Renting whilst pregnant

sofietrouble

My husband and I were living in a shared house, but when we found out I was pregnant, we got our own place on a 6 month AST.

That comes to an end at the end of October, and I am worried that if by then the landlord finds out I am pregnant, he won't renew our contract and get us to leave.
We rent the place through a (very good!) agent and the advert did say no children or pets... though there is nothing in the contract saying no children, (just no pets), but the contract does state we need to inform the agency/landlord if anyone else comes to live at the property (which I guess would include a new baby.)

I realise the landlord can give notice to get us out for any reason, but I really don't want to be homeless and struggling to find somewhere else to rent with less than 2 months to go to give birth.

I would like to try and renew the contract for another 6 months before it comes to and end at the end of Oct. Would this be bad of me to do this, knowing that my the end of Dec we'll have a baby? If the landlord finds out, can he kick us out during the renewed 6 months, or will he have to wait until that is over? And do we really have a legal obligation to inform the agent/landlord that I have given birth? I really feel like it's none of anyone's business, we pay our rent on time and the agency have always been satisfied with our inspections, so I don't see what the problem is.

I've rented abroad and I feel really appalled that here in the UK children are lumped in with pets. I am keeping my eyes peeled on rightmove for things to rent in the area as a plan B if it all goes to pot, and the amount of adverts that say 'no children or pets' is just depressing. How on earth do renters with children and pets cope???

JayZed

I can't speak for your landlord, but I doubt it would be a problem. Landlords are normally concerned about destructive kids (toddlers scribbling on the walls, thundering hordes of six-year-olds, that sort of thing). A new-born won't destroy much except your sleep.

And if you renewed your tenancy, I'm pretty sure that the landlord would have no grounds to terminate your contract during the AST period just because you'd have a baby!

sofietrouble

Thank you JayZed. Maybe I am worrying about nothing, but I just don't fancy any nasty surprises at a bad time! I will renew the tenancy in Oct and maybe just drop the agency an email after the baby is born to let them know there is another person living there, so the terms are my contract are not breached.

belisha-beacon

You should definitely tell your landlord - if they're going to be funny about it, at least you have as much time as possible to find somewhere else. I can't imagine that it would be a problem, though - if I were a landlord, I'd see you as someone who would want stability because of a new baby and so you'd be much more likely than a lot of tenants to stay long-term. You'd be a real asset and save the landlord the worry of having to find new tenants all the time!

franklee

There are two ways the landlord can get you out, Section 8 and Section 21.

1. Section 8.

This can get you out during the fixed term BUT in order to do that the landlord would need to go to court (which takes a while) and demonstrate that you are in breach of the contract. Even then the judge has discretion and I doubt any judge would allow an eviction during the fixed term due to having a baby. Besides as this term isn't in the contract, I very much doubt this route would even be used. So you are OK for the fixed term IMO.

2. Section 21.

This is a no fault needed notice but it cannot break into a fixed term.

So in short if you get signed up for a new fixed term and pay rent on time and don't wreck the place then you will be safe for the whole of the fixed term.

As for the baby, the contract says you need to inform the agency/landlord if anyone else comes to live at the property. So it seems fine to me to tell them on the day the baby comes home. If you tell them before signing up to the new fixed term then you run the risk of a Section 21 notice asking you to leave at the end of the current fixed term.

As for the adverts saying no children or pets, that's pretty much a standard IMO. It's still worth asking upfront how strictly any landlord wants this enforced as in many cases there can be some leeway depending on the details of the children or pets in any particular case.

The rights of a tenant in the UK are pants compared to many places abroad.

sofietrouble

Thank you so much for all your replies. I will renew for another 6 months in October and then inform the landlord/agent about impending arrival of the baby. The contract actually says permission must be sought from landlord/agent for anyone else residing apart from us on the contract to reside at the property.
He can hardly say that I can't bring my baby home though!

We'll be model tenants and if he wants us out by May because of the baby we'll probably be looking for a slightly bigger property with a garden by then, so not the end of the world if we get a section 21. As long as we know we have 2 months to find a place, should be do-able!

Thanks again for al your helpful replies!

Sofie

franklee

Forgot to say, the only other thing to look out for in the contract is a break clause. This allows no fault notice to be given during the fixed term but as you didn't mention a break clause I doubt you have one. Break clauses don't normally come into contracts as short as six months, they are more likely to allow a break after six months when the fixed term is 12 months or longer. Not all contracts have them in any case.

Fire_Fox

If I was your landlord I might be a bit put out that you didn't inform me of your change of circumstances before the baby was born. Presumably he can count to nine so he'd be able to work out that you were pregnant when you let a property that clearly stated no children.

If you inform your landlord during the pregnancy, you avoid the risk of nosy neighbours advising your landlord that either you are visibly 'with child' or, worse, that your baby is disturbing them. What happens if there is an emergency with the property whilst you are pregnant, and you need the landlord to come round? Don't forget you are going to need a reference from this person, do you want him thinking you are not trustworthy?

PS. Congratulations!!

sofietrouble

do you want him thinking you are not trustworthy?

I could do a lot more dishonest things to my landlord things than have a baby without telling him!

I will tell him 2 months before the baby is born, however we'll be on our second contract by then.

Life IS unfair towards pregnant women (this is also giving me job worries - see my thread in employment forum!) If people treated pregnant women the same as anyone else then I wouldn't feel any need to hide my pregnancy.

I'm starting to think that the UK is not generally a very child friendly place.
Shame because the UK desperately needs all these babies and future generations to start paying for giant debts our generation and older have accrued, but that's another story!

PS. Congratulations!!

Thank you!!

franklee

IMO you do whatever it takes to ensure mum and baby are as healthy as possible which as you are rightly concerned means avoiding moving house just before giving birth. I think landlords forget just how much stress and hard work moving house can be. Once the baby is a few months old them hopefully you will be able to tackle a move should that be necessary.

(Yes I do know people move house etc. right before a birth and get away unscathed but why take the risk if it's not necessary?).

tbs624

Sofietrouble - the clause in your contract about not allowing other people to live there is talking about other adults, about you subletting, ie having another adult in the property who may acquire rights of occupation, not about a babe-in-arms.

Many LLs will view a young couple with a baby as ideal tenants, even if the original LA advertising blurb says the standard LA-speak no kids/no dogs - I think you are probably worrying unnecessarily and a couple of posters have locked in on it. JayZed's about right.

You say that your AST makes no mention of kids not being permitted so renew away and enjoy your pregnancy. Do make the most of your current peace & quiet though...................