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What is Lodger?

Last verified 23 October 2026

A lodger is someone who rents a room in the home you live in yourself. In England, because the landlord lives in the property, a lodger does not have an assured periodic tenancy.

Why it matters to landlords

How you end the arrangement depends on what you share. If you or your family share a kitchen, bathroom or living room with the lodger, they are likely an excluded occupier: you only need to give reasonable notice, usually the length of the rent period, and you do not need to go to court. If they share no living space with you, they are likely an occupier with basic protection, which means written notice to quit and, if they do not leave, a court order.

Lodgers still bring duties. HSE treats a householder whose lodger pays rent as a landlord for gas safety, so the annual gas safety check applies. The Tenant Fees Act also covers licences to occupy, including lodgers. For tax, the Rent a Room Scheme lets you earn up to £7,500 a year from letting a room in your home without paying tax on it, or £3,750 if you share the income.

Example

Sam lets a spare room in her Bristol flat to a lodger for £600 a month, and they share the kitchen. Her rent for the year is £7,200, which is below £7,500, so she can use the Rent a Room Scheme. When she wants the room back, she gives a month's notice.

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