Day 6 – Do you have the right furniture and furnishings?
Furniture and furnishings – legal obligations So far as legal matters are concerned, the most important thing you need to know is that all furniture must comply with the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1987 (and the amendments made in 1988). Basically, these say that all furniture must be fire safety compliant and carry […]
Day 5 – Have your gas appliances been tested for safety?
Gas Safety Gas safety is *really* important. People have died from poorly maintained gas appliances. Although you are letting to lodgers and not to tenants, the Gas Safety Regulations will still apply to you. This means that you must get your gas appliances inspected: before the lodger moves in, and then again, every year. If […]
Day 4 – Is your property in a proper condition?
The condition of your property ‘Proper landlords’, i.e. landlords of separate properties let under tenancies such as assured shorthold tenancies, are bound by what are known as the ‘statutory repairing covenants’. These are a set of rules set out in section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985. However, you will be happy to […]
Day 3 – Have you got proper insurance?
Insurance matters Many people don’t realise that taking in a lodger will affect their insurance, or that it is something that they ought to tell their insurers about in advance. If you do not do this, you may invalidate your insurance cover. Also, if there is a theft at your property where there is no […]
Day 2 – Have you got permission to take in a lodger?
Getting permission for a lodger Before you start clearing out the spare room and buying furniture (day 6), you need to be sure that you are legally entitled to let it out to your lodger, and have any necessary permission. Otherwise, you could be in trouble. These are the main points to consider: Tenants If […]
Day 1 – What is a lodger?
What is a lodger? “Thats a silly question” you will probably say, “Everyone knows what a lodger is!”. Someone who lodges. Indeed the free online dictionary defines it as ‘One that lodges, especially one who rents and lives in a furnished room’. So that clear. Or is it? As a lawyer (and I should say […]