renting a 5 person house

dominatrix1 · 3 Oct 2013 at 09:45

We are looking at renting a 4 bedroom house in london - however there will be 5 people staying there as there will be a couple sharing - does anyone know if this is allowed ?

want to make sure before speaking to estate agents ?

AmyS · 3 Oct 2013 at 09:46

Surely it only matters that the rent/council tax will be paid, not the number staying there?

tom_e · 3 Oct 2013 at 09:47

All depends on your contract, the estate agents are who you want to talk to about it.
I doubt it'll be an issue though as long as they're aware.

dominatrix1 · 3 Oct 2013 at 09:48

ive heard theres some kind of safety law the landlords might have to agree to if there are 5 seperate sharers ?

dominatrix1 · 3 Oct 2013 at 09:49

called a HMO or somethign like that

tom_e · 3 Oct 2013 at 09:51

Never heard of that but just talk to the agents they'll be the people who'll be able to give you a yes or no.

Saviola · 3 Oct 2013 at 09:57

We did this in Twickenham for a few years, Landlord was OK with it. However a neighbour didn't think it was OK, busybody, and he had to make us agree to some new contracts. I was leaving at that time so didn't get into the intricacies.

frying_pan_cat · 3 Oct 2013 at 09:58

dominatrix1 said:
called a HMO or somethign like that

HMOs refer to places where 3 or more unrelated people rent so the house will be an HMO for a 4 bed house

Dunks · 3 Oct 2013 at 10:04

It'll be fine as long as you're all named tenants on the lease.

dominatrix1 · 3 Oct 2013 at 10:07

and would be ok if we put a 5th bed in house as a spare room ?

[FnG]magnolia · 3 Oct 2013 at 10:14

Isn't this sub-letting?

e : no, it's not. The couple will count as one tenant if they're canny but will invoke the hatred of all other tenants when they start ******* about with bills and "OH BUT WE SHARE!" and all that ******** which young people do. I just re-lived a horrible student memory, thank you for bearing with me during that difficult time.

Freefaller · 3 Oct 2013 at 10:15

As long as the names are on the tenancy agreement I shouldn't see a problem?

However adding an extra bed in a room without the Landlord's approval, or knowledge, and if that person isn't on the TA then I guess that's probably not allowed, as I think that's classified as sub-letting? which a lot of Landlords do not allow.

AmyS · 3 Oct 2013 at 10:20

[FnG]magnolia;25048050 said:
Isn't this sub-leasing?

e : no, it's not. The couple will count as one tenant if they're canny but will invoke the hatred of all other tenants when they start ******* about with bills and "OH BUT WE SHARE!" and all that ******** which young people do. I just re-lived a horrible student memory, thank you for bearing with me during that difficult time.

Good God, yes, I shared with a couple and it was awful toward the end, as said, the ''OH BUT WE SHARE'' was mentioned often. :mad:

tom_e · 3 Oct 2013 at 10:30

AmyS said:
Good God, yes, I shared with a couple and it was awful toward the end, as said, the ''OH BUT WE SHARE'' was mentioned often.

I must be in the minority, I've lived with a couple for 2 years and they've never tried to pull any of that crap.

AmyS · 3 Oct 2013 at 10:40

tom_e said:
I must be in the minority, I've lived with a couple for 2 years and they've never tried to pull any of that crap.

You're lucky, I know a few people who house shared at university who all said they wouldn't share again with a couple due to the issue of bills, etc.

The couple I shared with were always either arguing or ''making up'', loudly.

She was also bone idle. :mad:

tom_e · 3 Oct 2013 at 10:48

I can't even begin to understand how they can think that being a couple and sharing a room means they should pay less bills.
If someone tried to pull that on me I'd probably just laugh at them until they understood the error of their ways.

AmyS · 3 Oct 2013 at 10:57

tom_e said:
I can't even begin to understand how they can think that being a couple and sharing a room means they should pay less bills.
QUOTE]

Bathing together, radiator on in their bedroom= Both sharing.

Television/Games console, their bedroom= Both sharing.

Using cooker to make meals= Both sharing.

Those were some of the reasons I was told they shouldn't pay as two people.

CREATIVE!11 · 3 Oct 2013 at 11:01

I wouldn't even tell landlord (but 5 people maybe I would...), my friend lived with me and my brother in a 2 bed flat ages ago for 6 months and slept on the sofa.

Didn't say anything to him.

Phantom Shadow · 3 Oct 2013 at 11:09

It would depend on the contract and the landlord, chances are the letting agency would have to check with the landlord and it would be up to him/her as to whether they are happy to have more people living in the house.

As having more people in the house could result in more wear and tear then the landlord may not be happy to let this happen.

I could understand a couple wanting to pay less on rent as they are sharing a room (depending on how the contract is as to what the rent charges for the house are) but all other bills they don't use any less water/gas/electricity just because they are a couple.

Was going to be sharing a house with others with me being part of a couple, but we never got around to finding a house so I just found a 2 bed flat with the girlfriend and share with her.

Westyfield2 · 3 Oct 2013 at 13:49

Landlord will need an HMO.