Renting room in someone's home.pdf

Renting rooms in someone’s home

A guide for people renting from resident landlords

housing

Who should read this booklet?

You should read this booklet if you rent (or are

thinking of renting) in a property where the

landlord also lives. In law, a resident landlord

letting is one where the landlord and the person he

or she lets to live in the same building. This includes

conversions where they live in different parts of the

same property (however long ago it was converted).

However, if the property is split into purpose built

flats, with the landlord and you in different flats ,

or you do not live in the same property as your

landlord you should instead read the booklet

Assured and Assured Shorthold Tenancies – a guide

for tenants if the letting began on or after 15

January 1989; or Regulated Tenancies if it began

before this date. Details of where to get these and

other housing booklets published by Communities

and Local Government are given at the end of this

booklet. This booklet is addressed mainly at lettings

started on or after 15 January 1989, when the

Housing Act 1988 introduced changes affecting

new lets by resident landlords. A summary of the

special rules applying to lettings made before this

date is at the end of the booklet.

This booklet does not provide an authoritative

interpretation of the law; only the courts can do

that. Nor does it cover every case. If you are in

doubt about your legal rights or obligations you

would be well advised to seek information from a

Citizens Advice Bureau, your local authority’s

housing advice service or a law centre, or to consult

a solicitor. Help with all or part of the cost of legal

advice may be available under the Legal Aid

Scheme.

The terms ‘landlord’ and ‘occupier’ are used

throughout; ‘occupier’ is used in this context

interchangeably with ‘tenant’ or ‘licensee’ to mean

the person the landlord is letting to.

Contents

1. Introduction to renting rooms –

some important principles

why it’s important whether the

1.2-1.3

landlord is resident

different kinds of resident landlord 1.4, 1.8-1.9

arrangement

tenancies and licences to occupy

1.5-1.7

if the landlord moves out

1.10

if the property changes hands

1.11-1.12

2. Before arranging a let – some points to

consider

looking for accommodation

2.1

fixed-term, periodic and open-ended

2.2

arrangements

what facilities need to be provided

2.3

houses in multiple occupation

2.3-2.4

deposits and other ways to help

2.5

prevent problems

written letting agreements

2.6-2.7

getting advice

2.8

3. Rent and other bills

rent levels and rent increases

3.1-3.2

having a rent book

3.3

Council Tax and domestic bills

3.4-3.5

help with the rent (Housing Benefit)

3.6-3.8

4. Repairs, maintenance and safety

general

4.1

gas, electrical, furniture and fire safety 4.2-4.4

access by the landlord

4.5-4.6

5. Ending a letting

how the nature of the let makes a difference 5.1

ending a periodic or open-ended arrangement 5.2

ending a fixed-term arrangement early 5.3-5.4

circumstances when the landlord may

5.5

need to get a court possession order

possession orders and eviction

5.6-5.7

illegal eviction, harassment and

5.8-5.9

resolving problems

Appendix A: Form of words that must be

used in a notice to quit

Appendix B: Special rules that apply to

lettings made before 15 January 1989

Appendix C: Addresses for other leaflets and

booklets

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