Vacating rented property

charlie792

Im just wondering if anyone can provide any advice here on this - I have been on a periodic tenancy for many months now and decided to give notice. Out of courtesy we gave 6 weeks rather than 4 and that as our rent is paid on the 27th of the month confirmed with the agency that our last day would be the 26th of the month at the property.

We have now today recieved a letter stating we have to be out by 9am on the 26th and have to hand our keys back at this time.
Is this allowed? Surely we technically have until 11:59 at the property (or realistically until close of business?)

We don't pick the keys up for our new place until the afternoon of the day before, so for us to be out for 9am the following day just isn't going to happen. Before I confront them on this (the agents are shockingly awful) I just want to know what my rights are...

agrinnall

I don't know what time you have to vacate but I can't see why 3 hours will make that much difference. If you are using movers they can either move you completely on the previous day or do all the packing then come early on the final day to move everything out. And if you're doing it yourself just get up 3 hours earlier.

Yorkie1

Your notice expires at the end of the 26th. You are therefore entitled to the whole day to move - although in reality, as you say, you would get the keys back to the agent before close of business.

firsttimetom

agrinnall wrote: »

I don't know what time you have to vacate but I can't see why 3 hours will make that much difference. If you are using movers they can either move you completely on the previous day or do all the packing then come early on the final day to move everything out. And if you're doing it yourself just get up 3 hours earlier.

I think he means 23:59, right up to the end of the 26th.

Of course, this is unrealistic (as OP says), because no agent will be open at these hours.

I would go in and talk to them. Explain that 4 o'clock (or somewhere near to when they close) would be preferable and that it would help you out. I see no reason why they would decline, after all you are paying rent until the end of the 26th, and it would be worth reminding them of that.

Benji

Whilst midnight would normally be the default answer, it is possible that your tenancy runs from and to a different time. What does your tenancy agreement say?

Aelius

I handed my termination notice in 4 weeks ago, and due to move out over the weekend. Now, I recieved a letter from LA that stated we needed to have our stuff out by 31st October. So the movers are coming tomorrow, and we are spending the weekend cleaning the place.

I spoke to the LA this morning to make an appointment for the final inspection, which is at 9.30 am because they are short staffed that day. Fine by me, the sooner I get out the better.

Is it not possible to ask the new LL/LA to get the new keys sooner?

G_M

Aelius wrote: »

I handed my termination notice in 4 weeks ago, and due to move out over the weekend. Now, I recieved a letter from LA that stated we needed to have our stuff out by 31st October. So the movers are coming tomorrow, and we are spending the weekend cleaning the place.

I spoke to the LA this morning to make an appointment for the final inspection, which is at 9.30 am because they are short staffed that day. Fine by me, the sooner I get out the better.

Is it not possible to ask the new LL/LA to get the new keys sooner?

Rather than hijack an ongoing thread, please start your own.

G_M

charlie792 wrote: »

Im just wondering if anyone can provide any advice here on this - I have been on a periodic tenancy for many months now and decided to give notice. Out of courtesy we gave 6 weeks rather than 4 and that as our rent is paid on the 27th of the month confirmed with the agency that our last day would be the 26th of the month at the property.

We have now today recieved a letter stating we have to be out by 9am on the 26th and have to hand our keys back at this time.
Is this allowed? Surely we technically have until 11:59 at the property (or realistically until close of business?)

We don't pick the keys up for our new place until the afternoon of the day before, so for us to be out for 9am the following day just isn't going to happen. Before I confront them on this (the agents are shockingly awful) I just want to know what my rights are...

Assuming your rent periods run from 27th to 26th (the day you pay rent may be different and is irrelevant), and your 6 week Notice includes a full 27th-26th period, then you must vacat by 11.59 pm on 26th.

Clearly that presents a problem with returning keys (though you could post them through the LL's letter box), so agreeing to surrender in the afternoon makes sense. as does and afternoon 'check-out' inspection.

Don't forget to take meter readings when you leave!

lazer

The agents of the house I rented actually advised me to return the keys the day after the lease ended

Technically, as you have to be out by 23.59, the agents are not open, so they can either make arrangements for you to return to keys at that time or allow you to return them first thing the next morning.

Yorkie1

lazer wrote: »

The agents of the house I rented actually advised me to return the keys the day after the lease ended

Technically, as you have to be out by 23.59, the agents are not open, so they can either make arrangements for you to return to keys at that time or allow you to return them first thing the next morning.

If you are advised or allowed to return the keys the following day - i.e. after the expiry of the tenancy - make sure you get it in writing that this will not be treated as going into the next rent period / overstaying your notice period. Otherwise the cynic in me feels that any unscrupulous LL could use this against you and seek to withhold deposit money on that basis...