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Original poster

Can I secretly rent my house to my son

157 replies

Pinkpanther111 · 22/12/2025 18:19

i am wanting to rent a bungalow. Instead of selling my house my son will pay rent to me.
can I do this without telling anyone?

TIA

OP posts:
SwansOnTheLake · 22/12/2025 22:14

Pinkpanther111 · 22/12/2025 18:19

i am wanting to rent a bungalow. Instead of selling my house my son will pay rent to me.
can I do this without telling anyone?

TIA

Who would it be a secret from?

whatwouldlilacerullodo · 22/12/2025 22:18

Where is the bungalow? Who else is involved? Suppose you live in the countryside and the bungalow is in a city, you can say you live in the house and use the bungalow for when you're working. Your son lives with you and helps with the bills, and you keep going there regularly. That's just hypothetical, not a recommendation.
Rich people exploit all sorts of loopholes, look for loopholes in your case.

LIZS · 22/12/2025 22:23

Who is “anyone”? You need to consider the tax implications as the rent is liable to tax and there are limited costs to offset, insurance, your lender if you have mortgage, utility companies and council tax. Will you have a formal tenancy agreement as there may be associated costs and statutory safety requirements. If you don’t, what happens if the rent is not forthcoming?

HugglesAndSnuggles · 22/12/2025 22:25

No. Someone I know got reported for doing this and had to pay a hefty back payment in tax (nearly £20k) plus a fine. The fine is at the discretion of the HMRC but theirs was 20% of the tax owed, so another couple of grand. Seriously, don’t risk it. It only takes one person to report you and they’ll be on to you.

Livelovebehappy · 22/12/2025 22:28

Surely if you’re just renting to your son, it doesn’t need to be all documented, so HMRC doesn’t need to be advised, because there’s no way they’re going to be able to prove any of it. He’s your son. For all they know he’s staying there FOC.

DeftWasp · 22/12/2025 23:05

Nettleskeins · 22/12/2025 21:14

If the market rent was 20k a year and you ask for rent under that of 10k you are deemed to be giving him a gift of 10k and he is going you a gift of 10k, both minus the 3000k gift threshold (if you don't give gifts to anyone else that tax year)...so that's only a 7k gift a year coming out of both your estates (if you breach the seven year rule...which is unlikely)

My god, this is what happens when someone who knows a bit, but not a lot, about tax posts on a forum!

OneFunBrickNewt · 22/12/2025 23:05

Livelovebehappy · 22/12/2025 22:28

Surely if you’re just renting to your son, it doesn’t need to be all documented, so HMRC doesn’t need to be advised, because there’s no way they’re going to be able to prove any of it. He’s your son. For all they know he’s staying there FOC.

It takes one slip up, one falling out, one busybody......
I'm on a FB group for landlords. Just this week a new landlord posted details of a potential tenant, asking if they looked suitable. Of course they'd blocked out all of the personal details.....or so they thought. Internet sleuths have now contacted the Data Protection authorities, the potential tenant, the person's employer- turns out they are an NHS doc...... It just takes one slip up for this setup to turn nasty.

DeftWasp · 22/12/2025 23:08

Livelovebehappy · 22/12/2025 22:28

Surely if you’re just renting to your son, it doesn’t need to be all documented, so HMRC doesn’t need to be advised, because there’s no way they’re going to be able to prove any of it. He’s your son. For all they know he’s staying there FOC.

HMRC do spot checks, they can access your bank data and look at what money is passing through - if they catch you trying to diddle them, they will, rightly, be after you.

Just do a self assessment return and pay what is owed.

hollystar500 · 22/12/2025 23:21

A few things- you need to look into contrived tenancies if the plan is for him to claim HB

yes it all needs to be declared including the right insurance and informing your mortgage provider

look out for the changes with Renters Rights Act all those landlords wanting to rent to family and friends there’s specific rules around this if you’re giving a current tenant notice to move either yourself or a family member on.

