Renting

[lukey121]

Someone from work is renting a room off me for a few months. Should I draw up a contract? What should be in it? Has anyone experienced this before? Any advice you can give is greatly appreciated.

[charliebaps]

If it's someone you know and trust then both parties agreeing to rent due dates may surfice. However, as many people will tell you, friendships often go pair shaped where money is involved.

A simple contract can be purchased at many stationers that you can revise and both sign as a legal document.

Another option is for the person to pay as much as possible up front so you don't have to harangue them if payments are late.

Hope this doesn't all sound terribly despondent but to have a months rent and one months deposit (as is usual) could save a lot of head aches in the long run.

Good luck and enjoy your flatmate.

[WendyS]

I would definitely protect myself with a contract, just to be on the safe side in case the relationship cools in some way.

I would cover:

1. Amount of rent and whether paid weekly or monthly (monthly being every four weeks, not every calendar month which could be 28, 30 or 31 days).


2. Whether it is paid in advance or in arrears.


3. Whether you want a deposit of two or four weeks rent in advance applies.


4. Whether you're happy for your tenant to invite other guests to stay overnight in her room or loan her key to anybody else if you're away on holiday, etc. (It's your HOME, remember. If you don't want it violated, better to make things clear in advance so there are no misunderstandings).


5. Use of washing machine, domestic equipment etc.

If it's somebody you really know well and trust you may not feel Nos 4 & 5 need to be covered, but I think the rental fee should be. Good luck. Hope it all works out.

[lukey121]

thanks you two, am going to go with a contract to be on the safe side.