Does the Right to Rent Scheme apply to Theatre Digs Hosts?

From February 2016, a new law has been imposed on landlords and landladies to check that a tenant or lodger can legally rent their residential property in England.

We spoke with the landlords and landladies helpline at Gov.uk and they assured us that this does not apply to short term lets and that for the purpose of the Right to Rent Scheme theatre digs bookings are viewed in the same way as holiday lets. 

The only exception being when the lets exceed 3 months.

They direct any concerned Hosts to Section 3.4 on their Code of Practice for clarification. They also point out the main criteria which is stated in that section:

• "The scheme only applies to residential tenancy agreements which allow someone to take up occupation as their only or main home."
  

A recent Saga Magazine article also states:

• "...The rules do not apply to lodgers or tenants who are under 18 or for temporary stays of up to three months. They do not apply to houseguests who pay no rent, or to holiday lets..."
  

We will continue to push for written clarification from the Government's department to explicitly stipulate in writing that theatre digs bookings are exempt from this scheme but, in the meantime, if you would like further clarification from the appropriate Government department, please call the Landlord’s helpline - 0300 069 9799.

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