Creating a lease for rent a room

Hi,

I will soon be getting a new tenant for a room in my house (rent a room scheme).

I have never needed to draw up a lease before as up until now I've been renting to friends, but now I will be getting a "stranger".

Does anyone know anywhere I can get an example lease, and what I should be putting into it? I've googled it and can't find anything relevant.

Is a lease even necessary in the first place?

Thanks a million!

A lease isn't needed. Anyone renting under the rent a room scheme has no real rights. However, you may be as well off having one to avoid issues down the line.

You could use [broken link removed] as a guideline, & alter anything that you feel necessary.

Thanks.
So do the same rules apply for the rent a room scheme as would if you were renting out a whole property?

Not atall. Rent a room have very few of the protections afforded otherwise. The PRTB site has a section on it I think.

I rent a room and have an agreement in place with the lodger.

Things that i found were important to note -

- you are 'homeowner' and 'lodger' - not landlord/ tenant
- this is a private agreement to rent a room - the term 'tenancy' does not apply, nor does Tenancies Act or PRTB registration.
- you as homeowner reserve right to cancel agreement at any time by giving the lodger reasonable notice to leave.
- state length of agreement, security deposit and use of this, rent, notice, utilities (if included, and if not how they will be charged)
- list of general rules - i've found that if you make these clear up front then there is no room for confusion later. if you dont' make them clear then you have tension building over small things like wet floors etc etc.

I want to make it as friendly as easy as possible. The only reason I would do it is to ensure that the lodger feels more comfortable with the agreement. It's hard enough to rent a room out at the moment, so I don't want to imposing unnecessary rules and stipulations.
Thanks for the above advice though Mel, definitely worth setting down some sort of agreement.

I can send you a copy of the agreement if you like - it's very friendly and aimed at keeping things harmonious - i just say, it's the little things that cause friction and if we're all clear at the beginning then it's easy for someone to say if they don't agree with something, rather than leaving it until the problem arises.
Also you need to protect yourself and your property and leave yourself a get-out if things go pear-shaped.

Hey, I am in the same boat as loukkcat. Im am going to rent a room however havent the 1st idea about how to go about drawing up an agreement!

Mel would you please be able to send me a sample of what i should put in it?

Would really appreciate any help