Flateshare - any advice?

Kemik

Kemik

Kemik

Soldato
Joined
7 Nov 2005
Posts
4,961
Location
Widnes
Hey guys,

I'm signing on the dotted line for a two bedroom flat tomorrow with a view of flatsharing the other room. Does anyone have any tips or advice? I'm searching for some sample contracts to protect myself but can't find any under English law.

Thanks!
 
Wait... hang on. I take it you are buying the place and renting a room? And not renting the place, and then looking for a housemate. Your wording is a bit strange, what exactly do you mean by flatshare?

Anyway, if it's the latter, your contract is with the current landlord, and I doubt they would be too happy about a second tenant coming along down the line.
 
Stupot_ said:
Wait... hang on. I take it you are buying the place and renting a room? And not renting the place, and then looking for a housemate. Your wording is a bit strange, what exactly do you mean by flatshare?

Anyway, if it's the latter, your contract is with the current landlord, and I doubt they would be too happy about a second tenant coming along down the line.
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As in I rent the flat and then rent out a room. It's done all the time with students. Most landlords agree to it. Surely that's what most people do who rent out these 5 bedroom houses and share with 3 or 4 other professionals?

I'm not sure how I'd add someone to my current contract?
 
Kemik said:
As in I rent the flat and then rent out a room. It's done all the time with students. Most landlords agree to it.

I'm not sure how I'd add someone to my current contract?
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you would need to check with the landlord, as you are in effect sub-letting and it may invalidate your own contract with the landlord. multiple occupancy houseshaes are usually done by the landlord, and are subject to some regulation so be careful. If you are just renting out a spare room, dont bother with any specific legal stuff, just write out a list of dos and donts including a specific notice period and both sign that. Dont tell the landlord or he will want to add you both to his short hold tenancy agreement you have signed.
 
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Most people have a contract with their landlord including each person in the rent. Indeed, many (most?) rent agreements specifically forbid sub-letting.
 
Balls. I don't know anyone to take the 2nd room at the moment though. Surely you'd both need to be there to sign the contract at the same time? Rather than adding another person half way through?

As you can probably tell, this is the first time I've done this, hence the thread!
 
Kemik said:
As in I rent the flat and then rent out a room. It's done all the time with students. Most landlords agree to it. Surely that's what most people do who rent out these 5 bedroom houses and share with 3 or 4 other professionals?

I'm not sure how I'd add someone to my current contract?
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Most wont agree to that. It is also a very bad idea. I've definitely never seen it in the 5 years I have been a student at my uni. It's also the reason you can't find any template contracts.

Why on earth would you want to take on any risk? don't sign tomorrow, just look for a spare room or find some people to share with and have individual contracts with the landlord.
 
Stupot_ said:
look for a spare room or find some people to share with and have individual contracts with the landlord.
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I've been looking everywhere for a spare room :( Most are in 4 or 5 bedroom houses so I was hoping by renting a 2 bed flat I'd be setting myself up for a decent room.

Looks like I'll have to speak to the estate agents tomorrow!
 
Kemik said:
Balls. I don't know anyone to take the 2nd room at the moment though. Surely you'd both need to be there to sign the contract at the same time? Rather than adding another person half way through?

As you can probably tell, this is the first time I've done this, hence the thread!
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I rented out a 3 bed years ago, paid the rent myself and then rented out the two spare rooms, didn't tell the landlord in the 4 years I was there and basically got most of the rent paid and the bills by the other two. Didn't bother with any contracts, just a list of house rules.

Whether he knew or not, I don't know, but I expect he did and just didn't care as long as the rent was paid on time and there was no complaints from the neighbours. :)
 
Gaidin109 said:
I rented out a 3 bed years ago, paid the rent myself and then rented out the two spare rooms, didn't tell the landlord in the 4 years I was there and basically got most of the rent paid and the bills by the other two. Didn't bother with any contracts, just a list of house rules.

Whether he knew or not, I don't know, but I expect he did and just didn't care as long as the rent was paid on time and there was no complaints from the neighbours. :)
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Yeah, I was one of those suckers who paid all his bills and rent...:rolleyes:
 
Agency/Landlord might charge you "admin fees" to get additional names on the contract. I'd check with agency, but i don't imagine that it will be too much trouble. Though in the contract it will probably say that you are all liable for the rent (hence if somebody doesnt pay then you might have to cough up).
 
That is called subletting and is a REALLY bad idea, as you are basically responsible for the other tenant's rent and any damage they do to the property comes out of your deposit.

Oh and your landlord will not like it one bit.
 
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