ReadingSoManyThreads · 22/12/2025 23:31

Of course you can, if you are happy to break the law.

If you wish to be legally compliant, then you'll need to follow the legislation required to be a landlord, and of course, declare the rent to the HMRC.

Chinaandbrass · 22/12/2025 23:43

OP - get your son to rent the bungalow, all bills in his name ect will this be a similar amount to what he will pay you in rent plus the bills for the house? If so let him live free of charge at the house and keep paying the bills. No one really needs to know who lives where.

LiveToTell · 22/12/2025 23:44

This is a bit odd OP.

If you’re buying a second property you have to declare that you already own one, for stamp duty purposes.

I don’t understand who or why you want to hide it?

messybutfun · 23/12/2025 00:01

LiveToTell · 22/12/2025 23:44

This is a bit odd OP.

If you’re buying a second property you have to declare that you already own one, for stamp duty purposes.

I don’t understand who or why you want to hide it?

Nobody is buying a second property

messybutfun · 23/12/2025 00:03

G365 · 22/12/2025 20:48

A professional Landlord wouldn't agree to this

Show quote history

A landlord has no way of knowing who pays money into his account, the recipient only gets the reference that the payer provides.

XenoBitch · 23/12/2025 00:04

We need OP to come back and clarify what they meant.

Wot23 · 23/12/2025 01:28

Pinkpanther111 · 22/12/2025 18:19

i am wanting to rent a bungalow. Instead of selling my house my son will pay rent to me.
can I do this without telling anyone?

TIA

in much the same way you can commit adultery without telling anyone there is always a chance you will be found out and suffer repercussions from doing so

are you really that morally bankrupt?

OonaStubbs · 23/12/2025 03:59

Couldn't you "officially" stay living in your house but actually live in the bungalow and your "son" officially rent the bungalow but live in the house?

RedRiverShore6 · 23/12/2025 06:09

One of those weird threads where OP posts with no details and doesn't reappear

randomchap · 23/12/2025 08:15

RedRiverShore6 · 23/12/2025 06:09

One of those weird threads where OP posts with no details and doesn't reappear

Probably because she knows that her plans are not lawful in some way and doesn't want to acknowledge that

SwansOnTheLake · 23/12/2025 08:30

So do you mean OP that you want to move from your existing house into a bungalow? And in order to pay for this you don't want to sell your house, but rent it to your son?

Do you need a bungalow for mobility reasons?

Why do you not want to sell your house? Does your son live with you now in it?

If not, he will be a tenant and you need to be a landlord and do it properly.

Chinsupmeloves · 23/12/2025 17:59

So you would list him in the poll as living there but tou would in the bungalow or officially living in your home? It's all a bit complicated, lots of factors, especially for legal reasons.

Mosaic123 · 23/12/2025 18:02

Is the bungalow to be rented from the Council?

I don't understand the secrecy aspect.

Katrinawaves · 23/12/2025 18:18

In addition to the correct advice given re HMRC, mortgage companies and landlord’s legal obligations, if the person you want to keep it secret from is an ex partner still on the deeds of the house, you should be aware that they would be entitled to a share of the rent paid.

MagicalAnimal · 23/12/2025 18:20

Nettleskeins · 22/12/2025 21:14

If the market rent was 20k a year and you ask for rent under that of 10k you are deemed to be giving him a gift of 10k and he is going you a gift of 10k, both minus the 3000k gift threshold (if you don't give gifts to anyone else that tax year)...so that's only a 7k gift a year coming out of both your estates (if you breach the seven year rule...which is unlikely)

This post is not correct OP. Please ignore it.

You would need to report the income that is paid to you to HMRC less your expenses in the usual way as you would if you had an unrelated tenant.

whyyyyyisitmonddayy · 23/12/2025 18:25

Would it not be more legal to have son pay your rent for you and let him have your place…?