A 67-year-old woman from Hampshire, identified only as Amanda, is seeking advice on how to ask her 32-year-old son to leave her home, as he has never moved out and pays no rent or bills. She and her husband are retiring and need to downsize, but her son is furious and claims he cannot afford to rent in the area.
Legal rights
Consumer champion Sarah Davidson, writing for Metro, confirms that Amanda is legally allowed to ask her son to leave. Because he pays no rent and has no formal tenancy agreement, he is classified as an 'excluded occupier' or bare licensee, giving him few legal rights to remain. No court order is needed; only 'reasonable notice' is required, which in practice is typically 28 days, though giving two or three months may be more appropriate for family.
Financial reality
Davidson points out that the son's salary of £35,000 gives him a take-home pay of around £2,350 a month. While average UK rents are £1,442 a month, a single person on his income can afford a room in a house share or a modest one-bedroom flat in Hampshire, even if it means budgeting for the first time.
Approaching the conversation
Davidson advises Amanda to present the move as a non-negotiable financial reality, not a punishment. She suggests sitting down with her husband and son to explain that the house is being sold and he must find his own accommodation by a specific date, avoiding arguments about spending or abandonment. Offering to pay the deposit on his first rental could soften the transition, but Amanda must hold firm.
