right to rent document checks: a user guide

A short guide on right to rent

Right to rent checks: what they mean for you

Check your tenant's right to rent

The PDF below contains the above information but also:

1. Lodger Agreement

2. Lodger Interview Form

3. Inventory List

4. Example Notice to Quit letter.

Guide to Taking in a Lodger.pdf

ENGLAND & WALES ONLY

Citizens Advice England

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/

Electrical Safety for Landlords – Electrical Safety Council

http://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/guides-and-advice/for-landlords/

Electrical Safety for Tenants – Electrical Safety Council

http://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/guides-and-advice/for-tenants/

Electrical Safety Responsibilities in Rented Homes – Shelter

http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/repairs_and_bad_conditions/health_and_safety/electrical_safety_responsibilities

Gas Safety for Tenants – Health & Safety Executive (HSE)

http://www.hse.gov.uk/gas/domestic/faqtenant.htm

Gas Safety Landlords and Letting Agents – Health & Safety Executive (HSE)

http://www.hse.gov.uk/gas/domestic/faqlandlord.htm

Gas Safety Register – Gas Safety for Tenants

http://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/advice/renting_a_property/for_tenants.aspx

Gas Safety Register – Gas Safety for Landlords

http://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/advice/renting_a_property/for_landlords.aspx

Homes & Communities Agency

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/homes-and-communities-agency

Housing Ombudsman Service

http://www.housing-ombudsman.org.uk/

Inside Housing

http://www.insidehousing.co.uk/

National Housing Federation

http://www.housing.org.uk/

Resolving Neighbour Disputes Guide

https://www.gov.uk/how-to-resolve-neighbour-disputes/overview

Samaritans

http://www.samaritans.org/

Shelter England

https://england.shelter.org.uk/

TPAS is the leading national tenant involvement organisation in England.

http://www.tpas.org.uk/Default.aspx

Valuation Office Agency Rent Officer Handbook

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/valuation-office-agency-rent-officer-handbook

Social Housing - England & Wales Only.pdf

Before Printing the PDF TIP

If you DO NOT wish to print Page 1 (Cover Page) of the PDF, please ensure to do the following:

Ensure you go to your Printer Settings and set it to 'Print from Page 2' (this way Page 1 (Cover Page) should not print out).

Note: This will save you Ink & Paper

SCOTLAND ONLY

Citizens Advice Scotland

http://www.cas.org.uk/

Electrical Safety for Landlords – Electrical Safety Council

http://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/guides-and-advice/for-landlords/

Electrical Safety for Tenants – Electrical Safety Council

http://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/guides-and-advice/for-tenants/

Electrical Safety Responsibilities in Rented Homes – Shelter

http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/repairs_and_bad_conditions/health_and_safety/electrical_safety_responsibilities

Gas Safety for Tenants – Health & Safety Executive (HSE)

http://www.hse.gov.uk/gas/domestic/faqtenant.htm

Gas Safety Landlords and Letting Agents – Health & Safety Executive (HSE)

http://www.hse.gov.uk/gas/domestic/faqlandlord.htm

Gas Safety Register – Gas Safety for Tenants

http://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/advice/renting_a_property/for_tenants.aspx

Gas Safety Register – Gas Safety for Landlords

http://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/advice/renting_a_property/for_landlords.aspx

Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 and 2010 Guidance for Social Landlords on Pre-Action Requirements and Seeking Repossession of Social Housing

http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2012/06/2337/0

Housing (Scotland) Act 2010

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2010/17/contents/enacted

Inside Housing

http://www.insidehousing.co.uk/

National Standards for Community Engagement

http://www.scdc.org.uk/what/national-standards/

Tenant Information Service (TIS)

http://tis.org.uk/

The Scottish Housing Regulator (SHR) regulates registered social landlords and the landlord and homelessness services of local authorities.

https://www.scottishhousingregulator.gov.uk/

The Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) became a Non Ministerial Department and part of the Scottish Administration following implementation of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005

http://www.oscr.org.uk/

The Scottish Public Services Ombudsman are the final stage for handling complaints about public services in Scotland.

http://www.spso.org.uk/

TPAS stands for Tenant Participation Advisory Service and TPAS Scotland is the national tenant and landlord participation advisory service for Scotland.

http://www.tpasscotland.org.uk/

Right to Repair Housing (Scotland) Act 2001.

http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2002/09/15485/11211

Resolving Neighbour Disputes Guide

https://www.gov.uk/how-to-resolve-neighbour-disputes/overview

Samaritans

http://www.samaritans.org/

Shelter Scotland

http://scotland.shelter.org.uk/

Valuation Office Agency Rent Officer Handbook

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/valuation-office-agency-rent-officer-handbook

Social Housing - Scotland Only.pdf

Before Printing the PDF TIP

If you DO NOT wish to print Page 1 (Cover Page) of the PDF, please ensure to do the following:

Ensure you go to your Printer Settings and set it to 'Print from Page 2' (this way Page 1 (Cover Page) should not print out).

