Can Landlord do this?

Simple_Simone

Situation: - five adults renting a 5 bedroom house in Dublin. One has been there for over 4 years others for varying periods between 3 years and 8 months. There is a tenancy agreement but no-one has seen it.

Downstairs is a "living room" which is full of junk furniture but can be used by tenants to store bicycles, etc in. Landlord proposes to convert this into a bedroom and move one of his children into it. No reduction in rent is being offered to other tenants - it is assumed that the kid will contribute to utility bills.

Tenants argue that their rent should be reduced as they have lost the use of a room in the house. Landlord has effectively told them to take a hike.

Can he do this, or is he potentially in breach of the lease?

Tenants will be seeking Threshold/RTB's advice tomorrow, but would welcome any views/observations from the Boards community.

CIARAN_BOYLE

It depends on if you are renting a share of a house or a room within a house.

godtabh

i'd be very wary of the landlords kid moving in

Gatling

Sounds like you could very well becoming a licencee rather than tenants who have no rights

L1011

The original tenancy agreement needs to be found. It is very likely the house is rented to a named person in its entirity, but if that person is gone it becomes rather complicated.

If the house is rented as a whole, the landlord cannot do any of what is being proposed.

L1011

L1011 wrote: »

If the house is rented as a whole, the landlord cannot do any of what is being proposed.

He can however legally terminate the tenancy if it is needed for a child. Op must also consider this as a possible/probable outcome of a refusal.

the_syco

Dav010 wrote: »

He can however legally terminate the tenancy if it is needed for a child. Op must also consider this as a possible/probable outcome of a refusal.

The OP will get at least a months notice to leave if the LL goes that route. If the landlords son moves in, the OP may become a licensee, and get a weeks notice to leave.

the_syco

the_syco wrote: »

The OP will get at least a months notice to leave if the LL goes that route. If the landlords son moves in, the OP may become a licensee, and get a weeks notice to leave.

Either way, if the LL wants to move his child in, it’s probably going to happen, op can object, but could be looking for a new place to rent.

Varik

If it's not already a licence then the LL can't move son in, and if it is then the op rights are already limited. If it is a tendency, and the current tenants including op do agree to the son moving in then it's still a tenancy with another name added to it.

paulieeye

sounds this guy moving in will be loved by his fellow housemates!