Let me Sub-let?
With the upcoming COP26 to be held in Glasgow from 31 October to 12 November and around 25,000 delegates alone attending, the demand for places to stay during the event has gone through the roof. The rates for many properties have skyrocketed with prices for Airbnb properties multiplying by hundreds of percent. One Glasgow property is reported to have risen from £400 per night to almost £3600 per night and one luxury apartment in Glasgow’s west end has reportedly been rented out for £100,000 for the 2 week duration of the event. Landlords are in some cases getting a whole year’s rent for just 2 week’s occupation.
The demand and sharp rise in prices has caused a lot of Glaswegians to consider sub-letting their homes to people in need of a place to stay during the event. But without proper permission, sub-letting can bring problems to all concerned.
A tenancy agreement is agreed between a landlord and a specific named and vetted tenant. When a tenant then unlawfully sub-lets a property to someone who is not known to the landlord and who the landlord has not agreed can stay in the property, this is a breach of the tenancy agreement and the landlord can raise legal proceedings to bring the tenancy agreement to an end and evict the unlawful occupier from the property.
Landlords should also be aware that sub-letting is not covered under most insurance policies and will in all likelihood also not be permitted under the terms of any mortgage secured over the property.
So, unless permission is sought from a landlord, who in turn will need permission from their insurers and their lender, subletting can lead to overcrowded, unsanitary living conditions, damage to property, eviction and court action.
If you have any questions or are seeking any advice on any of the issues discussed above please contact us on 0141 552 3422 or by email info@mitchells-roberton.co.uk