Definitive answer on live-in landlord status?

Definitive answer on live-in landlord status?

8:32 AM, 5th March 2020, About 4 years ago 16

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I’m just wondering whether you can tell me definitively from a legal point of view: I have lodgers in my house and the fourth bedroom is mine. I have been offered a summer job abroad which could see me going away up until mid December.

Does this affect my live-in landlord status? I don’t want to accidentally create a tenancy. My room will remain empty, all my possessions here and I pay all the bills. The council, Welsh landlord registry, HMRC and my solicitor think it’s fine, I just wanted to triple check as I read something about a six month rule, and my solicitor wanted me to check with an expert.

I’m a freelancer and have to take what work I can get…

Thank you

CP


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Comments

Frederick Morrow-Ahmed

12:40 PM, 5th March 2020, About 4 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Frederick Morrow-Ahmed at 05/03/2020 - 12:32
As for OP's original query I believe that if she goes abroad temporarily to work and this is her ONLY or MAIN residence and she keeps her room and belongings there then this in itself does not change the status of the people living there. Whether they are tenants or lodgers will depend on whether they have exclusive rights to their rooms as well as sharing all facilities with her.

JB

14:08 PM, 5th March 2020, About 4 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Catherine at 05/03/2020 - 12:22
I think you'll find the council is telling you you don't need an HMO licence NOT that you don't have an HMO.

Paul Shears

20:00 PM, 5th March 2020, About 4 years ago

Reply to the comment left by JB at 05/03/2020 - 14:08
That seems very likely to me too.

Edwin Cowper

12:37 PM, 7th March 2020, About 4 years ago

All of these posts suggest to me that you need proper expert specialist advice. Spend the money. Not doing so puts you and property at risk. I know someone who saved himself £350 by not paying fees. He has lost about £60,000 as a result

Di Driscoll

13:17 PM, 7th March 2020, About 4 years ago

We have had this with numbers, not with moving out. A few years ago I was led to believe that once you have more than 2 lodgers they are tenants subject to AST regardless of any agreement but I can't find reference to that now. Do you have access to their rooms - if not it is an AST. Regardless, you have still created an HMO and need to have gas safety certificate, electrical checks, fire doors etc. You need to have done right to rent checks and logged them. You need to inform mortgage provider and insurers. see https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/letting-rooms-in-your-home-a-guide-for-resident-landlords/letting-rooms-in-your-home-a-guide-for-resident-landlords
and http://www.lodgerlandlord.co.uk/ and links.

Jessie Jones

11:19 AM, 8th March 2020, About 4 years ago

Whether or not you live at the premises would be a matter for a Court/Tribunal/Arbitrator to decide, based on the facts.
If it is your PPR (Principal Private Residence) and you don't live elsewhere, then this suggests that it is your normal residence, even if you go on holiday for a fortnight.
If you were to work abroad for 10 years, then it would be hard to argue that the property is your PPR.
But if your bank accounts, driving licence, address you give to your employers, address for your Nectar card etc all remain at that address, if your spare clothes, your bed linen, your car, all remain at the property and you don't take on a tenancy whilst you are abroad, then any sensible Tribunal would consider that you still 'live' there.
Can you keep a pet, like some goldfish there and have a friend or relative go and feed it every day or so? That would also be normal behaviour for a resident landlord.

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