Covering London and the South East     sales@hi-residential.com       020 8316 6616

How to Spot the Signs of Illegal Subletting

9th April 2024 Uncategorised
How to Spot the Signs of Illegal Subletting

How to Spot the Signs of Illegal Subletting

Did you know that one in ten tenants admit to illegally subletting their rental property*?

The practice is even more common among young people; in a recent survey, 25% of tenants aged 18 to 24 confessed to secretly subletting all or part of their rental.

So why should landlords be concerned about illegal subletting? After all, if the rent still gets paid on time, what’s the problem? Here are a few reasons.

  • You have no idea who is living in your property and what kind of illegal or unwise activities they’re undertaking.
  • It can breach the terms of your mortgage and invalidate your landlord insurance.
  • If your tenant sublets to several people, your property could, by stealth, qualify as a house in multiple occupation (HMO). The council could fine you for not meeting HMO regulations.
  • Trying to regain possession of a property can be more complicated and costly.

What are the signs of illegal subletting?

  • You notice an increase in the number of people coming and going from the property.
  • Mail deliveries spike, including letters addressed to people not listed as tenants.
  • The bins are full to overflowing.
  • You find bunk beds or mattresses in bedrooms.
  • The legitimate tenant is not returning your calls and always has an excuse as to why you shouldn’t pay a visit.

Protect your property

Contract – Ensure your tenancy agreement includes a subletting clause. Some landlords opt to prohibit subletting; others make it a condition that the tenant must get permission first. (For more advice on this issue, contact us to discuss it.)

Raise awareness – About 75% of tenants who admitted subletting in the survey hadn’t checked their lease to see if it was permitted. Regardless of what you think of this reasoning, never assume the tenant has absorbed the finer details of their contract. Have a chat at the start of the tenancy. Explain what constitutes subletting and that it’s a breach of contract. Also, inform tenants that it may invalidate their own contents insurance.

Inspections – Conduct regular inspections to gauge what’s happening at the property.

Reference checks – Carry out thorough reference and credit checks before signing a new tenant.

Build rapport – If tenants consider you a hands-on landlord who responds quickly to issues, they’re much less likely to test boundaries.

Use a letting agent – Having a reputable letting agent manage the property means you’ll have another set of eyes on the ground, keeping check on your investment.

Want to know more about our property management services? Contact us here at Hi Residential today.

* Figures in this article taken from a Direct Line survey, 2023

Recent Blog Posts

Latest news and updates

Small Gestures, Big Impact: It’s Random Acts of Kindness Day 9th April Uncategorised

Small Gestures, Big Impact: It’s Random Acts of Kindness Day

Small Gestures, Big Impact: It’s Random Acts of Kindness Day Random Acts of Kindness Day is this Saturday 17th February. The idea of a day to perform random acts of kindness began in America in 1995. It’s spread globally and is a great opportunity to show how small, thoughtful actions…

Read More
What You Should Know before You and Your Partner Live Together If talk between you and your partner this Valentine’s Day turns to living together, there are a few practical things you should know first. Here at Hi Residential, we pride ourselves on being as helpful as possible. But dishing out relationship advice is a step too far – even for us. So, if you’re considering moving in with your partner, we’ll leave the big decisions and lovey-dovey stuff down to you. However, if you decide to co-habit, we have some useful, albeit unromantic, advice for you. It’s based on insights we’ve gained over the years from helping many couples set up home together. Speak to your landlord One option when moving in together is to start afresh in a new rental property. However, if you plan to move into your partner’s rented place or for them to join you, then you need to discuss this with the landlord. Be aware that you’ll need to get the landlord’s permission first, and they’ll most likely have to run a reference check. Budget and bills The good thing about living with someone is you can share the financial burden of renting. But you’ll need to have a frank conversation at the start to discuss how much you can afford to pay in rent and how you’ll split the bills. Jointly liable It’s worth understanding that when the two of you sign a tenancy agreement, you are both ‘jointly and severally liable’. This means that if, for example, your partner loses their job and can’t pay the rent, you could be liable to pay their share. The same goes for the upkeep and maintenance of the property. You’re both equally responsible. Logistics If you both already have your own homes, decide what furniture you’ll each take to your new property. It’s unlikely that you will have room for more than one sofa, bed or dining table, so you may need to give away or sell some big-ticket items. At this point, you may also get the home-making bug and decide to buy some items to turn your new place into a cosy love nest. In that case, it may be time to put your relationship to the test by taking a trip to Ikea. Good luck. If you’re looking for a new rental property, contact us here at Hi Residential today. 9th April Uncategorised

What You Should Know before You and Your Partner Live Together If talk between you and your partner this Valentine’s Day turns to living together, there are a few practical things you should know first. Here at Hi Residential, we pride ourselves on being as helpful as possible. But dishing out relationship advice is a step too far – even for us. So, if you’re considering moving in with your partner, we’ll leave the big decisions and lovey-dovey stuff down to you. However, if you decide to co-habit, we have some useful, albeit unromantic, advice for you. It’s based on insights we’ve gained over the years from helping many couples set up home together. Speak to your landlord One option when moving in together is to start afresh in a new rental property. However, if you plan to move into your partner’s rented place or for them to join you, then you need to discuss this with the landlord. Be aware that you’ll need to get the landlord’s permission first, and they’ll most likely have to run a reference check. Budget and bills The good thing about living with someone is you can share the financial burden of renting. But you’ll need to have a frank conversation at the start to discuss how much you can afford to pay in rent and how you’ll split the bills. Jointly liable It’s worth understanding that when the two of you sign a tenancy agreement, you are both ‘jointly and severally liable’. This means that if, for example, your partner loses their job and can’t pay the rent, you could be liable to pay their share. The same goes for the upkeep and maintenance of the property. You’re both equally responsible. Logistics If you both already have your own homes, decide what furniture you’ll each take to your new property. It’s unlikely that you will have room for more than one sofa, bed or dining table, so you may need to give away or sell some big-ticket items. At this point, you may also get the home-making bug and decide to buy some items to turn your new place into a cosy love nest. In that case, it may be time to put your relationship to the test by taking a trip to Ikea. Good luck. If you’re looking for a new rental property, contact us here at Hi Residential today.

What You Should Know before You and Your Partner Live Together  If talk between you and your partner this Valentine’s Day turns to living together, there are a few practical things you should know first. Here at Hi Residential, we pride ourselves on being as helpful as possible. But dishing out…

Read More