Can a self-contained unit be considered as a room?

A

AwtkGO

Registered User
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6
Hi,

I'm considering buying a 2 story house, then split it into 2 self-contained units install a washroom & a kitchen in upstairs. I'll be staying in one floor and rent out the other. I & tenant would have access to the main door and the stair to go to our own floor, but don't have access to the other person floor. Calling it a room or a self-contained unit doesn't matter to me.

I want to do less things (planning permission, obligations) as much as possible legally.

I want to apply for rent-a-room relief, and don't want the hassle of a self-contained:
If you rent out a self-contained unit in your home, such as a converted garage attached to your home or a basement flat, the rights and obligations under residential tenancies legislation apply to you. For example, you are obliged to register the tenancy with the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB), provide a rent book to the tenant and ensure that the accommodation provided meets minimum physical standards.
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Can I just advertise it as a room, then write it as a room in the rent contract? What is the criteria to be considered as a room?

Thanks.

Edited.
 
Last edited:
If it is a house with upstairs and downstairs washroom, could you put in a mini--kitchen upstairs? |You have one floor, the lodgers have the other, but it's not a self-contained unit.
 
Thirsty said:
Check the planning requirements first.
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Gervan said:
If it is a house with upstairs and downstairs washroom, could you put in a mini--kitchen upstairs? |You have one floor, the lodgers have the other, but it's not a self-contained unit.
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Yes, I'm planning to install/add a new kitchen & washroom to the upstair. About planning permission, from an article that I can't post the link because the button keep saying it's a spam:
Small Garage Conversions at the back or rear of the house. Where you convert the garage for domestic use (i.e. a bedroom, kitchen, living room etc.) and its floor area is less than 40 square meters.
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It doesn't not directly apply but seems like adding kitchen doesn't require planning.
 
AwtkGO said:
It doesn't not directly apply but seems like adding kitchen doesn't require planning.
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But adding the kitchen space isn't the bit that requires planning permission. It's splitting into 2 separate units that does. Apart from planning, you need to consider fire certificates, and how you're going to insurance.

The remainder of your query is covered a few times in other threads if you do a search. The exact definition is different for Rent a room relief Vs PRTB.

Example:

Rent a room (self contained unit)

Hi All Quick question In relation to renting a self contained unit within a house. I have been told albeit i think incorrectly that in order to claim up to 14k tax free that the person renting the self contained unit must use your front door and gas/electricity meter. From my research on the...
www.askaboutmoney.com
 
RedOnion said:
But adding the kitchen space isn't the bit that requires planning permission. It's splitting into 2 separate units that does. Apart from planning, you need to consider fire certificates, and how you're going to insurance.

The remainder of your query is covered a few times in other threads if you do a search. The exact definition is different for Rent a room relief Vs PRTB.
...
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Sorry for transferring the wrong message about splitting into 2 separate units, I have editted the original post. The idea is just to make it so I & tenant have our own private spaces, I'm not interested in the legal part of declaring them as 2 separate units if that's not required.

Thanks for sharing the link, I'll dig in more into it and other threads.

Out of the topic: Don't know why I can't post URL here, even from the quote message, it keeps saying spam.
 
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