Hi there -
I have a related question.
I’m landlord of a 2 bed flat, joint tenancy. One tenant needs to move out and a replacement/friend has been found. But this person is from Canada and failed credit and affordability checks for reasons explained.
New tenant says they can pay their share of the rent 6 months upfront.
Should they pay me, landlord, direct, or the other joint tenant - and how does this work also with creating a new 6 month joint-tenancy?
Firstly, I would need to be satisfied that the Canadian person has a legitimate Right To Rent before including them in a tenancy agreement.
If they do have the Right To Rent they shouldn’t be paying rent separately on a joint tenancy.
Without knowing the dynamics of their friendship they could be joint tenants if they are a couple in a relationship and their combined income would be used in the affordability checks. If they are just friends they would require a sharers tenancy which is unlikely as each sharer would need to pass affordability on their own merit.
Thanks Chris. The new tenant does have Right to Rent, and visa for at least a year and is a friend of the current tenant. If the existing tenant passes affordability for both, would that work? Or if both paid 6 months upfront?
If the existing tenant is able to pass the affordability for both tenants that would solve the problem. I would have a conversation with the existing tenant and ask that they act as the the lead tenant and pay the rent on behalf of both of them. As friends they can come to their own private arrangement for sharing costs.