Homeowners must prepare before taking in lodgers

News Category: Legal

Homeowners who want to boost their coffers by renting out a room in their house must ensure they are fully prepared to take in a lodger.

This is the view of property expert Michael Holmes, who has suggested that anyone can become a makeshift landlord if they have adequate space in their abode.

While the government's rent-a-room scheme can provide good tax-free earnings, Mr Holmes warned that there are insurance and safety issues that must be addressed before money changes hands.

He said that first and foremost, it is vital that checks are made to ensure the property is safe, as any accident could lead to legal damages, even if the person is not registered as an official landlord.

"Make sure you have got a smoke alarm and that the boiler has been checked recently," he commented.

"[If] anything should go wrong, you could also be found culpable," he added.

Last week, private rented sector expert David Lawrenson said that professional landlords should look to attend to issues that may arise quickly in order to keep tenants happy.

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