Moving out of rented house. Partner making it difficult!

silvercar

The only bit, which isnt relevant, is that we need to let her know if it will be empty for 14 days (if on holiday).

That is very relevant, if the property is going to be empty you need to tell her.

If you've both moved out best bet is to pay the rent until the end of the fixed term and surrender the contract. That will give her the right to enter the property.

littlemiss_sal

Silvercar, I am doing exactly that - paying the rent up until the end of the tenancy agreement (May) and will give the keys etc when I see her.
She says shes going to her solicitors because we shouldnt of vacated the property. She reckons we should still live there until the end of the tenancy.
I dont really know what her rights are or why she wants to seek legal advice, as we are doing everything we should (rent paid, notice given). Im not 'abandoning' the property in any way.

Jowo_2

A lot of ASTs do have a clause stipulating that the tenant must notify the landlord if the property is unoccupied for x duration of time. This is to reduce the risk of invalidating the landlord's insurance, squatters, damage made worse because there is noone around to notice a repair issue (such as as leaking pipe).

However, I can't say I understand what the landlady is aiming to get out of seeing a solicitor on this matter, other than a bill from the solicitor saying that there's little in practice that she can do about this, that you've met your legal obligations.

joolsybools

You have no obligation to give any more notice than is stated in the contract, ignore her comments about 6 months notice. Please also find out where she is holding your deposit i.e. which rental deposit scheme it is held in. If she has not done this then she is breaking the law (are you in England?). Sounds like a bit of an accidental/amateur landlandy imo.

joolsybools

I really don't know what the landlady is moaning about, if she got off her backside and got some more tenants in she could be earning double rent!

evoke

Maybe the landlady is trying to get new tenants in and is just a bit cheesed off that her property is standing vacant with all the risks that entails.

OP: why don't you just live there until May if you've paid the rent up until then?

*Robin*

evoke wrote: »

OP: why don't you just live there until May if you've paid the rent up until then?

..Or you could offer to pay the advertising costs to find a new tenant as soon as possible, and agree to cover the rent until they move in - in exchange for the LL releasing you from your agreement on that date?

tamarto

*Robin* wrote: »

..Or you could offer to pay the advertising costs to find a new tenant as soon as possible, and agree to cover the rent until they move in - in exchange for the LL releasing you from your agreement on that date?

Because she doesn't have any obligation to. The LL has to release them at the end of the fixed term, with or without new Ts going in, as OP is paying the rent until then she's doing everything she should be.

BaldPlumber

littlemiss_sal wrote: »

I do understand where she's coming from, that she isnt happy the house will stand empty but I didnt ask for it to come about this way!

Really? didn't you instigate the whole thing?

Morglin

When relationships bust up, I wouldn't think anyone is giving any sort of priority to what the landlord might feel about it!

The obligation is to pay the rent, which is what's happening, and the landlord has been notified that the property is empty - the tenant is under no further obligation to do anything.

Lin