You are a lodger if you rent a room in your landlord’s home and your landlord lives there too. As a lodger, you will be either an: ‘excluded occupier’ ‘occupier with basic protection’ If you’re an excluded occupier You’re likely to be an excluded occupier if you: live in your landlord’s home share living spaces like a kitchen, bathroom or living room with your landlord Shelter has more information about excluded occupiers . If you’re an occupier with basic protection You’re likely to be an occupier with basic protection if you: live in your landlord’s home do not share living spaces like a kitchen, bathroom or living room with your landlord Shelter has more information about occupiers with basic protection . Types of agreement You may have a tenancy agreement or a licence agreement. If you have a licence agreement, you are called a licensee. Shelter has more information about licence agreements . The length of the let A tenancy or a licence can be either: periodic - run indefinitely from one rent period to the next fixed term - last a set number of weeks, months or years If you do not agree the length of a let, it will automatically become a periodic let. Licences can be open-ended for informal arrangements, like allowing a friend to stay on an as-and-when basis.

Your landlord will tell you if: you need to pay a deposit you need to pay rent Paying a deposit You might be asked to pay a deposit. Your landlord can keep money from your deposit if you: miss your rent payments or are late paying rent damage the property You should ask for a receipt or keep a record of the payment. Your landlord does not have to protect your deposit with one of the government-approved schemes , but they may choose to do so. They should return either the full deposit or the balance after any deductions at the end of your agreement. If they do not, you can take them to court. Paying rent Your landlord should tell you how much rent you must pay and how often it must be paid. You may be asked to pay your rent weekly or monthly and this may affect how much notice you need to give before ending your agreement . Your landlord can include the following things in your rent: part of the cost of their council tax the cost of utilities, equal to the amount you have used

You and your landlord can end the agreement at any time if you both agree. If you do not think you have been given enough notice to leave or that your landlord has evicted you illegally, you should contact your local council . If you want to end the agreement You must give your landlord notice. The amount of notice you need to give depends on the tenancy or licence agreement . It is usually at least: 4 weeks if you pay weekly one month if you pay monthly If your landlord wants to end the agreement The amount of notice your landlord needs to give depends on whether you’re an: excluded occupier occupier with basic protection If you’re an excluded occupier The amount of notice your landlord needs to give depends on how often you pay rent. For example, if you pay rent weekly, your landlord must give you at least one week’s notice. Your landlord does not usually need to give you notice in writing. If you do not leave at the end of the notice period, your landlord can evict you. This could be by changing the locks when you are out. If you have left belongings in the property, the landlord must allow you to collect them within a reasonable time. If you’re an occupier with basic protection Your landlord must give you a written ‘notice to quit’. The notice period will depend on the agreement, but must be at least 4 weeks. If you do not leave at the end of the notice period, your landlord can apply for a court order to evict you . Change of ownership If your landlord sells the property and stops living there, you can stay but your tenancy type may change. If the new owner plans to live in the property as a resident landlord, they must: give you notice that they plan to live there within 28 days move into the property within 6 months of the sale

Renting a room in someone's home: lodgers

Overview

You are a lodger if you rent a room in your landlord’s home and your landlord lives there too.

As a lodger, you will be either an:

‘excluded occupier’
‘occupier with basic protection’

If you’re an excluded occupier

You’re likely to be an excluded occupier if you:

live in your landlord’s home
share living spaces like a kitchen, bathroom or living room with your landlord

Shelter has more information about excluded occupiers.

If you’re an occupier with basic protection

You’re likely to be an occupier with basic protection if you:

live in your landlord’s home
do not share living spaces like a kitchen, bathroom or living room with your landlord

Shelter has more information about  occupiers with basic protection.

Types of agreement

You may have a tenancy agreement or a licence agreement.

If you have a licence agreement, you are called a licensee. Shelter has more information about licence agreements.

The length of the let

A tenancy or a licence can be either:

periodic - run indefinitely from one rent period to the next
fixed term - last a set number of weeks, months or years

If you do not agree the length of a let, it will automatically become a periodic let.

Licences can be open-ended for informal arrangements, like allowing a friend to stay on an as-and-when basis.

View a printable version of the whole guide

Renting a room in someone's home: lodgers

Overview

If you’re an excluded occupier

If you’re an occupier with basic protection

Types of agreement

The length of the let

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Renting a room in someone's home: lodgers

Overview

If you’re an excluded occupier

If you’re an occupier with basic protection

Types of agreement

The length of the let

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Help us improve GOV.UK

Help us improve GOV.UK