Accommodation Rules for Partner Visa Applicants in House Shares and Lodgers: A Clear Guide to Eligibility and Evidence

If you live in a house share or plan to rent a room with a lodger while applying for a UK partner visa, your accommodation must meet the same legal standards as any other home. You must prove the place is legally occupied, not overcrowded, and available for you and your partner without relying on public funds.

This article shows what counts as suitable housing in shared homes, what landlords or flatmates need to confirm, and which documents make your claim stronger. You will learn how the rules on overcrowding, public health and legal occupancy affect your application and what practical steps to take to avoid delays.

Core Accommodation Requirements for Partner Visa Applicants

You must show the home you intend to live in meets housing, safety and occupancy rules. That means proving there is suitable space, you have the legal right to live there, and the household will not be overcrowded or unsafe.

Adequate Accommodation Standard

Adequate accommodation means the property complies with housing and public health standards and has enough room for everyone listed on the application. Provide documents such as tenancy agreements, mortgage statements, council tax bills or a letter from the landlord that states who lives there and for how long. The Home Office checks for overcrowding against the statutory bedroom standard and for hazards under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS).

If the property is a house in multiple occupation (HMO) or a flat share, you must still show each resident has sufficient sleeping and living space. Photographs of each room with dimensions, room allocation plans and recent utility bills help make your case. Evidence should be dated and clearly linked to you and your partner.

Exclusive Occupancy Requirement

Exclusive occupancy requires that the family unit will have sole use of the living space, or lawful permission for the intended use, for the foreseeable future. For a house share or lodger arrangement, you must show the area you and your partner will use is not shared in a way that breaches the exclusive occupancy rule. A licence to occupy, written permission from the freeholder or a tenancy that names your partner and any dependants is strong evidence.

If a joint tenancy lists other householders, explain how rooms are allocated and supply written confirmation from the landlord that your family’s use is protected. The Home Office expects clear boundaries: where exclusive use cannot be shown, applications risk refusal under the exclusive occupancy requirement in the immigration rules.

Legal Right of Residence

You must prove the right to live at the address is lawful and ongoing. If you own the property, provide title deeds or mortgage documents. If you rent, submit a tenancy agreement in your partner’s name or a letter from the landlord confirming you may live there without breaching the tenancy. If you are a lodger, a formal lodger agreement and evidence the landlord permits your stay are required.

For applications under Appendix FM, Family Visa, spouse visa, civil partner visa or unmarried partner visa routes, demonstrate that the accommodation will not leave you needing public funds. Show up-to-date proof such as council tax, utility bills or landlord correspondence to confirm occupancy and the continuity of your right to remain at the address while your application or after a grant, including when applying later for indefinite leave to remain.

Rules for House Shares and Lodgers Applying for Partner Visas

You must prove your UK home is adequate, not overcrowded, and that you will not rely on public funds. If you live in a shared house or as a lodger, the key is who has exclusive occupation of the rooms and whether you can show stable, lawful use of the space.

Accommodation Arrangements in Shared Properties

If you live in a house share, the Home Office expects your proposed accommodation to meet housing standards and not be overcrowded. You should show who lives at the address, the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and how the space is used. Provide tenancy agreements, council tax bills, or a landlord’s letter that names you and your partner or confirms the room allocation.

If the property is overcrowded under the Housing Act 1985 rules, it will fail the requirement. Temporary stays or frequent moves weaken a claim. Make clear whether you and your partner will have a private bedroom and reasonable use of common areas.

Demonstrating Exclusive Use in Shared Homes

Exclusive occupation means the family unit alone has the right to occupy the room or flat within the property. If you cannot legally show exclusive occupation of the whole property, you must prove exclusive use of the bedroom and sufficient shared space for family life.

Use documents that show legal exclusive occupancy: written licence agreements, landlord confirmation, or a joint tenancy. Photographs of the bedroom, a signed statement from housemates, and recent utilities or council tax records help. If the owner is a relative or the property is rented jointly, explain the legal arrangements clearly.

Lodger-Specific Considerations

As a lodger, you usually have a licence to occupy rather than exclusive tenancy. That licence must still show your partner can live there without overcrowding or breaching the landlord’s rules. A landlord’s signed letter should state you and your partner are permitted to live together and confirm the room’s size and facilities.

