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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

renting flat to 17 year old couple

149 replies

skiingcat · 02/03/2014 10:56

This is probably not in the right place but this is my first ever post..
My dh has a flat which he rents and we were showing people round yesterday and this couple were really keen however they are both only 17. They both work and have been to the council and got paperwork to confirm they can afford it. My husband agreed they could have it subject to the solicitor doing references. He agreed before I could jump in and say we would discuss it as we still had others to see. She seemed lovely but I didn't like the look of him but I am probably quite judgemental. I did some sock media searching when we got home and it seems like he has cheated on her in the past and she is barred from the pub he works in cause she doesn't get on with his family. Maybe I'm just worrying but I do not want trouble as getting tenants out seems like a nightmare and the law is more on their side than the landlords. Also he asked what our jobs were and when he said he was like oh you must have a fair amount of money coming in...

OP posts:

Flossyfloof · 02/03/2014 10:57

Imagine you are another poster and read your post back. You have your answer.

thornrose · 02/03/2014 10:58

Have they rented before or moving out of parents home?

WeekendsAreHappyDays · 02/03/2014 11:00

I would check the position on under 18 and legal contracts - I dont think I would.

littleballerina · 02/03/2014 11:00

What age would be ok with you?

PenguinDancer · 02/03/2014 11:02

Erm, no I wouldn't. Mostly based on what we were like as tenants at 17 (not long ago). 19 I was fine and is the youngest I would rent to but most of us at 17 were not.

Nocomet · 02/03/2014 11:03

Can't you use the sort of short term assured tenancies students have?

Teeb · 02/03/2014 11:05

I'm a landlord. I wouldn't rent to a 17 year old couple unless it was my charitable giving for the year.

Bearbehind · 02/03/2014 11:06

I wouldn't. It doesn't sound like their relationship is very stable and you're right about the law being weighted in their favour if it does go wrong.

You can never know if a couple will stay together but you can read the warning signs.

TheReluctantCountess · 02/03/2014 11:06

At 17, there is a limited amount of jobs he could do in a pub, surely. Is be very dubious.

WooWooOwl · 02/03/2014 11:06

There is no way I would rent to someone under 18, in fact I'd be reluctant to rent to anyone under 21, and I say that as someone who rented myself at 17. My Mum had to sign the contract for me and take full responsibility for it.

You are not being judgemental, you are exercising common sense.

LaurieFairyCake · 02/03/2014 11:07

I don't think the contract is binding at that age.

greenfolder · 02/03/2014 11:08

is a tenancy agreement even enforcable if they are not legally adults?

your dh needs his head examined assuming there are plenty of others he could rent to.

Birdsgottafly · 02/03/2014 11:10

So who is going to be their Guarantor?

If they come out of work they will not be entitled to HB, or if they split up, you can't be sure who will be living in the property, to help pay the rent.

Normally if a young person needs accommodation for personal reasons, either there is a Young Persons Housing Scheme or SS will go as Guarantor.

You need more than references to rent to under 18 and do you have LL insurance that covers this agreement?

babyheaves · 02/03/2014 11:11

No I wouldn't. Sounds harsh, for sure, but no.

DarlingGrace · 02/03/2014 11:11

Also he asked what our jobs were and when he said he was like oh you must have a fair amount of money coming in.

He deems you are wealthy enough to not need the rent .... no way would I rent to them

Birdsgottafly · 02/03/2014 11:11

What do you mean "gone to the council" to prove they can afford this rent, are you a LA registered LL?

I have experience of helping under 18's find housing.

HoratiaDrelincourt · 02/03/2014 11:11

They might well be lovely.

You could insist on an adult guarantor if they can't be held responsible for the tenancy. I'd imagine your lenders or insurers would be likely to require an adult.

Teeb · 02/03/2014 11:12

If your DH is still comfortable with the idea, even though the contract may not be binding, find out if both parties could afford the rent/bills/other singlehanded. If he's already cheating on her, I'd give it 6 months before she finds out from friends or people from the pub and all sorts of drama ensues. If they were to split up and one stayed in the flat alone, could they afford it then? If not, then absolutely no.

Slh122 · 02/03/2014 11:13

Sorry to derail, but WooWooOwl why would you be reluctant to rent to anyone under the age of 21? I'm 19, my partner is 22 and we've been renting since I was 18. We have a 5 week old and both work full time in decent paid jobs (obviously I'm on ML at the minute).

meditrina · 02/03/2014 11:13

Enforcing contracts with someone under 18 can be tricky.

If you can get a guarantor, though, then I don't see an overwhelming reason why not.

Locketjuice · 02/03/2014 11:14

At 17 and 18 myself and partner were looking for flats to rent together, we got one and kept it spotless no noise etc so I wouldn't judge purely on age

mummywithsmiles · 02/03/2014 11:15

I rented at 17, lovely landlord though who didn't pry in to my personal life

Teeb · 02/03/2014 11:16

slh122 from my point of view as a landlord there are higher risk groups of people! under 21s would definitely make that list. Higher risk groups are worked out by insurance premiums and generally past experience of rent not being paid, no Hb allowance if things were to go badly wrong and the places more often being trashed. That's not to say that all younger adults behave that way, but as a landlord you work on probability of risk and always choose the best option for your business.

Birdo83 · 02/03/2014 11:18

I'd be worried they would turn it in to a party house and not take care of the place.

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 02/03/2014 11:18

No way given the stuff you read online.

They sound like drama follows them. And you didn't take to him

It's a no brainer IMO.

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