What is the difference between a lodger and a tenant in UK?

What is the difference between a lodger and a tenant in UK?

The main difference between a lodger and tenant is that a lodger (legally known as a ‘licensee’) is someone who lives in the same property as you. In this case, you are classed as a live-in or resident landlord.

What does lodger mean in law?

An occupant of a portion of a dwelling, such as a hotel or boardinghouse, who has mere use of the premises without actual or exclusive possession thereof.

What is it called when you rent a room in someone’s house?

If you live in a house, and you rent a room in that same house to another person, that person is a lodger. You have to live in the house with the person the entire time for him to be a lodger. For example, you rent a room in an empty house to somebody. He is considered to be a tenant.

Do lodgers need a tenancy agreement?

Written agreements If you have a lodger you can enter into a lodger agreement and give them your House rules for lodgers. If you have a tenancy, you can create a tenancy agreement for a house, a flat or a room in a shared flat. These are Assured shorthold tenancies, the most common type of tenancy agreement.

What are the rules for lodgers?

Under these house rules, lodgers must:

• pay rent in due time.
• pay for telephone charges at the property.
• keep their room as well as the shared facilities clean and tidy.
• keep their own items secure.

Can you evict a lodger?

You are a lodger if you live with your landlord and share a kitchen, bathroom or other living accommodation with them. Lodgers are ‘excluded occupiers’. This means that your landlord can evict you without going to court.

Can you kick out a lodger?

Do I have to declare a lodger?

You must declare relevant income from a lodger or subtenant to the Tax Office. The UK government’s Rent a Room Scheme may apply, allowing you to receive up to £7,500 per year tax-free. If you move out, you must make sure the lodger or subtenant leaves too.

Do lodgers have tenancy rights?

Unlike a tenant or a subtenant, a lodger does not have exclusive rights to the room they pay for, (save more something being expressly agreed). They cannot lock their lodging space before going out as it remains accessible to the landlord in the lodger’s absence without prior notice or permission.