Getting out off a tenancy agreement early

robinson1982

Thanks Samro - When we viewed the property the current tenant showed us around. The property had a huge garden, half of which was completely overgrown but the tenant informed us that the landlord was planning on building another house in that part of the garden which is why it hadnt been kept. We didnt think anymore about it and because it had never been mentioned by the estate agent or put in our tenancy agreement that it would actually be built off the side of our house and that the driveway and front garden (which was advertised and was a key selling point for us) would be taken away so we had no reason to think that the house was being built any where else other than where we were originally told. Plus the fact that the house has a huge back garden was not in the advertisement which made us this even moreso that it would be built there and the back garden would be taken away (which we didnt have a problem with). In hindsight we should have been more thorough and demanded to see all the plans, but surely it was the estate agent or the landlords duty to tell us. For example, if the landlord decided to build this new house on top of my house, would that make it OK and override our right to have the property as advertised and our right to quiet enjoyment? I dont see how he can just build where he likes and particulary on part of the land which was adverttised to us. Just another point, we paid over the asking price for the house because we loved it so much and we needed a house with a drive.

To be honest, even if we had asked to see the plans before we signed I dont think he would have been able to show us anything. I have checked the councils website for planning applicatoins this morning and the week AFTER we moved in the landlords application to built 2 houses on the plot was refused! So even after we took the place, he was still trying to build more than the 1 house we were told about. I dont know if he already had the planning for the 1 house when we moved in but I am going to the council to find out when exactly when it was approved as I cant find the application for the 1 house on the net.

G_M

robinson1982 wrote: »

...- When we viewed the property the current tenant showed us around. The property had a huge garden, half of which was completely overgrown but the tenant informed us that the landlord was planning on building another house in that part of the garden .

You can ignore this. The tenant could tell you Martians were due to land in the garden and set up home!

You did not rent the property from the tenant, you signed a contract with the Landlord - so what matters is the basis of your contract with the LL!

robinson1982

GM "so what matters is the basis of your contract with the LL" ... but it isnt in the tenancy WHERE the house was being built so not sure where we stand on this?

G_M

I'm confused. What does the tenancy agreement say? Your post above talks of the tenant telling you things. This is meaningless. The first post says the agent told you something - this carries more weight as the agent acts on the landlords behahalf and a contract can be verbal.

But what exactly has been written? Where? And what have you agreed to by signing?