PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING: Hello Forumites! In order to help keep the Forum a useful, safe and friendly place for our users, discussions around non-MoneySaving matters are not permitted per the Forum rules. While we understand that mentioning house prices may sometimes be relevant to a user's specific MoneySaving situation, we ask that you please avoid veering into broad, general debates about the market, the economy and politics, as these can unfortunately lead to abusive or hateful behaviour. Threads that are found to have derailed into wider discussions may be removed. Users who repeatedly disregard this may have their Forum account banned. Please also avoid posting personally identifiable information, including links to your own online property listing which may reveal your address. Thank you for your understanding.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

Tenancy agreement

Options
Hi,

I am posting this message on behalf of a friend.

The friend has a house. They have a tenant living in the house who has been there for 6 weeks. The friend bought a one of the furnished tenancy agreement eforms from WHSmiths. The tenant and my friend have had disagreements not relating to the property. My friend (the landlord) wants the tenant to leave asap. What rights do they have and can the tenancy agreement be terminated or stopped if it has not been processed all the way through with the council yet.

Thanks.

Comments

  • chris_m
    chris_m Posts: 8,250 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Unless both parties agree to end the tenancy early, the LL cannot seek to reclaim the property until the tenancy end date - unless they put a break clause in or the tenant fails to pay the rent for more than 2 months IIRC.
    Even then, and provided the LL serves notice correctly, that only means that they wish to reclaim the property - the tenant may not move out at that time anyway. All the notice means is that after that date the LL can go to court to get an eviction ruling.

    Not sure quite what " processed all the way through with the council yet" means, surely it has nothing to do with the council?
  • Werdnal
    Werdnal Posts: 3,780 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    edited 27 June 2011 at 10:02PM
    Do the landlord and the tenant live in the same house at the same time? If so, this "tenant" is infact a lodger and should not have the same rights as a true tenant. In this case a "tenancy agreement" would not really be the correct contract to have used.

    If the tenant lives in the house and the landlord lives elsewhere, then a tenancy has started, and by law will be binding to run for the fixed term (whatever the tenancy stated).

    If this is the case, has the tenancy agreement been signed by either party?

    Has rent been paid?

    Was a deposit taken and protected?

    When did tenancy actually commence and is property in England/Wales?

    I am assuming the council reference means that LHA/HB has been claimed. Regardless of whether the claim has been processed, this does not affect the fact that a tenancy has started.
  • G_M
    G_M Posts: 51,977 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Is this Eng/Wales, or Scotland?
    Is this a lodger (sharing with the landlord) or a tenant?
    What does the WHSmith agreement say - start date? Fixed term? End date?
    What is the relevance of the council?

    Your friend has been very unwise to enter into a legal agreement without understanding it.

    Look at the Shelter website, or Landlordzone.
  • real1314
    real1314 Posts: 4,432 Forumite
    hej!!!6 wrote: »
    Hi,

    I am posting this message on behalf of a friend.

    The friend has a house. They have a tenant living in the house who has been there for 6 weeks. The friend bought a one of the furnished tenancy agreement eforms from WHSmiths. The tenant and my friend have had disagreements not relating to the property. My friend (the landlord) wants the tenant to leave asap. What rights do they have and can the tenancy agreement be terminated or stopped if it has not been processed all the way through with the council yet.

    Thanks.


    1. Council's have nothing to do with "processing" a tenancy agreement. Are you referring to them processing a claim for Housing Benefit?

    2. Your friend has presumably signed the tenancy agreement, as has the tenant, and the tenenat has moved in? In which case, what does the tenancy agreement say?

    Most likely it's a 6 month assured shorthold tenancy. What this means is that the tenant is assured of their tenancy rights for 6 months. Which is what it says on the tin really. :cool:
  • hejog36
    hejog36 Posts: 6 Forumite
    Thanks for the 3 replies so far. Am helping the friend - from a distance - will have to find out more information from them. It's all very complicated. Thanks again.
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 351.2K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.2K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 453.7K Spending & Discounts
  • 244.1K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 599.2K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 177K Life & Family
  • 257.5K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.