tenancy agreement up on 11th July but estate agents refuse to budge what should I do

PasturesNew

If you have a current AST that ends on 11 July, then you don't need to give notice to leave on that date. It's only polite that you do.

S0d 'em!

markymark10_2

I'm pretty sure that I am in the right over this, its just the ea's stance that is the problem here. They wont accept the keys back on the 11th or attend a checkout so if that take this to court I will struggle to prove that I had returned the keys at the expiry date. I'm thinking of complaining to whatever regulatory board they operate under as i'm sure that they must be bound to a code of practice & its the sheer pigheadedness of the agent which is the problem, they just wont give any leeway whatsoever.

Premier_2

You've given the letting people 6 weeks notice to get their act together.

If they don't come to take the property off you as requested, that really is their problem (as long as you don't stay there). Could you not just go to the EAs office on the Friday, ask to speak to the manager and give him the keys?

Your only problem is that they won't give you the outgoing inventory sign-off. The inventory agreement is for the mutual benefit of both parties - if the LL (or his agent) won't do it, it won't help their case in any dispute when it comes to your word against theirs in any dispute about the deposit for any alleged damages.

If the letting agent is a member of ARLA, you might be able to complain to them. Alternatively, it might be better to just advise the LL directly what the agent is doing - many have no idea some of the shenanigans their agent gets up to. Unfortunately, some don't care either.

poppysarah

Tell them you'll be leaving the keys with a friend who'll meet them at the property with inventory, camera to photo the place - and if you don't have a friend then I'd be tempted to find a homeless person and give them the keys. *grins*

You could point out that the place is obviously empty and the sooner they put curtains up the better.

Incisor

markymark10 wrote: »

I'm pretty sure that I am in the right over this, its just the ea's stance that is the problem here. They wont accept the keys back on the 11th or attend a checkout so if that take this to court I will struggle to prove that I had returned the keys at the expiry date.

Be sure of your position on the end date first. Write to them [not email, because you may need it later] and give them notice you are leaving on the date, and order them to turn up for an inventory review. Given their stance, they probably won't show, so get a friend to witness the inventory and send them a copy. Hand in the keys, with the friend as a witness. Job done.

I'm thinking of complaining to whatever regulatory board they operate under as i'm sure that they must be bound to a code of practice

Or tell them you are emailing to Watchdog, that'll scare the pants off them. Maybe.

& its the sheer pigheadedness of the agent which is the problem, they just wont give any leeway whatsoever.

Leeway? There is no leeway required here AFAICS