sorry, another renting q!

angelcakes_smw

Hello, I am currently in a bit of a situation that I'm not too happy with.

We are renting a 2 bed house, it only has one room downstairs and we have 2 children with another one due in 10 weeks so really we need to move...and not just for the extra space! The landlord has been pretty good really although there are many things that he hasnt done such as redecorate before we moved in as he promised as well as fixing plug sockets that are cracked, a huge crack around the back door and fixing doors that are (and were prior to us moving in) coming off their hinges, he has however replaced the washing machine asap when it borke (as in the next day) and bought us some new taps when the ones already in broke. We have only been in here since sept 09 and the tenancy agreement is a 12 month one, can he stop us from leaving early or make us pay for the rest of the tenancy? How can I ask to leave early without annoying him? I have asked him to remove certain pieces of furnature so that we can try and create extra space for the baby and we would just remain here until the end of the tenancy, my concern with doing that is the whole space factor, how can five of us live in such a small space?

Also, there are some houses which have just come onto the rental market in the perfect location for us and they are the perfect size. I am just a little worried about these as the letting agent they are through want to run a credit check as part of the application process but we are both uni students, have nobody to guarantee the money (except us) and references is a bit of a nightmare as we dont know anybody in the area (we moved away from 'home' in sept 09 also), is there anyway we could get round these issues?

I'm so worried, I dont know what to do for the best! Can you offer any advice?

Fire_Fox

Do you have a six month break clause in your AST? Have you written to your landlord asking him to rectify the problems? Surely you knew you were PG when you took the tenancy on a two bed, or is my maths off?

BitterAndTwisted

As Fire Fox suggested, look at your tenancy agreement and check whether there's a break-clause at the six-month point. If there is you can give notice but you should do it IN WRITING. If no break-clause the only way you can avoid having to remain in the property and paying the full rent until the end of the agreement is to negotiate with your landlord for an early release.

And there's nothing wrong with Fire Fox's maths!

Any problems with repairs or maintenance should be communicated to your landlord also in writing, to protect yourselves should you need proof at a later date.

angelcakes_smw

All problems have been communicated in writing with written responses from the landlord.

And I have to say I find your 'maths' comments a little rude. Not that this is any of your business but I didnt know I was pregnant until after the tenancy was signed and we had been moved in for quite a while. Dont just assume things! Not everybody plans every pregnancy and misses periods etc!

clutton_2

steady on angel..... it would be quite normal for folks to assume you knew you were pregnant last september....

does it make sense to be moving a few weeks before the birth ?

i am a LL - you have signed a legally binding contract for 12 months... if we assume there is no 6 months break clause then you will need to negotiate with your landlord about moving out early and he does not have to agree... - if you do move before the end of the 12 monnths he is perfectly legally entitled to claim all rent from you until a new tenant is found, (even if you move out ) together with all his marketing costs to find that tenant...

if you have no guarantor i would stay put at least till the end of the 12 months, and show you are a great tenant then you can get a great reference from this current landlord.....