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Question
I've just moved into a new flat, it's the first time I've lived on my own and someone told me I have to inform my landlord every time I have someone visiting or staying overnight.
This seems a bit much, he doesn't live there so why would he need to know?
Answer
Most private tenants who don't live with their landlord have the right to have overnight guests without needing their landlord's permission or having to give any notice. But sometimes tenancy agreements specify who is allowed to live in the accommodation, e.g. a tenancy agreement might say you can't have overnight guests. If this is the case then you may break your tenancy agreement if you have people to stay and so your landlord could try to evict you.
You should check your tenancy agreement, if you have one, and you might want to seek further advice from your local CAB or Housing Aid Centre if it says you can't have overnight guests.
For some types of private tenancy, your landlord can evict you quite easily and doesn't need to give a reason. Even if you have the right to have overnight guests, then if your landlord finds out and is unhappy with the situation he still might try to evict you. Whether he can do this will depend on the type of tenancy you have.
The situation may be different again if someone moves in with you permanently, e.g. if you're claiming benefits they could be affected if someone stays with you for more than a few nights.
Updated: 07/09/2012
Question answered by Shelter
