Ending Tenancy Early.....Options?

chambta

My then ex-partner took a 6 month tenancy on a property and I stood as guarantor for the £395pcm rent to ensure she got the property.

She was in receipt of housing benefit and income support but has now moved back in with me. The 6 month assured tenancy comes to an end on May 22nd.

As I see it there are three options.....

1) Ask nicely if the landlord would end the tenancy early....though presumably he'd be within his rights not to?

2) Offer to make a payment to end the tenancy early to compensate him and he would hopefully then be able to find a new tenant.

3) Last option is to simply keep paying the monthly rent on what will be soon be an empty property (not great security for him presumably) and get the £500 bond back at the end.

Any ideas or thoughts? I've asked her to call the letting agents tomorrow to see if they can speak to the landlord.

I appreciate his position and if needs be I'll pay the rent but am hopeful we can come to an agreement.

babs2008

Could you come to an agreement whereby you continue payments until a new tenant is found. This way the landlord wont be loosing out and you wont be loosing out as much especially if a tenant can be found quickly.

chambta

That was the option '2'. I make it there are only 3 lots of rent payments owed anyway and a £500 deposit to return.

Robert_Sterling_3

I guess it is worth it to be together again.

:T :j :T :j :T

chambta

Definitely. Not really bothered about the money. Some things are more important. I signed guarantee for rent and that's that.

I bet we can come to some agreement. Maybe end it now and him keep bond? See what he says.

real1314

If you go down the route of paying 'til the end of the tenancy, you can give immediate notice and ask the LL to re-advertise to mitigate the loss of tenant. So they'd have to try to get a new tenant in. You'd have to pay until they did and you'd also have to pay for their costs (advertising etc) - which you should agree with the LL as to what's fair.

Personally, I'd look at the fact that the LL is due to receive £1500 from you to the end of the tenancy. (The deposit is separate as it's technically yours anyway, just held until the end of the term.)
I'd offer half this at most to end the tenancy now. Base it on them keeping the £500 deposit and you give them £250 on top. Saves you paying out £1250 but you lose the £500 deposit. Overall you'd be splitting the difference on the £1500 left to pay.

You could try arguing that you have £1500 to pay but are due £500 back, so there's a net £1k left to pay and you'd split the difference on that at £500 and let them just keep the deposit - but that would be a bit of mathematical trickery!

chambta

Give em a call tomorrow and see what they say.