Preparing your room rental agreement
A room rental agreement is a contract for room rental that sets out the terms and conditions of the tenancy. The agreement should be signed by both parties and should be kept in a safe place for future reference.
In the UK, there are no specific legal requirements for a room rental agreement. However, it is strongly recommended that landlords draw up a contract for room rental to avoid any disputes that may arise during the tenancy.
Room Rental Agreement For England & Wales
Our simple and easy to use room rental agreement comes in two formats: Word Doc & PDF.
You can make any adjustments by using the Word Doc version, or use the ready-to-go printable PDF, suitable for almost any room rental circumstances in England and Wales.
Here’s what our room rental agreement covers:
Landlord & Tenant Details, Room Description, Term of Tenancy, Rent and Security Deposit, Utilities, Responsibilities of both the Landlord and the Tenant, Termination, Governing Law, Severability, Additions & Exceptions and finally an area for Landlord and Tenant Signatures.
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Our popular 3-page room rental contract is for renting out an individual room. If you are renting a house, flat, or any other type of residential property, use our tenancy agreement template pack.
I made a few changes to the room rental contract in MS Word and then printed it for my tenants to sign. It’s easy to change and just what I needed.
– Alison Campbell, Leeds
Preparing to rent a room to tenants
The thought of renting out a room to strangers can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. By taking some time to prepare the room and screen potential tenants, you can ensure that you find the right lodger for your home.
When preparing the room for rental, there are a few key things to keep in mind. First, you’ll want to make sure that the room is clean and in good repair. This means fixing any damage, such as holes in the walls or broken fixtures, and deep cleaning the space.
You’ll also want to remove any personal items from the room so that the tenant feels like it’s their own space.
Getting your room rental contract ready
Next, you’ll need to get a room rental agreement for the tenant to sign. This should outline the expectations for the tenancy, such as rent amount and due date, as well as any rules you have for the house.
For example, you may want to include a quiet hours policy or a rule about no smoking inside.
Screening potential tenants to rent your room
Finally, you’ll need to screen potential tenants before selecting one to rent the room. This can be done by conducting a background check and interviewing the tenant.
When conducting a tenant background check, you’ll want to look for personal and work references, as well as their rental history. This can be done by running a credit check and speaking to their previous landlords.
Once you’ve narrowed down your list of potential tenants, it’s time to interview them. This is your chance to get to know them better and see if they would be a good fit for your home.
When interviewing potential tenants, there are a few key questions you’ll want to ask:
- What is your current employment situation?
- Do you have any pets?
- How long are you looking to rent the room for?
- How many people will be living in the room?
- Do you have any questions for me?
Asking these questions will help you get to know the tenant better and decide if they would be a good fit for your home.
After you’ve screened the tenant and conducted an interview, it’s time to sign the room rental agreement.
What is included in a UK room rental agreement?
Our UK room rental agreement includes the agreement itself in MS Word document and PDF versions, easy to change and can be used multiple times at no extra charge.
Do I need a room rental agreement by law as a landlord?
In England and Wales you are not required by law to have a written agreement but it would be very unwise to rent a room without an agreement in place. This protects both you, the landlord and your tenants and helps avoid disputes further down the line.
What checks should a landlord do when renting out a room?
Even though you are only renting out a room you should still conduct tenant background checks and ask for employer and former landlord references, a deposit and ask your tenant to sign the rental contract.
What is the rent a room scheme?
The rent a room scheme from the UK government allows you to earn up to £7,500 per year tax free by renting our a furnished room in your home. The rent a room scheme is optional but well worth taking advantage of if you are able to.
Completing the UK room rental agreement PDF with your tenant
One of the benefits of completing the room rental agreement PDF in front of your tenants is the ability to explain each section in detail to your tenant, allowing them to ask questions as you complete the rental contract.
You may want to include clauses that are specific to your property and these should also be explained to your tenant.
Landlord Resources:
Rent a room scheme from the UK Government
How to be a good landlord
How to deal with a rent arrears situation
What is an assured shorthold tenancy agreement?
Lodger agreement template
One issue that pops up from time to time is landlords asking if this tenancy agreement can be used as a lodger agreement template. The simple answer is yes – a room rental agreement and a lodger agreement are essentially the same (most of the time).
For example, if you are renting a room in your own house, then your tenant is a lodger. If you have a room rental arrangement with a tenant in a property you do not live in, this may be regarded as a normal tenant in the terms of the room rental.
Normally in the UK a lodger is a person renting a room in your own home. However, since our room rental agreement is fully editable, you are able to adapt the contract easily into a lodger agreement template to suit your own needs.
Go to the landlord guides section or the landlord advice blog
View our section on how to use our tenancy agreement documents
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