Taking in a lodger

Tenants that hold a secure or fixed term tenancy have the right to take in a lodger; however you will need to inform us if you plan to do this by filling in our online form. Introductory tenants do not normally have the right to take in a lodger. By taking in a lodger, a tenant’s home must not become overcrowded. Tenants must also notify the relevant departments of their change in circumstances such as Council Tax and housing benefits as taking in a lodger may affect your entitlement.

The Immigration Act (2014) requires that immigration checks have to be carried out on all new lettings in England from February 2016. By law tenants must check that their lodger is legally able to rent in England; this is called the Right to Rent. All private landlords must check their tenant’s eligibility. This also applies to those that are taking in a lodger. This must be done for every lodger; it is against the law to only carry out the checks on people that you do not believe are British citizens.

Getting a pet

Having a pet can hold a huge value and we feel that it is important to promote responsible pet ownership. Before introducing a pet to your home, consider:

• are you prepared for the time and money investment having a pet brings?
• will you be able to care for them during their whole life?
• is your home suitable for them? (if additional fencing is required to keep your pet secure, you will be responsible for this and may be an additional cost)
• will you be able to train your pet and prevent any anti-social behaviour? (for example, noise)
• dogs legally must wear a collar that displays their owner’s name and address when in public, and walked on a lead whilst in built-up areas
• pet cats should be microchipped as this improves chances of them being returned to you if lost
• you will be required to pay for and fix any damage to your home caused by pets. 

Anyone living in a house or bungalow may have one domestic pet without needing to ask for permission from us, though we do ask that you inform us so we can make sure your households records are up-to-date.  If you live in a flat, upper-maisonette, or would like more than one pet, fill out the form to request permission. We will not withhold permission without reason, but some conditions must be considered, such as the size, location and type of home you live in.

Run a business from home

If you are thinking of running a small business from your home, you will need to apply for permission. We will not normally refuse permission but will need to consider if the business could damage the property or cause a nuisance to your neighbours.
We can withdraw our permission if we believe your business causes a nuisance.

You can find more advice about running a business from home on the government website as there are other things to consider such as insurance, business rates and health and safety.