Updating post from Reddit.
Dear landlords, may I ask you a question please?
I am considering buying a terrace 2 bed house, and getting 2 lodgers initially to help with costs.
I would let out top bedroom to one lodger, the second top bedroom would be mine.
Can I put the second lodger downstairs in the front room? The house will have an access from the side and entry to the kitchen/dinner from the back. Can I close off the main front house entrance and use only the side entrance for all of us, so the lodger downstairs is not disturbed and uses the access only for himself if he wishes to do so?
Are there any regulations that prevent it? What is your opinion please? Thank you
I think the problem is that you're just not being realistic.
You could get so many more lodgers in with just a little imagination.
One in the loft? One in the shed? One in a camper-van on the driveway? Most bathroom walls are strong enough for a hammock or two.
You're just not trying.
Roofs are so spacious as well!
I am sorry that I upset you with my question. Your answer is quite funny - I laughed, and I understand you are frustrated with bad landlords. I would be fully transparent with the lodger, the room would be cheaper due to 'unusual setting' and it would be just a short-term let.
The person would find a cheaper room and I would be helped with the initial costs. I just want to save up for an en-suite bathroom upstairs/for my room, and then stop renting the downstairs room - to continue with just only 1 lodger.
The downstairs has a separate kitchen and a large other room - a dining room for people to sit and eat.
I would close off the letter box through the door and install an external letter box so the lodger do not get post through the door. I am sorry to upset you, I was asking if there is anything legal to prevent this as I do not want to do anything against the law. Thank you
Pay for your own ensuite you parasite 😆
Not an answer to your regulations question- but I lived in a student house set up like this and I had the downstairs room with the front door. If it's anything like mine was and there is a front door then no amount of signs or telling people not to use it will stop them. Every delivery, takeaway, first time visitor, jehovahs witnesses and anyone else you can think of- tried to use the front door.
I can't think of any regulations that would prevent it.Â
But you won't stop people knocking on the front door, no matter how many signs you put up.Â
If you're going to do it, I would suggest that you have the downstairs bedroom and the lodgers have the upstairs bedrooms. You'll get a better quality of applicant that way, and I tend to think you shouldn't rent out a room that you wouldn't be prepared to live in yourself.Â
Ok, thank you. Food for thought!
I can't think of any regulations that would stop you doing this. However some things to think about:
- Are you sure you want to live in a house where there's only a kitchen/diner as living space? Nowhere for anyone to sit down and relax except their bedroom? How big are the bedrooms?
- If you have more than one lodger you can no longer claim the £7500 tax-free "Rent a Room" allowance.
- More than one lodger might mean you have to register as an HMO depending on your LA.
Generally having one lodger has far fewer regulations than having more than one. I'd consider whether the extra hassle and loss of your downstairs living space is worth the extra money.
>If you have more than one lodger you can no longer claim the £7500 tax-free "Rent a Room" allowance.
You can still claim it, but it applies to the first £7500 of lodger income in total, not per lodger.Â
>More than one lodger might mean you have to register as an HMO depending on your LA.
Two lodgers is never an HMO. Three lodgers can be, depending on the council.
Thank you Petersmap project for the clarification.
I am still learning about what I can and cannot do - blond girl's moments. I was hoping I can have 2 lodgers without being an HMO, thank you for confirming that.
This will be my only (primary residence).
But would 2 lodgers + live in landlord count as 3 families?
You’re allowed to have two ‘non family’ members before your property is classified as an HMO, but when you get to three non-family, paying lodgers, it’ll change. It doesn't matter if the lodgers are related to each other or not – the rule is around forming two or more separate households.
https://m.spareroom.co.uk/content/info-landlords/will-taking-in-a-lodger-turn-my-home-into-an-hmo/
I would put yourself in the front downstairs room.
Or you could put up a partition wall - it was most likely built with one anyway!
You're an idiot.
Nothing to do with being a landlord. You’re renting a room out.
OP is a live in landlord.Â
Live in landlords are still landlords.Â