Your Law Store

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lodger

The Tenant Fees Act and our Lodger Agreements

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Lodger LandlordDespite its name, the Tenant Fees Act 2019 also applies to lodger landlords.

Although our earlier agreements were not actually non-compliant we have now upgraded all our lodger agreements and the notes to reflect the new legislation.

If you have purchased a lodger form within the past 12 months you are entitled to receive a free copy of the update – so contact us if so, ideally with a copy of your receipt so we can identify you on our system.  We have already sent the new versions out to everyone who has purchased the forms since 1 June.

To find out more about the new law and how it affects Lodger Landlords see our post on our Lodger Landlord site here.

A new look and new products for Your Law Store

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If you have been here before you will probably notice that the site has had an upgrade and a new look!

This is partly to make the site fully mobile friendly so you can read it easily on your smart phone.  However, we also felt it was time for a change.  It is something we have been planning for a while.

We have also taken the opportunity to introduce some new products and upgrade others:

New Lodger Packs

These have all been checked over and new detailed notes added to help you use all the forms.  As it is some time since the pack was first launched and as it now has more content, we have increased the price slightly to £25. It’s still a terrific deal though – you get 14 items – forms, checklists, and notes (if you get the packs with the lodger agreement included).  That is under £2 per form!

Monday to Friday Lodger Pack plus agreementNew lodger Pack with Monday to Friday Agreement

Lots of you have been buying our special ‘Monday to Friday’ lodger agreement.  This is for when your lodger only stays a few days of the week so you get use of the room for the rest of the time.  Typically this will be when the lodger goes back at the weekend (hence the name) but it can be used for other times.

Monday to Friday lodger landlords can now get their own New Lodger kit – so  you get all the forms, plus the New Lodger agreement plus notes designed for Monday to Friday lodger situations.

Pet Agreement and Information formPet agreement and information form

Most lodger agreements (including ours) forbid pets as standard.  However – maybe you are happy for your lodger to keep a pet?  If so you should use our pet form.  This

  • Contains details of the pet – breed, name, microchip number etc
  • Has details of the pets vet and (very important)
  • The name and address of someone willing to look after the pet if the lodger falls ill (otherwise you are responsible), and
  • Special terms and conditions to protect your position

The form serves as an amendment to your existing lodger agreement and so can be used either at the time you sign your lodger up or later.

You will find details of all our Lodger products here.

New Monday to Friday lodger agreement

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Monday to FridayMany people take in lodgers nowadays and our lodger agreement and new lodger pack are two of our most popular products.

However lodgers do not always stay all week.  Sometimes they just stay during the weekdays, returning home to their families during the week end.  For example man who are unable to find work in their home town but who are reluctant to move their famlies, particuarly if their children are settled in their schools.

‘Monday to Friday’ lodger agreements are idea for them.  They are also idea for their landlrods who will be able to use the room during the weekends.  Maybe for their own guests or perhaps for drying clothes.  Often the landlords just like to have the house to themsevles for a few days.

The only trouble about Monday to Friday lets, is that it is sometimes hard to find a suitable agreement.  Most lodger agreements are drafted for the traditional situation where the lodger stays all week.

However this problem is now solved with the Your Law Store lodger agreement.  It is referred to as a ‘Monday to Friday’ agreement althoug actually you can  specify whatever days you like.  So if your lodger is going to stay Wednesday to  Tuesday that is not a problem.

The agreement, as with all our lodger products, comes with detailed guidance notes to help you use it, and to explain why the agreement is drafted in the way that it is.

The agreement can be found on our standard lodger forms page or you can buy it using the buy now button below.

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The New Lodger Pack proves popular

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The new lodgerA few weeks ago we introduced our new lodger pack and it has proved very popular with users.  Gill and I have been surprised at how many we have sold!

The reason behind the new lodger pack is to help landlords when they are looking for a new lodger.  It is REALLY important that you choose carefully as this person will be living in your house and having access to all your things!  Here is how the new pack can help you:

Using the new lodger pack

Before you even think of taking in lodgers, you need to make sure that y our insurace cover will not be affects.  The pack has a letter for this.

The interview

After you have put out your advert you will get (hopefully) some enquiries.  The telephone form will help you ask those all important questions you might forget otherwise, and give you a space to write the answers.

When you first see your lodger you can use the lodger information form to record information about them, and the new lodger checklist to make sure that you remember to ask them all necessary questions and cover all relevant points in your interview.

Don’t forget to get them to sign the letters of authority, for when you write out asking for references.  If they are on housing benefit there is a special letter which will auathorise the benefit office to keep you informed about their benefit application.

Checking them out

Once you have  decided which interviewee you like the best, you need to check them out.  You can use the standard reference letters in the pack to write to their employer, bank and personal referree.

Signing them up

Once you have agreed to let your lodger have the room, you need to get them to sign the lodger agreement.  This is with one of the packs, but if you already have a pack (you may have bought ours previously!) you can also buy the new lodger pack without the lodger agreement at a cheaper price.

Don’t forget them to sign the standing order form if  you want them to pay by standing order!

And finally

The pack has detailed notes to help you use the forms, so you have nothing to worry about.

To read more about the pack and buy online >> click here.

Note that we are thinking of doing a companion ‘problem lodgers’ pack to help landlords who find they need to get rid ot their lodger.  If this interests you, and you would like to know when it will be published, join our mailing list and you will be one of the first to know!

Our first product goes live

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Well we now have our first product in Your Law Store, and I am pleased to say that it is selling like crazy.  This may be because we have a special launch offer on of course – which will end on Tuesday (7 June 2011).

We have also made live the lodger landlord section which has two products in at present:

A lodger agreement

This can be used for most lodger situations.  It has very detailed instructions so you should not have much problem in using it.

A letter of authority for housing benefit tenants

If you have a lodger on HB or local housing allowance and you want to check with the benefit office, for example to find out when they are going to make payment, the benefit office will usally refuse to speak to you, becuase of the Date Protection Act.  However if you have a signed copy of this letter to give them, the Data Protection Act will no longer be an issue and they should give you all the information you ask for.

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We hope to be ablet to load up some more lodger forms shortly.  If there are any particuarl forms you would like, please leave a message in the comment box below.