Documents to ask tenant for if renting out a room in my own house

That seems excessive tbh. I've never asked for anything from my lodgers. What I do is only take applications by email, check out Google, social media etc and from that draw up a shortlist.

Payslip and reference can be forged pretty easily. Copy of ID might be helpful but I've never seen the need, between social media check and in person meeting you can get enough info.

Where did the OP say they were keeping any of the documents.

You and your passive aggressive posting as usual. Cop on to yourself.

Actually, for the OPS sanity, the term they need to use is "housemate". While paying rent/bills on time is obviously a necessity - being able to get on with them and live with them (potentially even becoming friends with them) is just as important.

OP, not only do I think you don't need to ask for evidence of income or bank statements etc, I think it would really put off good housemates or cause a bone of contention before they have even moved in. Back when I did house-shares, nobody ever asked me that (other than 1 girl who kept asking if I would have a problem with the rent back when I was on a grad's salary, but I simply assured her that it would be no problem). If anybody ever did, I would simply walk away as there is no way I would want to live with someone like that.

When I bought my own place and rented out a room, I never once dreamed of asking such personal questions. All I cared about was their personality and their work situation. Basically, asking myself things like - "am I happy to be watching TV, making/eating dinner etc with this person, or will it be awkward silences and forced conversations about the weather?", "when they have friends over, will I want to avoid them, or vice versa when my friends are around?" & "do we work similar hours (and thus not be waking each other doing late/early shifts etc)?". You will be able to tell from their job situation as to whether or not they will struggle with rent. Never bothered with a contract either. It's pretty useless when it comes to renting a room anyway.

As has been said before, you can kick them out at a moment's notice if ever there was a crisis (although that's only if a crisis - in reality, maybe a month's notice for any other issues). So any issues with late rent/bills etc can be easily dealt with.

Ultimately, I had 5 different housemates while I was owner-occupier. I did have to kick out one after a few months as it turned out he was an alco and I didn't feel comfortable living with him. Of the other 4, all were fine, and 2 I would have become friends with (drinks together and hang out with their friends and vice versa etc).

If they were picked to and agreed to stay, Id tell them beforehand, you would like to see ID and Id get a contact number for them, and then Id privately make note of a vehicle registration/car type, other than I wouldnt suggest keeping records but I would make a point of outlining the house rules from the start, even if you have to make a list. I would ask questions about their work just to see what they say and does it sound legit and also to make sure they wont clash with your hours and disturb you or anyone else who may be paying for a room.

Not really necessary to put anything in writing (possibly better not to), but Id highlight notice periods and specific rules like guests allowed or not, or whatever your requirements are from the start, I think thats advisable to prevent pisstakers who know no rules or think any apply to them. As you're the owner it wouldnt make much difference because if someone oversteps the mark, you can tell them straight away to stop or not do whatever you decide or if its really bad, you can have them out the door in 30 seconds, nevermimd anyone that says you HAVE to give reasonable notice, if someone didnt stop something you arent happy with, or responds negatively to that (include hostility) you can just tell them to leave. Having let rooms in the past for years, the types of A-holes who will push the limits exist, but usually they are in the minority imo. Dont get into the habit of calling yourself or allowed to be called a landlord (you are the owner) or them your tenant, or use any terminology associated with renting, licensees dont have rights in a persons home like a tenant has in a tenancy, any suggestion otherwise is nonsense.

The best way to look at the concept of a licensee is to view them as a “paying guest”. A guest who is financially contributing to the household. Once you get your head around that then things slip into place. Sit down each candidate at the kitchen table and have a really really thorough chat.