Subletting and lodgers
Subletting
Shared Owners
Shared Owners cannot sublet or allow somebody else to occupy either part of or the whole of their property, except in exceptional circumstances. You are also not permitted to use Airbnb or any other short term rental scheme.
Renters’ Rights Act 2025: What it means for Shared Owners who have been exceptional permission to sublet
From the 1st May 2026, new rules under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 apply to private renting in England. If we have given you permission to sublet your Shared Ownership home, you are classed as a landlord. This means you must follow all the rules that apply to private landlords.
12‑month re-let restriction
In most cases, if a landlord asks a tenant to leave because they plan to sell the property, they cannot re-let or market it again for 12 months. However, Shared Owners may be exempt from this rule if certain conditions are met.
How to qualify for the exemption
To be exempt from the 12‑month restriction, you must tell your tenant in writing before the tenancy is agreed that:
- You are a Shared Owner, and
- The 12‑month restriction may not apply to you.
Additional conditions may also apply, such as confirming your intention to sell and taking steps to market the property.
Further guidance
You should read the full government guidance if you:
- Already have a tenant, or
- Are planning to rent out your home.
This will help you understand your responsibilities and avoid breaking the law.
Read the government guidance on shared ownership and the Renters’ Rights Act
Please note that where we have granted permission to sublet on an exceptional basis, this permission will not be extended if the reason is that you are unable to evict your subtenant under the new rules.
To apply to sublet you will need to complete the relevant application form, which be can be downloaded at the bottom of this page.
100% leaseholders
If you are a 100% leaseholder or have staircased to 100% ownership of your property, you are usually able to sublet, however the use of Airbnb or any other short term rental scheme is not allowed. Newlon will need to be made aware of who will be living at the property and, as you are responsible for all repairs to the property and the behaviour of any tenants, we need a relevant forwarding address and contact details.
Renters’ Rights Act 2025: What it means for Leaseholders
The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 has introduced new rules for private renting in England. These changes came into effect on the 1st May 2026. If you rent out your leasehold property, you are acting as a landlord. This means you must follow the correct legal processes under the new rules. To make sure you are meeting your responsibilities and not breaking the law, you should read the latest government guidance.
To apply to sublet you will need to complete the relevant application form, which be can be downloaded at the bottom of this page.
Lodgers
Subletting is not the same as having a lodger because a lodger does not have the same security of a tenancy. If you are a Shared Owner or Leaseholder you do not need our permission to take in a lodger. However, you must first check that your lodger can legally rent in England as you risk a heavy penalty if they can’t. You should also check the terms of your lease as some leases may not allow lodgers. You can find out more about how to do this at www.gov.uk/check-tenant-right-to-rent-documents.
For more information please email customerservice@newlon.org.uk or call 020 7613 8080.