Is it ok for friends/relatives to stay with a tenant for a month?
3 years ago | 24 comments
Is allowing my tenant’s friend to stay temporarily a problem?
12:01 AM, 24th April 2025, 1 year ago
9
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Hi, I am renting a property to my daughter on an Assured Short Hold Tenancy (AST). She would like her friend to move in with her temporarily (about 3 months) she will be sleeping on a sofa bed and helping out with rent and bills.
I have a few questions about how I need to go about doing this. Do I need to temporarily put her on the tenancy? Or can she just stay as a guest?
Also can anyone tell me whether I would be opening up myself to issues if my daughter’s friend does move in temporarily or is too risky?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Joanne
Tags:
AST subletting rules, guest in rental property, Landlord responsibilities, renting to family UK, temporary tenant guest
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Member Since December 2023 - Comments: 1590
10:07 AM, 24th April 2025, About 1 year ago
I don’t see a problem. The ‘friend’ would be your daughter’s lodger and so long as your daughter declares the income if she’s on benefits, all should be fine.
Daughter should do a right to rent check.
The Rent a Room allowance should cover the income form a tax perspective.
It would be wise to check your insurance policy. I assume there’s no mortgage but, if there is, check with your mortgage provider that a paying guest is permitted.
Member Since November 2022 - Comments: 4
10:48 AM, 24th April 2025, About 1 year ago
Have a look at a document called license to lodge.
Member Since March 2023 - Comments: 1506
11:16 AM, 24th April 2025, About 1 year ago
If no money changes hands then its not an issue. If the friend is paying something and in particular its 3 months the a lodgers license will be needed. This can be a very simple one sheet of paper, plenty of them available on the internet.
Member Since November 2022 - Comments: 65 - Articles: 1
11:28 AM, 24th April 2025, About 1 year ago
Make sure the friend signs a lodgers’ agreement with your daughter. Daughter can take up to £7500 per year tax free but will have to declare it and this may affect any UC claims.
Ideally daughter should ask for rent payments weekly, as then she would only have to give a week as notice should it all go wrong – if monthly payments she would need to give a month as notice.
Full details of lodgers’ rights can be found on gov.uk site.
Member Since May 2024 - Comments: 74
1:18 PM, 24th April 2025, About 1 year ago
This could fast become a huge problem.
So let her do it. But don’t take any cash directly from the lodger and don’t send any emails or texts that could create a contract.
It’s the tenants problem. It’s her mate. Don’t get involved.
The fact it’s your daughter is not relevant
Member Since November 2022 - Comments: 4
2:16 PM, 24th April 2025, About 1 year ago
Reply to the comment left by Julian Lloyd at 24/04/2025 – 13:18
This is her problem…mum is the landlord.
Member Since April 2025 - Comments: 1
8:55 PM, 24th April 2025, About 1 year ago
Having a lodger does not affect universal credit.
Member Since January 2015 - Comments: 1447 - Articles: 1
10:08 PM, 24th April 2025, About 1 year ago
You, as landlord, must not take any money from her. If she wants to help out your daughter that’s fine.
I don’t think the friend can be a lodger if sleeping on a sofa bed in the lounge. And certainly cannot be a lodger under the Rent a Room Scheme BUT she could be IF she has sole use of the bedroom. Your daughter could then sleep in the lounge AND have up to £7,500 income tax free rent, with your agreement. You do not have to sign anything with .Gov
As a friend she can stay BUT check how long a friend can stay with the Local Authority before having to be noted on the Council Tax and your daughter’s single 25% discount is removed. Some LAs it’s 6 weeks.
There wouldn’t be a statutory overcrowding issue as a lounge can be used as a bedroom.
Member Since November 2022 - Comments: 4
10:09 PM, 24th April 2025, About 1 year ago
Reply to the comment left by Clv.52 at 24/04/2025 – 20:55
Really?Where do you get this information from? One of the first questions is do you have any non dependent adults living with you and if your answer is yes then they will expect them to contribute to the rent. Well that’s my understanding anyway.