If the licence restricts guests or limits overnight stays, get written permission to change it. Show rent payment records and utility bills in your name where possible. If the room is clearly too small or shared with others for sleeping, the Home Office may refuse on accommodation grounds, so aim to demonstrate a lawful, stable arrangement.

Proving Suitability and Legal Status of Accommodation

You must show that your room or flat is safe, not overcrowded, and legally available for you to live in. Provide clear documents that prove who owns or rents the property, that you have permission to stay there, and that the property meets basic health and safety rules.

Tenancy Agreements and Letters of Permission

Give a full copy of the tenancy agreement that names you or shows explicit permission for you to live at the address. The agreement should state the property address, term dates, rent amount, and the landlord or letting agent’s contact details. If you are a lodger, include a signed letter from the person you stay with that explains the living arrangements, how long you will stay, and confirms you have exclusive or shared use of a bedroom.

If the tenancy is verbal, produce supporting evidence: rent receipts, bank transfers, or a stamped rent book. If the landlord is private but using an agent, add the agent’s contract and correspondence. Highlight clauses that limit occupants if those would affect overcrowding tests.

Property Ownership and Mortgage Documentation

If the property is owner-occupied, include proof of ownership such as a Land Registry title, title deeds, or a recent property sale contract. A title deed or Land Registry title showing the owner’s name and the full address is often decisive. If the owner holds a mortgage, attach a mortgage statement or mortgage agreement to show the property is occupied under lawful terms.

If you live with a family member who owns the home, supply a letter from the owner plus a copy of the title deed or Land Registry entry in their name. If the owner plans to rent rooms, include a stamped mortgage lender letter or consent if the mortgage requires owner-occupier status to be maintained.

Utility Bills and Council Tax Evidence

Provide recent utility bills (gas, electricity, water) and a council tax bill in the occupant’s or owner’s name that match the property address. Bills within the last three months carry the most weight. If the bills are in the landlord’s or a family member’s name, include a tenancy agreement or a signed permission letter linking you to the address.

A council tax statement that shows the property band and the named resident helps prove lawful occupation and occupancy levels. If you are exempt or registered as a lodger, add a council letter confirming the status. Keep copies of online account screenshots that clearly show name, address, and date if original paper bills are unavailable.

Inspection Reports and Health Standards

Submit any recent property inspection report and a gas safety certificate if the property has gas appliances. An inspection report from a letting agent or local authority that confirms no overcrowding, working smoke alarms, and suitable room sizes will support your claim. Include pest-control receipts or repair invoices if those address past health issues.

If the property has been assessed by the council for HMO or other standards, attach the council’s report or licence. Where there is no formal report, provide dated photos of each bedroom, communal areas, and fire safety features along with the tenancy or permission documents to show the property meets public health and safety requirements.

Compliance with Overcrowding and Public Health Regulations

You must ensure your shared house or lodger arrangement meets space rules, safety standards and the requirement that you will not rely on public funds. Check legal room counts, basic safety fittings, and proof of lawful occupancy.

Overcrowding Rules and Space Requirements

You must comply with the Housing Act 1985 overcrowding test. This law counts adults and children and sets minimum room space and sleeping places. A single-bedroom property must not accommodate more people than the Act allows. If you share a house, each couple is normally expected to have their own bedroom under the Act.

When you apply, show tenancy agreements or a letter from the landlord confirming available bedrooms and who shares each room. Landlords’ licences or council letters proving lawful occupation help. If children live with you, state their ages and sleeping arrangements to show you meet the overcrowding requirements.

Health and Safety Standards under UK Law

Your accommodation must meet basic public health and safety guidelines enforced by local councils. That includes proper ventilation, safe heating, working smoke alarms, safe electrics, and no dangerous mould or damp. Houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) need specific HMO licences and higher fire-safety measures.

Provide evidence such as an HMO licence, landlord safety certificates (gas/electric), or recent inspection reports. If the property breaches public health regulations, the Home Office will not accept it as adequate, even if you have a tenancy agreement.

Financial Independence from Public Funds

You must show you will live in the accommodation without recourse to public funds. That means you or your sponsor must fund rent, utilities, and council tax without claiming benefits that count as public funds. The sponsor’s tenancy, mortgage statement, or payslips should prove they can maintain the home.

If a deposit or rent in advance is paid by someone else, include a signed letter confirming ongoing financial responsibility. Documents that show receipt of means-tested benefits can harm the application, so avoid relying on those when proving accommodation adequacy.

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