The instructions included fines of £100 for using additional heaters in bedrooms and £15 if a tenant left dishes in the sink. The rules even stipulated that tenants were not allowed to shower for more than 15 minutes and visitors needed to be approved two weeks in advance.
No pets are allowed, cooking must be limited to 30 minutes and pork was banned entirely.
The list, which was posted on Twitter by the prospective tenant, added that any personal belongings left in communal areas would be "thrown out as junk". Laura Evelyn, from London, posted a photo online yesterday of the typed list she says was given to her during a viewing. It quickly went viral, with more than 1,000 retweeting it and almost 4,000 commenting on it on Reddit.
Miss Evelyn, an actor and a proofreader, uploaded the image with the words: "Need a room to rent? I was given this upon a recent viewing. This is not a joke! #heseemedsonormal."
Unsurprisingly, Miss Evelyn turned down the room. If you are looking to rent a room or a flat, it is worth knowing your rights.
As a tenant in a private rented property, you have the right to a tenancy agreement, it should be fair and comply with the law. You also have a right to live in a property that's safe and in a good state of repair, challenge excessively high charges, be protected against unfair eviction and unfair rent and have your deposit returned when the tenancy ends – and in some circumstances have it protected.