Note: This will save you Ink & Paper

Registered Social Landlord (RSL)

The general name for not-for-profit housing providers approved and regulated by Government.

Housing associations are independent, not-for-profit organisations that provide homes for people in housing need. Many also run shared ownership schemes to help people who cannot afford to buy their own homes outright.

Over recent years a number of local authorities have transferred all or part of their housing stock, including their sheltered housing, to Registered Social Landlords (RSLs).

The following is a General List of the different Polices that a Registered Social Landlord may have.

(Note the Policy title may be worded different with the different RSLs.

As a Tenant/Service User most RSLs now publish their Policies on their own websites but some don’t and their may be an occasion whether it’s a complaint or for clarification that it is useful to know what policy to ask for especially if that RSL is using a Policy against a Tenant/Service User you need to request a copy so you can see for yourself that the RSL has correctly followed its own policy.

Council Housing/Housing Association/Housing Trust etc Example Policies

Adaptions and Assistance Policy

Affordable Home Ownership Allocation Policy

Adult Safe Guarding Policy

Allocations Policy

Anti-Social Behavior Policy

Arrears Management Policy

Asbestos Policy

Asset Management Strategy/Policy

Assignation, Subletting & Lodgers Policy

Change of Tenant Procedure

Children and Young People Safeguarding Policy

Communication Policy

Complaints Policy

Compensation Policy

Confidentiality Policy

Customer Care Policy

Cyclical Maintenance Policy

Decanting Policy

Decoration Allowance Procedure

Equality and Diversity Policy

Estate Management Policy

Gas Safety/Maintenance/Servicing Policy

Garages Policy

Money Advice Policy

Mutual Exchange Policy

Neighborhood Management Policy

Parking Policy

Pet Policy

Procurement Strategy/Policy

Rent Arrears Policy

Rent & Service Charge Policy

Repair Policy

Responsive Repairs Policy

Right to Buy Policy

Right to Repair

Right to Compensation for Improvements

Service Improvement Strategy

Shared Ownership Policy

Shared Equity

Social Investment Policy

Staircasing Policy

Starter Tenancy Policy

Tenancy Policy

Tenant Handbook

Tenant Improvement Policy

Tenant Participation Policy

Tenant Responsibility Repairs Policy

Under Occupation Policy

Void Property Management Policy

Corporate & Governance Policies

Anti-Bribery Policy

Anti-Money Laundering Policy

Board Members Expenses Policy

Business Continuity Management Plan

Business Plan Summary

Complaints Policy

Conflict of Interest Policy

Customer Service Standards

Data Protection Policy

Equality & Diversity Policy

Freedom of Information Policy

Governing Body Membership Policy

Health & Safety Policy

Housing Association Rules

Lone Working Policy

Management Board's Minutes

Membership Policy

Notifiable Events Policy

Openness and Confidentiality Policy

Payments & Benefits Permitted

Schedule 7 Policy

Standing Orders

Staff Code of Conduct

Staff Handbook

Unacceptable Behavior Policy

Whistle Blowing Policy

Registered Social Landlord Policies.pdf

Before Printing the PDF TIP

If you DO NOT wish to print Page 1 (Cover Page) of the PDF, please ensure to do the following:

Ensure you go to your Printer Settings and set it to 'Print from Page 2' (this way Page 1 (Cover Page) should not print out).

Note: This will save you Ink & Paper

Private / Social Housing Renting Checklist

These checklists have been created by CAG to assist you the consumer when deciding to rent a property.

These checklist can be used for both Private and Social Housing and are a good way for you to keep a personal written record and there may be things you haven't considered.

the Checklists are as follows:

1. Rental Property Inventory checklist.

2. What to ask before you decide to view a property checklist.

3. Before signing or agreeing to a Tenancy Agreement checklist.

4. Fire Safety of the property checklist.

5. Property checklist.

6. Security checklist

Below is the first 3 PDFs

1 - Rental Property Checklist.pdf

2 - What to ask before you view a Property Checklist.pdf

3 - Before Singing or Agreeing to a Tenancy Agreement.pdf

Before Printing the PDF TIP

If you DO NOT wish to print Page 1 (Cover Page) of the PDF, please ensure to do the following:

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Note: This will save you Ink & Paper

Next 3 PDFs

4 - Fire Safety of the Property Checklist.pdf

5 - Property Checklist.pdf

6 - Security of the Property Checklist.pdf

Before Printing the PDF TIP

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Ensure you go to your Printer Settings and set it to 'Print from Page 2' (this way Page 1 (Cover Page) should not print out).

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SOCIAL HOUSING JARGON BUSTER

Due to the amount of information it is in PDF format for downloading only:

Social Housing Jargon Buster.pdf

Before Printing the PDF TIP

If you DO NOT wish to print Page 1 (Cover Page) of the PDF, please ensure to do the following:

Ensure you go to your Printer Settings and set it to 'Print from Page 2' (this way Page 1 (Cover Page) should not print out).

Note: This will save you Ink & Paper