myself and my husband are buying are first house. A girl that we are both friends with and have been living with in rented accomodation for the last couple of years will be moving in with us. She will be paying £200 a month plus bills which is about a third of the mortgage. As she is a friend is she technically a lodger? should we write up a contract for her to sign so that she is not entitled to the house or anything like that? advice please.
2007-03-16 14:23:26 · 11 answers · asked by tess 2 in Business & Finance ➔ Renting & Real Estate
ok, so any ideas where i can find a relevant tenancy agreement to base it on? are they online? i do not want to have to line the pockets of solicitors.
2007-03-16 14:38:04 · update #1
also, do we have to tell the mortgage provider or anything? and do we have to pay tax on the money she gives us?
2007-03-16 14:40:37 · update #2
I have heard of many,many friendships being ruined because terms were misunderstood, or at least one person says they misunderstood, between people in such cases. Getting terms in writing is so much better in the long run.
I have a good relationship with my father, but I have had to borrow money from him on several occasions. We drew up and signed terms so that we had no misunderstandings at all, preventing any hard feelings.
2007-03-16 14:33:37 · answer #1 · answered by Uther Aurelianus 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You should write up a contract but not the type mentioned in yor question. You should make her a tenancy agreement which WILL give her rights to what she's paying for in your home, including the right for her to have two months notice if you want her to leave, and also your right to have one month notice if she wants to leave. These are rights in a tenancy agreement that you cannot sign away. Whoever's name is on the property deed will have legal ownership of the home so don't worry about that.
Also you kind of have to consider if you can afford being without her. Because at one month's notice she can announce that she's moving and that leaves you about £250 short per month and you will have to make up the shortfall or get another tenant and judging by your information you've known her for years, trust her and therefore she will be difficult to replace.
Although you have a very serious legal contract between you now, dont let this come between you, you've been good friends for years.
2007-03-16 14:49:51 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your Landlord is entitled to offer you a further term contract to follow the original one. This would normally be for 6 or 12 months. However, you do not have to agree to ANY contract should it not suit you.If you do not want to commit to a further fixed term period you dont have to. You will "roll" on to what is known as a Periodic Tenancy (i take it this is an english based property under the terms of an Assured Shorthold Tenancy). This means that you would have to give one months notice to leave and your Landlord would have to give you two months should they want the property back, If he done this and you did not leave he would have to get a County Court order (accelerated possession) and this takes approx 2 weeks to register and once it has gone to court you would be given between 14 and 42 days to leave (bear in mind the possesswion will not be granted should the original section 21 notice, tenant deposit scheme registration and all documentation served by your landlord was all correctly written and served). In short, just speak to your Landlord and state your concerns, i would suggest asking for a 6 month term should you want to stay or sign up again.
2016-03-29 02:15:15 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Probably best to keep yourself on the safe side... just in case the worst happens. Signing a tenancy agreement will mean that you both know exactly where you stand.
2007-03-16 14:33:32 · answer #4 · answered by lism. 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, yes, yes! Nothing breaks up friendships faster than issues over money or property! Protect yourself and your friend by getting a tenancy agreement!
2007-03-16 15:30:53 · answer #5 · answered by libbyft 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
definently....you need her to sign that contract just incase she doesnt want to pay her rent for a couple months...u need it so you can take her to court to get her to pay her bills and i know she may be a very good friend but she needs to be liable for anything....
2007-03-16 14:35:45 · answer #6 · answered by benz-rich 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i know she is a very good friend but yes just to be on the safe side get her to sign contract
2007-03-16 14:27:23 · answer #7 · answered by smiley 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I know she's your friend but I would still have a contract drawn up for her to sign and don't forget to get it noterized (sp?)
2007-03-16 14:33:09 · answer #8 · answered by Maddie's Mommy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i am going to get a million thumbs down for this but please please please do NOT move this woman into your house with you and your husband!
this is a mistake....
Buy a less expensive house if you need to...THREE IS A CROWD
what happens when she wants to have strange men stay the night at your house....
she pays rent and can argue that she as a right to have whomever she wants over....when you and your husband argue (and you will) guess who is going to be in the middle)
what happens to your friendship if she gets fired.
if her grandmother comes into town and needs a place to crash
who washes the dishes
what happens when you dont like the smell of fried chicken
please do not have this woman in your house!
2007-03-16 14:32:19 · answer #9 · answered by lisa s 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
i think you should see about having a contract of some form.
have a look here i hope this helps
best of luck bob..
http://www.legalpulse.com/
2007-03-16 14:45:23 · answer #10 · answered by PJ 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