Allowing family members to live in property without rent?

Reply to the comment left by Graham Bowcock at 04/08/2020 – 13:12
Hi Graham,

Thank you for the additional information. As you rightly point out, to be an AST it has to lie within the AST rent envelope, which is below £100,000/a and above £250/a (£1000/a in London). If it is outside this envelope with say a single relative living there and selective licensing comes into force I am wondering whether the council would have the right to demand a licence for this. I would presume, not.

Anyway, thanks for your comments

Reply to the comment left by Jo Westlake at 04/08/2020 – 22:26
Hello Jo,

Thank you for your comment. I really do admire how well you have managed to bring up your sons and that they listen to you. I wish I could say the same. In my case, it’s a question of wanting to have someone take the property off my hands. Hoping the relative can reach the stage where the property can be gifted to them so I can be left in peace.

Anyway, thanks for your suggestion

Reply to the comment left by SimonP SimonP at 08/08/2020 – 08:12
Hi Simon, thanks for the very useful information. Best regards

Thank you to everyone who has commented and made useful suggestions. Appreciated. It’s was a question of getting out of being a landlord. It’s now a mugs game. Many tenants lived in a lovely place close to tube at very low rents. I can’t remember which piece of imbecile legislation was the last straw, they come in so thick and fast. Anyway, all the fabulous tenants of many years standing, some with me for 11 years, were given Section 21s and had to leave. Some of them cried to lose such a good home. Thank you to the politicians. It was a huge pleasure telling the council that I was no longer a landlord and will not be renewing my licence and could they please remove my property from their HMO database. Haven’t felt so happy for a long time.

Thank you to everyone for their comments and suggestions

First rule broken… never rent to family

This is why you have to think very carefully about being landlord. If the tenant is on benefits then they can pull on legal aid, and that means if they are EA10 qualified you will face an automatic discrimination claim and another 2 years or more waiting for possession and legal fees into 6 figures. Getting a court bailiff may take some months after that. This is also why many tenants seek to blackmail landlords for money. The PRS has been made toxic.

Reply to the comment left by Mick Roberts at 04/08/2020 – 11:06
Just thought of an opportunity here for you Mick – adopt all your tenants! Licencing cost – zero – LOL