Allowing contractors access to flat

Ninjawombat

Hi all,

Wondered if someone could give me some advice.

I am moving out of my house in three weeks time but due to the terms of my AST agreement, I have to pay rent until June. This is fair enough as I was supposed to give two months notice and I've only given one.

However, I've been told that the landlord wants to redecorate the house before he lets it out again. He's already arranged for a contractor to come to the house tomorrow to provide a quote.

Now I feel like the landlord is going to be cheeky and try to have the flat redecorated while I'm still paying rent but not living there. Call me spiteful, but I don't want to be paying his mortgage while he does up the flat for renting out again.

If the landlord asks for access to the flat to have the work done, do I have to agree? Even if he gives me 24hours notice I would rather not allow them do to do it until I've handed back the keys.

Plans_all_plans

I don't know whether he can legally do this or not, but I don't understand why would it bother you if he did? You won't be there and you were the one who made the decision to move on.

RAS

Hi

When does your fixed term end? If you are on a rolling contract the LAW states that the period of notice is one month, but you need to tell us when the fixed contract period ended.

Ninjawombat

I know that I won't be there but if I was, he would never have redecorated the flat. I've been asking for it to be done for the last year and he was never interested.

He knows he has to do something about the place to rent it again, but it feels like he's rubbing his hands together because he knows that he doesn't have to take the flat off the market to do it.

Like I said, call me spiteful but I don't want him to profit from my loss.

Ninjawombat

RAS does the law really state that I have to give only one month??

My fixed term lease ended in February, so I'm now on a rolling contract. My tenancy agreement says that I have to give two months notice at any time during the fixed term OR thereafter.

I'm in Scotland by the way.

angrypirate

Tell him to shove it - if he wants decorators in whilst you are still paying rent then demand a refund on those days / weeks rent. Otherwise keep the locks changed until the last day you pay rent.

scottishblondie

Ninjawombat wrote: »

RAS does the law really state that I have to give only one month??

My fixed term lease ended in February, so I'm now on a rolling contract. My tenancy agreement says that I have to give two months notice at any time during the fixed term OR thereafter.

I'm in Scotland by the way.

Scotland is different, the notice period here is laid out in the contract. RAS is referring to England and Wales.

You don't have to allow access - try negotiating with them to lower the rent amount for the last month?

Ninjawombat

scottishblondie wrote: »

Scotland is different, the notice period here is laid out in the contract. RAS is referring to England and Wales.

Yeah, I thought as much. Poo.

I tried negotiating with him but he's adamant that I pay all rent, bills and council tax until my exit date. I guess I just have to do that... and never sign another lease thats says I have to give two months notice!!

martindow

I think I would be bloody minded about this if he would not negotiate a reduction. Why don't you say your plans have changed and you will be there until the notice date?

G_M

Since you will be responsible for he utility bills untill the tenancy ends I can understand you would not want contractors in there all day using leccy etc.

Explain this to the LL and say if he wants access for contractors he can agree to take over the utility contracts and half the rent, otherwise you'll deny access. Change the locks and see what he says.

rpc

G_M wrote: »

Explain this to the LL and say if he wants access for contractors he can agree to take over the utility contracts and half the rent, otherwise you'll deny access. Change the locks and see what he says.

I'd be inclined to go one step further - if the landlord wants access for this sort of work, they can agree to an early surrender of the tenancy. Be prepared to negociate down to half rent and no utilities, so be it.