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Original poster

Permission from landlord needed to have guests stay?

28 replies

serenitysere · 03/12/2023 14:36

Hope it's fine to post here

Just that really. I'm looking to rent somewhere, with DC, temporarily with a potential new job.

The point being that when I looked around one property (a two bedroom house) the landlord stated that if we had someone over to stay for a few days, or even a weekend, we should give them a call, to let them know, for health and safety reasons. I've crossed that one off as it rings alarm bells about the landlord. I don't think that's correct and it sounds intrusive. I just wanted to check here though. Am I right?

OP posts:
StandByMode · 03/12/2023 14:37

Too right. Of course the landlord doesn't need to know.

Sexlivesofthepotatomen · 03/12/2023 14:37

I've never had to do that in all the places I've rented so no, I'd say that isn't usual

DarkAcademia · 03/12/2023 14:37

That’s super invasive. I rent out a property for my parent and wouldn’t dream of getting up in someone’s business like that.

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StandByMode · 03/12/2023 14:37

Sorry should have said - I am a landlord, and there's no reason for this information at all

Startingagainandagain · 03/12/2023 14:38

Absolute nonsense. The landlord does not need to know if you have guests visiting. I would see it as a sign that this landlord is dodgy.

rwalker · 03/12/2023 14:39

possibly LL been had problems in the past by subletting or someone moving there partner in without permission

Whataretheodds · 03/12/2023 14:41

Was the landlord living in the property? If you're the sole occupier on an AST then absolutely no need to know. I wonder if they were being over-cautious about inadvertently becoming an HMO landlord?

Original poster
serenitysere · 03/12/2023 14:44

He said (his health and safety example) something about it's in case something happened in the property, involving a guest, and he is asked if he knew about them being there.

Though he asked in relation to my adult child, who no longer lives with me, and used them in the example.

OP posts:
Original poster
serenitysere · 03/12/2023 14:45

Whataretheodds · 03/12/2023 14:41

Was the landlord living in the property? If you're the sole occupier on an AST then absolutely no need to know. I wonder if they were being over-cautious about inadvertently becoming an HMO landlord?

No he wasn't living there. I would have been the sole occupier, with DC only.

OP posts:
Original poster
serenitysere · 03/12/2023 14:46

Thanks all. It made me feel uncomfortable for some reason. It didn't sound right either.

OP posts:
PonyPatter44 · 03/12/2023 14:47

No, it's none of his business. The rental market must be very settled where you are, though, if you can just 'cross off' houses that are otherwise suitable. Round here, it's absolutely cutthroat and rents are ridiculously high.

Original poster
serenitysere · 03/12/2023 14:52

It's not great in the area I'm looking @PonyPatter44 but it did make me feel uncomfortable, and it rang alarm bells about them as I was sure it couldn't be correct.

No guarantee I would have got it, but I just politely said I'd let them know.

OP posts:
RealBigBarbie · 03/12/2023 14:52

He doesn’t need to know at all. I’d be choosing somewhere (if I had the option ofc)

Littlegoth · 03/12/2023 14:53

He can put what he wants in the contract, it doesn’t mean that the term would stand if challenged. If you ignored that term he wouldn’t be able to enforce it in court as it is in direct contravention of your right to ‘quiet enjoyment’. It’s an unfair term and his wants don’t trump your legal rights as a tenant, even if he puts it in the contract. If you want to live there go ahead, and treat the house as you would expect to treat your home.

Original poster
serenitysere · 03/12/2023 14:58

He did make it sound like it was a legal requirement, so I'm glad it is not. It could be he's misinterpreted something he read somewhere, but it didn't inspire confidence.

OP posts:
Rooroobear · 03/12/2023 15:00

Sounds a bit dodgy to me…..sole female occupier….landlord wanting to know when you have someone stopping over?? No thanks

Mydogisagentleman · 03/12/2023 15:01

I am a landlord.
Tenants rent the property, what they do in it is their business nothing to do with me

Littlegoth · 03/12/2023 15:02

It’s not a legal requirement and he’s got no right to demand this of you. His wants don’t trump the rights of the tenant as set out in The Housing Act. None of his business.

Littlegoth · 03/12/2023 15:03

Mydogisagentleman · 03/12/2023 15:01

I am a landlord.
Tenants rent the property, what they do in it is their business nothing to do with me

^ Exactly.

Original poster
serenitysere · 03/12/2023 15:05

Rooroobear · 03/12/2023 15:00

Sounds a bit dodgy to me…..sole female occupier….landlord wanting to know when you have someone stopping over?? No thanks

I think that might have been what might have made me feel uncomfortable. Couldn't quite put my finger on it.

OP posts:
UggyPow · 03/12/2023 15:07

Another landlord & no this isn't correct, this would be an invasion of your privacy & I suspect would also intrude upon your right to quiet enjoyment of the property. However they can request that if someone stays for longer periods that they need to be notified - so I suppose it all depends on the timeframes concerned. Not for a weekend or a holiday but maybe for periods over 2 weeks as this could be considered to be living rather than visiting.
The only other factor could be due to size/space, as a landlord you are supposed to consider the number of people living in a property & how much space each person would have.
Many years ago I was approached by a family of 4 to live in a 2 bedroom terrace (think 1900's small northern town) & I had to decline them for this reason as they wouldn't have had enough living space

ActDottie · 03/12/2023 15:31

If write that off too, you’re paying rent and you should be able to treat it as a home and not need permission. It says a lot about the landlord and that they may be quite invasive and nosy about your life.

UggyPow · 03/12/2023 15:35

By family of four I meant four children plus 2 adults

ChateauDuMont · 03/12/2023 15:44

If it was a flat in a high rise tower block I suppose there might be an element of health and safety in the event of a fire to know how many people are inside the flat but for a house I can't see it being a issue.

Littlegoth · 05/12/2023 21:36

@ChateauDuMont Thats a (generous) stretch at best. certainly didn’t have to when I was renting in Beetham Tower - and I lived in one of the upper floors.

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