'admin' fees for leaving tenancy early

laurall_2

I am leaving rented accomodation two months early. I have however found someone to move in straight away and there will therefore be no time where the property will be empty.
My agent is charging us half a months rent in landlord fees for leaving early. There was no such charge for the previous tennants and is montioned nowhere in the tenancy agreement.
We are charged £75 pounds each time we renew our lease and feel this is yet another cost.
Are these new fees legitamate?

G_M

The £75 renewal fee is legitimate if you sign a new fixed term contract. But can be avoided by moving onto a Periodic (month by month) tenancy.

If you are still in a Fixed Term contract (I assume as you wish to leave early) then you have no 'right' to leave early. You signed up for that period and the landlord cannot kick you out before that period is up, and similarly you cannot leave early till the period is up. Except by mutual agreement. And if he wants half a months rent to compensate him for his trouble, that's his decision. You can either accept, or stick to your original contract.

Finding someone to move in straight away is perhaps helpful, but of course they have to be acceptable to the landlord. Their references need checking etc. And a check-out inspection is needed when you move out. And inevitably there are minor repairs/paint touch-ups when tenants change. All this represents costs the landlord did not expect at this time.