Flat renting advice

NotJustAny...

On 1st March last year, my boyfriend and I rented a flat through a letting agency for a year. The flat is effectively a third of a house which is completely separated from the other two thirds (i.e. no rooms or facilities in common bar the driveway.) The landlord lives in the other two thirds.

We are now at the end of our original 12 month term. The landlord would like to renew the contract but to do it directly with us, rather than via the letting agency. Obviously this increases their income, and gives us some room to negotiate as we pay bills at a flat rate of £250/month.

a) Can we do this? - does the agency have any rights? Is it a sensible move? We have had no issues with the landlord: any problems have been quickly sorted, and the letting agency has not been involved at all since we moved in.

b) If so, what information should we ask for? I know our deposit needs to go into an assured scheme, but are there other adminstrative items we need to be aware of?

Thanks,
NotJustAny.

PasturesNew

The agency may well charge him to do that. To achieve it, you might have to actually move your stuff out, do the whole "booking out" procedure with the agent, then move back in again without him knowing.

Geenie

I would let the LL sort it out with the LA, as it is to their benefit. If you get on with your LL then it sounds like a good idea, but still do every thing in a professional manner.When you renew the contract, make sure everything is clear and recorded, ie, don't allow them to not bother with things a LA would. Your deposit would need to be protected, so insist on documentation to say this has been done.