Tenants Leaving Agreement Early

leespot

Hi Pinkshoes - Yep, hoepfully my next tenant will be nicer! The first one would be paying with housing benefit, the second is at work and mentioned he is under some sort of scheme whereby the deposit and first months rent are paid upfront. That said, the 2nd person did also ask for me to reduce the rent to £450 lol. Can't win!

leespot

The second person that came to view the house also said that he would like to take it. To summarise, the 1st person doesn't have a deposit and would struggle to pay the first months rent in one go, so on that ground I would have to politely decline his request.

The second person said that they are involved in a scheme where they can guarantee the LL a deposit and first months rent in advance. The process involves me invoicing the agency (if thats what its called) and they will then pay me straight away. I'm not sure how this works, and I will ask for the company name when I speak to him again tomorrow. All I do know is that there will be no contracts or keys exchanged until that money is safely in my account!

I was wondering if anyone else has come across this sort of scheme?

viktory

Just wanted to say good luck with your new tenant's. You sound like a very reasonable landlord and I am sorry your old tenant's behaved so badly. I would be very tempted to take them to court (or at the very least lodge a CCJ against them) but fully understand why you are not.

Some people are real sh1ts, aren't they?

leespot

Hiya viktory,

Thanks for the good luck wishes. I'm intrigued as to the scheme these new prospective tenants are in, will be looking a little more into it. It would be lovely to get someone in before Christmas (new people want to move in the weekend my current tenants move out) but at the same time, I don't want to rush anything.

Yes, some people are really like that!! Sad but true eh!

prudryden

Good luck leespot! I get nervous when people talk about schemes that are out of the ordinary. I like plain vanilla. Let us know how you get on.

leespot

Thanks Prudryden - I'll be speaking to them again in the morning, and they apparently will sort out the payment within the week. We shall see! I'll post once I have more details!

shaven-monkey

Change the locks, protects against the previous tenants returning because their housing association thing didn't work out.

Get written proof from previous tenants that the termination of AST is mutually agreed and understood.

leespot

Thanks shaven monkey, but they move out on 19th and the new people want to move in on 20th.

shaven-monkey

Well, that's good for you in terms of cashflow but in principle the problem tenants still have 11 odd months of an AST signed by both parties to run.

Bearing in mind the problems you have already had with these muppets, it's best to make absolutely sure that they surrender all rights that the existing AST could provide them in writing. If they refuse to sign anything I would take that as an indication of intent to cause more trouble. They could in theory take you to court, the laughter that resulted would almost be worth the time and effort involved but better to be safe than sorry.

Changing the barrels on the locks shouldn't take more than an hour and is just for the security of your incoming tenants, wouldn't want them to come home one day to find all their stuff gone and no sign of forced entry. It wouldn't be your liability but it wouldn't make for good relations.

leespot

Fair comment. I've typed up a letter which the other tenants have to sign on Friday, waivering their rights to the remaining 11 months on the agreement and also confirming that as I have found another tenant that I will not pursue them for Decembers rent payment (this is subject to my new tenants being moved in on time - does that sound fair, and is it legal?)

They shouldn't have a problem signing this, as they are still moaning on to be about being a nasty landlord, won't give me a forwarding address (which I already have but they don't know) and just not happy with me in general. I'll find out what time they are leaving the house on Friday and make sure I'm there with my dad to change the locks. I hadn't actually thought of that so thanks for the heads up!