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Use House Rules for Lodgers when you are allowing a lodger to occupy a spare room in your home. House Rules for Lodgers set out the key guidelines a lodger has to respect and follow within your property, to supplement your Lodger agreement. They also contain key information regarding the property (including how much the rent is and when it is due).
Use these House Rules for Lodgers when you:
want to rent out your property to a lodger
want to supplement your Lodger agreement by giving the lodger a set of easily accessible guidelines
are based in England, Wales or Scotland
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This House Rules for Lodgers template covers:
the level of rent and the date the rent is due
what the lodger can do at the property
what the lodger can't do at the property
what you expect from the lodger whilst they are at the property
Having House Rules for Lodgers in addition to your lodger agreement ensures your lodger knows what is permitted within the property. These rules will give you peace of mind when taking in a lodger, as they set out clearly what the lodger can and cannot do in your home. By clearly setting out the rules for occupying your home, you set expectations and help avoid any future conflicts.
For more information, read Taking in a lodger.
A lodger agreement is a type of residential licence that sets out the terms under which a lodger can occupy a property. It is used when you are looking to rent out a room at your property while remaining in the property (ie as a live-in landlord).
Lodger agreements are different from Tenancy agreements as lodger agreements are residential licences, which grant lodgers fewer rights than tenants (or Welsh contract holders). For example, lodgers do not have the right to exclusive possession of a property and can be evicted more easily than tenants. For more information, read Taking in a lodger.
You can make your document using our Lodger agreement for England and Wales or Lodger agreement for Scotland.
Under these House Rules, lodgers must:
pay rent in due time
pay a reasonable contribution to the property’s telephone charges
keep their room, as well as the shared facilities (eg the kitchen and bathroom), clean and tidy
keep their own items secure
Under these House Rules, lodgers must not:
smoke in the property
bring any pets into the home
move or damage any furniture, pictures or wall hangings
cause any nuisance to other lodgers, such as noise nuisance or night visitors
make excessive use of shared utilities such as gas or electricity
Making House Rules for Lodgers online is simple. Just answer a few questions and Rocket Lawyer will build your document for you. When you have all of the details prepared in advance, making your document is a quick and easy process.
To make your House Rules for Lodgers you will need the following information:
What is the rent for the lodger's room?
When is the rent paid?
House Rules for Lodgers set out what a lodger can and cannot do while living in your home. Typically, House Rules for Lodgers include:
Things the lodger must do
This includes:
details relating to the rent (eg how much it is, when it must be paid and what happens when the rent remains unpaid)
the lodger making contributions towards certain bills (eg telephone and energy bills)
the lodger keeping their room and any shared rooms neat and tidy
the lodger immediately reporting any lost keys to the owner
Things the lodger must refrain from doing
These include the lodger’s being restricted from:
having any overnight guests
keeping pets at the property
keeping any inflammable items in the room
doing something that would invalidate the owner’s insurance
If you want your House Rules for Lodgers to include further or more detailed provisions, you can edit your document. However, if you do this, you may want a lawyer to review or change the House Rules for Lodgers for you, to make sure they comply with all relevant laws and meet your specific needs. Ask a lawyer for assistance.
Make sure that you can in fact take in a lodger
If you are considering advertising your spare room, it's important to determine whether you are actually able to accommodate a lodger. This means that, before letting the room, you should first carry out all of the relevant checks. These include:
contacting your mortgage provider to verify whether you are allowed to take on a lodger
reviewing your rental agreement (eg Tenancy agreement) to determine whether you are permitted to take on a lodger. Alternatively, you can speak with your landlord directly to discuss your situation and potentially come to an agreement (if you do so, record this in writing)
checking your contents insurance policy to determine if a lodger's belongings will be covered
speaking with your benefits provider (eg Universal Credit), as taking on a lodger may impact your benefit claims
For more information, read Taking in a lodger.
Enter into a written agreement
If you can take on a lodger, it is crucial that you enter into a formal agreement with the lodger. Having a written agreement in place means that the basis of the relationship between yourself and your lodger is formally documented. This not only offers clarity to all parties involved, but also helps prevent any potential future disputes. For more information, read Taking in a lodger.
Use our Lodger agreement for England and Wales or our Lodger agreement for Scotland to make your document.
Understand when to seek advice from a lawyer
Ask a lawyer if:
this document doesn’t meet your needs
you have any questions or concerns about taking on a lodger
