Handing keys back early...advice please

poppett

Hi all, I am hoping to contact Citizens Advice later today but thought I'd seek your advice in the meantime. We are due to move out of rented accomadation soon and the agent is coming round the following day to check the place over. We hae actually paid rent up until the week AFTER we move and I have asked the agent to bring a cheque for that weeks rent with her when she does her check. I then intend to hand back the keys that day. I was just wondering if she fails to bring a cheque am I entitled to hold on to the keys until the day my rent is paid up until even though the house will be empty?

pinkshoes

You're entitled to pay and stay in the property until the end of the notice period.

The agent has no obligation to refund you the week of rent after you leave, and likewise you have no obligation to leave until your tenancy is complete, although you might want to postpone the check out if doing that.

Premier_2

As pinkshoes says.

However, the LA may refuse to carry out the final inspection until you are happy to hand the keys back as otherwise there would be nothing preventing you returning to the property and wrecking it, or taking something which is not yours.

poppett

I should clarify.... we gave our notice more than a month ago but our agent and LL was happy for us to continue paying until we got a definite date from the builders of our new place. (we knew it was december) So, when our rent was due in November we were advised by agent to pay full month (up til xmas eve) incase of any hold ups and she did say any extra would be refunded. She is eager to call next week as already as tenant lined up. That's why I asked original question.

Premier_2

This could be a legal nightmare. If you don't have anything in writing the LL could deny any agreement was made and so could suggest that the notice originally given was anulled when you originally informed him you wanted to stay on (so no notice is now in effect), or perhaps worse still could hold you to the original notice given and demand double rent for the period you have now stayed on past that notice date.

Having said that, I'm sure the LL/LA will act as they are treated and so hopefully fully comply with your wishes and the verbal agreement you have reached.