A lodger is someone who lives with you as part of your household sharing some of your accommodation, such as the bathroom or kitchen. They may have their 'own' room, but they live in your home with your permission and don't have the right to exclude you from their room or any part of your home.

If you're thinking about taking in a lodger, then there are a number of important things that you need to consider first.

Do you need permission to take in a lodger?

If you're a tenant

In many cases, tenants need their landlord's permission before they can take in a lodger. Your tenancy agreement may contain a term on this, so you should always check it first. If you do need permission it's best to get this in writing.

If you're a homeowner

If you have a mortgage, you may have to get the lender's permission before renting out part of your home. Also, if you are a leaseholder, or live in a shared ownership property, you may need to get the landlord's agreement first.

You should also check your insuance. Most standard home insurance policies will not automatically cover lodgers. this means that your contents insurance, or even your buildings insurance could be invalidated.

If you think taking in a lodger is for you, then I would strongly advise that before you accept someone in your home, you take the time to make ensure they are a suitable person to share your home.

Choosing the right lodger is incredibly important.  Tessa Shepperson, a specialist landlord and tenant lawyer, has prepared a new lodger pack which includes forms, letters and checklists, together with helpful guidance notes.

View the New Lodger Pack.

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