The distinction between a lodger and a tenant is important because it determines what rights you have. If your landlord lives in the same property and shares living space with you, you're a lodger, not a tenant. This means you have a licence to occupy the property rather than a tenancy, and the protections available to tenants under the Renters' Rights Act, the Housing Act 1988, and deposit protection legislation don't apply to you.
As a lodger, your landlord doesn't have to protect your deposit in a government-approved scheme, doesn't have to follow the Section 8 possession process to ask you to leave, and can enter shared areas without giving notice. Your landlord only needs to give you "reasonable notice" to end the arrangement, which is usually the length of one rent payment period.
That doesn't mean you have no rights at all. Your landlord can't evict you without reasonable notice, can't use or threaten violence, and must ensure the property is safe. You also have rights under the Protection from Eviction Act 1977 if your landlord tries to force you out without notice.
Before moving in, make sure you understand whether you're a lodger or a tenant. If the person you're renting from doesn't live in the property, you're a tenant with full legal protections, regardless of what the agreement says.
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