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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Renting a room and landlord says no guests

114 replies

Beautywithalittleugly · 21/05/2018 01:12

I've been renting a room for three months now, today landlord asks for house meeting. He told me no one can stay over for the night not even DP or family. When I took the room I said I would have DP and family staying at times, he said it's fine. Now it's no one can stay they can only visit in the daytime.
I've been asking for a contract since I've moved in but I still don't have one.
AIBU to expect hime to stick to his word?
Also, when DP has stayed over there is no noise and we are completely respectful of everyone else in the house. Other house mates are up in arms about this.
I'm so frustrated I had to drop a few lines.

OP posts:
Grasslands · 21/05/2018 16:27

I’m with the few who finds the request reasonable.
Maybe he’s new to renting rooms and now realizes overnight guests are a liability.
No idea who they are and in case of a major fire no idea of the number of people in the home.

Gwenhwyfar · 21/05/2018 16:44

"When I have lodgers then they follow the house rules. If a visitor travels from afar then there is a travel lodger or b&b nearby - no over night guests, there are reasons for this. "

I don't think that's fair on your lodgers, who should be able to live a normal life. In any case, I presume you tell your lodgers at the beginning so that they have the chance to reject this strange situation?

As Miggeldy says, I don't believe your thing about house insurance. It's normal for people to have guests sometimes.

Gwenhwyfar · 21/05/2018 16:44

"I’m with the few who finds the request reasonable.
Maybe he’s new to renting rooms and now realizes overnight guests are a liability. "

It's tough isn't it? You can'r change the rules overnight like that.

Original poster
Beautywithalittleugly · 21/05/2018 16:47

I get health and safety and somewhat understand the decision because its his house. Although he should have enforced it from the beginning instead of a few months in.

OP posts:
PetulantPolecat · 21/05/2018 16:50

Well he probably thought it would be ok and now that you’ve all done it, he’s realised he’s uncomfortable with it and changed his mind. Which he can do. Or something has gone missing and now he’s thinking it may not have been a great idea to let his lodgers have overnight guests as for all he knows, friends can be random people someone’s pulled.

Gwenhwyfar · 21/05/2018 16:54

"Well he probably thought it would be ok and now that you’ve all done it, he’s realised he’s uncomfortable with it and changed his mind. Which he can do."

Well, he might be legally entitled to do it, but I don't think he should be able to. It's completely unfair as OP wouldn't have taken the room if she'd known this.
What if he suddenly decided he doesn't like his lodgers having access to the TV in the living room, or the kitchen or whatever? It's totally wrong to change the goalposts like that.

Grasslands · 21/05/2018 16:56

I certainly don’t think it’s unreasonable to change rules either. Maybe he just received new guidelines from the fire or immigration dept.

MiggeldyHiggins · 21/05/2018 17:15

It's tough isn't it? You can'r change the rules overnight like that

You absolutely can though, as a homeowner with lodgers. You can do pretty much as you like.

Original poster
Beautywithalittleugly · 21/05/2018 17:17

Once a week my DP stays over, from 9 in the evening till 8 in the morning. The most he does is use the bathroom, we always have takeaway on that night.
Nothing has gone missing or any other issues have arisen.
He has simply changed his mind, just need to let my frustration out but it is what it is.
I told him I'll be out next week but he said I have to stay till the end of the month. I have refused, due to not having a contract. I'll be staying with DP until I find my own place.

OP posts:
ThePants999 · 21/05/2018 17:21

Good on you to refuse. If he's not going to abide by the terms verbally agreed, no reason you should have to abide by the notice period verbally agreed!

Original poster
Beautywithalittleugly · 21/05/2018 18:31

Didn't pay a deposit

OP posts:
Original poster
Beautywithalittleugly · 21/05/2018 18:33

Don't take drugs

OP posts:
Cannockcanring · 21/05/2018 18:45

I told him I'll be out next week but he said I have to stay till the end of the month. I have refused, due to not having a contract.

He really couldn't insist you stay, even with a contract, only that you owed a certain amount of rent as per the contract. It's quite worrying that he thinks he can insist you remain in his house Hmm.
I'd go asap OP, and I can't see any way he can pursue you for further rent beyond the last day you're there, without a contract of any sort.

Furano · 21/05/2018 18:49

I told him I'll be out next week but he said I have to stay till the end of the month. I have refused, due to not having a contract. I'll be staying with DP until I find my own place.

Good on you!

You have few rights, but that also means you have few responsibilities (such as being tied to a notice period of generally longer than one week) in a lodger situation.

Gwenhwyfar · 21/05/2018 23:14

"You absolutely can though, as a homeowner with lodgers. You can do pretty much as you like."

When I was a lodger I had a contract. I don't know who would enforce it, but I had one. It's not a complete free for all.

" for all he knows, friends can be random people someone’s pulled."

This is very easily avoided. When I lodged I could have friends over, but I needed to let people know in advance and then I would introduce them.

Eatalot · 21/05/2018 23:19

He fancies you and cant bare the thought of you and dp sleeping together.

MiggeldyHiggins · 22/05/2018 03:15

When I was a lodger I had a contract. I don't know who would enforce it, but I had one. It's not a complete free for all

Nobody would enforce it. Your contract was essentially worthless, and it is pretty much a free for all. Lodgers are excluded occupiers, they are legally not much more than a guest in someone elses home.

tessieandoz · 22/05/2018 03:25

Oysterbabe You're funny .

Imchlibob · 22/05/2018 05:49

Glad you are moving out - right choice. Is this the landlord's first time with lodgers? He may not have realised that he would find it stressful to have each tenant having guests ad-hoc. Happily as he didn't get round to giving you a contract you can just walk away as you have no obligations.

HarryLovesDraco · 22/05/2018 06:23

Tenancy law overrides contracts. A lodger contract isn't a contract, it's a written agreement of expectations. Not legally binding for either party.

Original poster
Beautywithalittleugly · 22/05/2018 07:22

Thanks for the advice, he put my contract under my door last night. I looked and put it back under his, with NO THANKS written on the front. Now I get a text saying I'm wrong and I have to pay two weeks for comp.

OP posts:
Original poster
Beautywithalittleugly · 22/05/2018 07:26

I took the day off today so I can take my stuff and go before it becomes volatile. I will leave this week's money and that's all.

OP posts:
Guavaf1sh · 22/05/2018 07:35

Well done!

Original poster
Beautywithalittleugly · 22/05/2018 07:37

I do believe this is his first time letting out rooms but I dont know for sure. This week his losing all his lodgers. Not only for rule changes, he always begs/takes other people's food (caught him eating food I cooked and left in the fridge).

OP posts:
ThinkOfAWittyNameLater · 22/05/2018 07:48

Very wise. Get out whilst you can.

If you have any post being delivered to the house make sure you get a postal redirect in place.