Lodger
Someone who rents a room in the home the landlord lives in and shares living space with them. A lodger is not an assured tenant and has far fewer rights.
In short: A lodger lives in the landlord's own home and shares a kitchen, bathroom or living room with them. Lodgers are usually excluded occupiers: the Renters' Rights Act tenancy rules do not apply, and they can be asked to leave with reasonable notice without a court order. Right to rent checks still apply.
Tenancies and agreementsMoney, tax and insurance
英格蘭。 已於 5 October 2026 對照法律查核. 僅供參考，並非法律建議。
Because the landlord lives there, a lodger's arrangement is a licence, not an assured tenancy. In practice:
- Notice: reasonable notice, often the length of the rent period; no section 8 notice and usually no court order.
- Deposit: the tenancy deposit protection rules do not apply to a lodger, though many landlords protect it anyway.
- Still required: a right to rent check, gas safety checks on appliances, and the general duty to keep the home safe.
- Tax: the Rent a Room Scheme lets a resident landlord earn up to £7,500 a year from furnished lodging tax-free.
If the landlord moves out, the arrangement can become a tenancy, so take advice before changing things.
Read more: Right to rent checks
Related: Assured periodic tenancy, Right to rent
資料來源
Guides on this
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Related terms
Glossary
Council tax liability
Who must pay council tax on a home. Usually the tenant living there; the owner for an HMO, an empty home or where nobody lives there as their main home.
Glossary
Assured periodic tenancy
The standard private tenancy in England since 1 May 2026: it rolls on month to month (or shorter) with no end date until the tenant or landlord ends it properly.
Glossary
Assured shorthold tenancy (AST)
The usual private tenancy in England from 1997 until 30 April 2026. On 1 May 2026 existing ASTs became assured periodic tenancies and no new private ones can be made.
Glossary
Capital gains tax 60-day report
When you sell a UK home that is not your main home and owe capital gains tax, you must report and pay it to HMRC within 60 days of completion.
Glossary
Check-in and check-out
The visits at the start and end of a tenancy where the home is inspected against the inventory, keys are handed over and meter readings are taken.
Glossary
Guarantor
A person who promises in writing to pay the rent, or cover other losses, if the tenant does not. Often asked of students or people on a lower income.