Landlord being a pain

sallywl

We have been pestered by our landlord to tell him when we will be moving out. (we are buying somewhere) we told him monday we are getting the keys 2 new place on thursday, moving over the weekend and he can have the keys on monday.

He had also previously told us even tho it is a 12 month contract, that if we move prior to the official moving day 23rd Dec he will refund us the money for the unused rent (if that makes sense?!) This is because obv finding someone who would want to move in on Christmas eve is unlikely and he would lose rent.

Anyway he spoke to my bf tonight and was trying to get the keys off us on thurs..... No way.... as we arent moving stuff till fri pm and sat, plus i want to clean it up so its presentable. Then my bf finally got him to understand the keys are his on monday, but then he said he wouldnt refund us until he gets other tennants.

Anyway the long and short is I am not giving him the keys till we get our refund. If he refuses then we will lease it till the end of dec.

Am I being stupid here? cuz as I see it. if we are paying for it and its still in our contract time, then thats it?! Also he could take the keys from us, move some one in the next day and we would be non the wiser :mad:

Mrs_pbradley936

No you are within your rights to keep the keys until your tenancy ends. If people want to go early then it is customary although not legally binding to refund the rent IF ANOTHER TENANT CAN BE FOUND SO THERE IS NO LOSS. But if you are contracted to pay until such and such a date you should pay your rent until then and of course keep the keys until then. However if you can mutually agree to end the tenancy early and nobody is inconvenienced or out of pocket then you can. It is unreasonable for him to want to charge you rent but for you to vacate and give him the keys.

Tassotti

not quite sure what you are saying here....are you moving out before the end of the tenancy?

Have you given notice..

Supply start/end dates and proper advice can be given

sallywl

He has known for a few months we were buying a house, our lease is suposed to run out on 23rd Dec. He told us if our sale went ahead before this that we could have the money back. We have rented since 23 dec last yr. Rent was always paid ontime, etc.

He kept phoning us asking when we are moving out as in every week!

silvercar

Sounds like he has found a tenant that wants to move in before 23rd Dec.

Although he seems to be hassling you, it is in your interest if he finds a new tenant sooner rather than later.

sallywl

silver I know I want him to have found someone, the main issue is that now he is being funny about a refund, and wants the keys n to not give a refund till he gets someone.

amboy

I would be very wary of you leasig it for one month, what if they do any damage because you will be liable.

At the end of the day you have 1 month left which is what you signed up for, tell your LL you intend honouring the contract unless he wants you to break it by refunding the last month thus him benefitting by getting a tenant in when you leave.

If you think he is being funny aboutthe refund then you will have to call his bluff

Hubert_Dalrymple

If he has found someone else, then he cannot continue to charge you rent for the remaining period. Simple. Make it clear that either you continue to have exclusive possession and the keys until the end of your contract term or you don't pay rent. He cannot have it both ways.