Advice needed please, coming to end of contract

MissGolightly

Hi

I'm currently living in a privately rented property with the OH, our contract is due to end at the end of this month. We signed a 1 year contract when we moved in, then topped up by 4 months last year. Having called the EA to arrange signing contracts to cover next couple of months we have been told LL will only accept a 6 month contract. However, we have a flat becoming available to us in May, through a family friend, and wanted to sign for only 3 months.

What is the best course of action for us? We are in Northern Ireland if that makes a difference. I really don't understand problem with signing til May when he knows we will be leaving, would you not rather have 3 months guaranteed rent than none at all??

ETA: We have not had any previous problems and have never missed/been a day late with rent.

BitterAndTwisted

Agents love and adore signing tenants up to another fixed-term and every few months is especially attractive. Every signing means another fat fee from the tenant and perhaps from the landlord as well.

Perhaps you could contact the landlord and be candid about your plans and see whether they might be amenable to you going onto a periodic tenancy until May? Then, you would only need to give notice in April and not be contractually bound until August

MissGolightly

Unfortunately we cannot directly contact the LL as we do not have his number, property wholly managed by EA. We have never had to pay admin fees for signing contracts, this is our second property with same EA, although different LL. The EA and I assume LL are both fully aware that we will be leaving the property in May to live elsewhere.

I wonder if we offered to pay any fees the LL would bear for the signing of this contract would that be legal/more suitable.

If we do not sign any contract, basically when and how could they chuck us out?

BitterAndTwisted

If you don't sign a new contract you will automatically go onto what is termed a statutory periodic tenancy where all of the terms of the original fixed-term remain unchanged except for the notice-period. That's the tenant giving one month's notice and the landlord two, coinciding with the specific dates on the original agreement.

If your landlord isn't happy for you not to sign up for another six months they would have to give you notice by the end of March for you to leave at the end of May. In view of that, I'd not do or say anything to anyone until after the end of this month, depending on the actual dates.

MissGolightly

Thanks very much B&T. Will dig out my contract tonight to have exact dates to hand and keep schtum at least until next month's rent is paid.

If we pay our rent at end of Feb, which covers month of March, they couldn't ask us to leave until end of May then?

DVardysShadow

MissGolightly wrote: »

Thanks very much B&T. Will dig out my contract tonight to have exact dates to hand and keep schtum at least until next month's rent is paid.

If we pay our rent at end of Feb, which covers month of March, they couldn't ask us to leave until end of May then?

You are correct. Only a week to go. Do work out what you will say if you are pressed for the agreement in the mean time.

MissGolightly

Super, and before I go skipping home with glee.... please tell me this all still applies with us being in Northern Ireland??

martindow

MissGolightly wrote: »

Unfortunately we cannot directly contact the LL as we do not have his number, property wholly managed by EA.

Does the agent not have to give the name and address of the LL if T requests it in writing?

MissGolightly

I'm not sure if that would make a difference though, as they are saying the 6 months is coming from him. I have his name on my rent book, but no other details.

MissGolightly

DVardysShadow wrote: »

You are correct. Only a week to go. Do work out what you will say if you are pressed for the agreement in the mean time.

I'm thinking something along the lines of "No habla ingles"

BornAtTheRightTime

Simple - wait for the EA to contact you, then wait at least 2 days before returning their call. Then tell them you'll dig out the paperwork/new contract. Then wait for them to chase again and eventually return their call saying you either never received or have lost the paperwork and would they send it again? Etc etc, a week passes so easily in that manner!