Private renting contract

HER

Ive got a friend whos interested in renting a room privately and not through the estate agent itself. its directly through the owner.

Now my friend said the owner wants to draw up a contract so the minimum stay is 12 months. my friend may not want to stay in that house for that long.

what would the consequences be if she left within 12 months?

I guess she may lose her deposit but could there be any legal actions?

G_M

If she signs a 12 month contract she will be legally liable to pay rent for 12 months.

Is this a lodging agreement? ie sharing the house with the landlord? If so 12 months is almost unheard of. Lodgers have few rights normally but the LL would be bound by the 12 month contract too. Mad! To commit to sharing your home with a stranger for 12 months.......

If the LL does NOT live there, this may be an AST (assured shorthold tenancy) depending on the set up. She should not sign for longer than she is prepared to commit herself.

tbs624

Your friend could suggest a 12 month contract with a mutual 6 month break clause as a compromise.

It's never good to go into a legally binding contract with the thought that you will be bailing out mid-term. As G_M says, your friend would be bound to pay the rent for the full term or , with the LLs agreement, pay the reasonable costs of the LL for re-marketing the property & finding a new acceptable T.Your friend would be responsible for rent until any such new T actually moved in. It wouldn't help your friend with references for future tenancies though