Section 21 eviction notice

FS20

Hi all. Quick question.

I have been served a section 21. I have to be out by the 13th of May. My question is this:

Am I allowed to leave before this date and stop paying rent? Or do I have to keep paying rent until the 13th of May?

I have found somewhere else and can move in on the 1st May so no point paying rent for 2 places at once!

Any more info needed, then please say!

Thanks, Chris.

lizzielondon

is the 13th of may the last day of a fixed term? if so you can always ask your landlord if they agree to you leaving early

if you are in a periodic tenancy than you can counter serve one months notice- however as you only have just over 1 month left of your two months notice this would be pointless as you would have to be serve your notice before/on (?) 13th april for you to leave 13th May - so you'd be in the same position

so again ask the LL if they agree to ending the tenancy early- if they don't you will liable for the rent until 13th may

FS20

ok, thank you, don't think LL will allow that because they'd be missing out on cash! I'll just come back to use the washing the machine and use as much electric and gas in the time allowed!

I am periodic so as you say, no point doing it now really.

lizzielondon

did they give you two months notice? i.e. from the 13th march?

do you not pay for the gas & electric?

FS20

Yes, the LL did give 2 months. Served me with a section 21 for a periodic tenancy. And its a shared house so I don't pay for gas and electric, all included in the room. The way I was thinking is that if I could go 2 weeks early then it would save money and the LL wants me out asap because I am a 'problem' tenant and by that, I mean I expect my deposit protected, the house to be a fit state to live and laws are followed!

lizzielondon

well if he wants you out he may let you and agree for you only to pay til the 1st- you can only ask

is your deposit protected now?

FS20

it is now. It took 8 months or so. I filed a claim which is still on going. Submitted it on the 25th March, LL protected deposit on the 30th March. Previous to that, the LL tried to secure it with Mydeposits using false information...so still waiting on that one. Don't think I will let that one go. Not sure I'll be successful though!

<sebb>

I read your other threads. Your deposit is protected now, so I would just let it go. It's difficult to make a claim for the 3 x penalty and unlikely to suceed now the deposit is actually protected.

I would recommend you just put this one behind you and move on.

lizzielondon

wow lol

make sure you take lots of pictures when you leave!

the agency for our old flat ( not the LL really, just the agency ) were complete bums, and sent us our check out report after we'd moved citing lots of problems, like stains on the radiators etc bit bizarre, saying they would be looking into the costs of fixing the 'damage'

i sent them a letter saying i had >100 pictures of the flat (small 2 bed!) showing its condition & pictures of the radiators with the check out man in the shot (he was fine- left saying it was perfect), and requested the immediate return of the deposit

and they did! still think it's a bit bizarre now- hopefully they had just got two check out reports mixed up

ciano125

Just ask the new place for the first month rent free, or more if its a longer term agreement you are signing.

FS20

I could let it go but have filed now and spent the cash so will see what happens. Part of the claim is that it was not done in the first 14 days and that still stands. So we'll just see what happens. It's only 150 quid!

As for photos, good plan. However, when I moved in, there was paint stains on the carpet as well as a big black mark. The LL didn't do an inventory though.

Thanks for everyone's advice.