Our tenants moved into our rental house today. Husband, wife, plus a 17 year old daughter. While we were checking all the rooms, they asked if an aunt was allowed to move in? It’s a 3 bedroom house (2 double, 1 single). Nothing was mentioned before about someone else living there. Do you think it’s a good idea?
Proof she is an aunt? Not told about it earlier? Not a good start
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Not really because it’s a deception on their part.
At same time, at least they asked and given it’s a 3 bed, maybe a tad remiss you didn’t ask beforehand how they planned to use the 3rd bedroom (as an office or for visitors or whatever)
Suggest maybe ok if they are willing to cancel existing tenancy and have a new one with a higher rent reflecting higher wear n tear - but only after referencing all overagain and having all 3 adults as named tenants. And obviously you d need to meet aunt get proof of ID right to rent income etc.. But not ok before then. Explain that although you are sure aunt is very nice, if you don’t do things properly you can face very big fines and trouble with the local authority and the Home Office
Good luck
Does your tenancy agreement not specify the number of occupants? Like this:
If it does, then you can simply point that out and say something like “Let’s see how things go. It might be something I could consider later.” if you are open to the idea.
Personally, I wouldn’t do it now and I would make sure I do an inspection after a month (I always do this with new tenants anyway) and check every room looking out for telltale signs of an extra occupant.
The extra wear and tear will not be covered by the current rent and you cannot take more until the tenancy has been going a year. So, the earliest I would consider this would be in a year and I would recommend upping the rent and adding her as a permitted occupier if you want to go ahead with it then.
If you know the neighbours well, you could ask them to keep an eye out, but this could backfire if they’re more likely to side with the T.
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I’d check it out, but they could have just moved her in and there’s little you could have done about it.
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And if they have, you need to check their right to rent and add them as a permitted occupier. I’d also tell my insurance co.
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