Students live with the landlord and share the cooking and bathroom facilities (and sometimes the living room). Please discuss with the student what facilities they are free to use, i.e. cooking utensils, crockery etc., and what items you expect them to provide themselves. It is useful to provide the student with separate cupboard storage space and maybe a shelf in the fridge, this will avoid confusion over "What belongs to whom?"
This type of letting is called an excluded letting, you need only give the occupier reasonable notice to leave. Reasonable notice is normally 28 days.
You may wish to offer some or all meals to your tenant, this style of housing called ‘homestay’. Generally the least popular style with UK students but there is some demand from new overseas students (who wish to live with a family to improve their spoken English). The arrangement can be either on a bed and breakfast or full board basis (breakfast and evening meal). In both cases, it is accepted that students would require some access to your kitchen to prepare light snacks and drinks. This type of letting is also an excluded letting.
Please discuss any restriction you may wish to impose before the student takes up residence, i.e. use of the lounge, telephone, visitors, non-smoking, bathroom rotas etc. To avoid misunderstandings it is advisable to make a written note stating the following:-
Download a free copy of the Government Guidance Leaflet 'Letting Rooms in Your Home'.
The landlord should note the student's full name, home address, telephone number, and request to see a copy of their Certificate of Attendance. It is also useful to request a previous landlord reference letter, to ascertain a tenant’s responsibility to pay rent and their behaviour. If the student has been a resident in University housing you can request a reference from Housing Services.
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