A little confused about contract renewal

Flibsey

We were happy to go onto a periodic tenenacy due to no contact from the agent or landlord for over two months despite many phone calls and emails, finally we wrote to the agent stating such in both email and written for and we've had a reply. Aparently, we're not on a periodic tenancy but I'm confused.

we've been sent a tenancy extension contract with this wording:

"The landlord agrees to let, and the tenant agrees to take, the demised premise for a further period of TWELVE
MONTHS at a rental of £700.00 (SEVEN HUNDRED POUNDS) per MONTH expiring on the 27TH October
2012 with the provision for either party to give TWO MONTHS notice, in writing to the other party of their
intention to determine this agreement which is to expire on the rent due date and with all other terms and
conditions laid down in the said agreement to be considered continuing and binding on both parties."

does this mean we have to wait 12 months before we can give the two month's notice?! or does it just mean that should we be moving in the next 12 months (on the council housing register, just got moved up a notch so you never know, a stable home could be nearer than we think woo!) we can just give 2 months notice that we wish to leave?

I am hoping it's the second option. but I'm soooo confused! I swear contracts are written this way just to be confusing!

I mention it's a contract extension, original contract was for a 6 months tenancy with 4 month get-out clause; so after 4 months of the 6 months we could give notice if we wished. we've been extending ever since.

thanks for any help.

BitterAndTwisted

My interpretation is the latter: 12 month agreement but to determine give two moth's notice.

I've never heard of such a thing as a "contract extension": to my knowledge you are either on a fixed-term AST or a periodic tenancy.

Flibsey

sorry to seem dumb, but are you telling me to give 2 months notice and see what they say?! 'cos that isn't happening until I have somewhere else to go.

jjlandlord

Flibsey wrote: »

Apparently, we're not on a periodic tenancy but I'm confused.

Why did you last fixed term start and for how long was it?

Flibsey wrote: »

"The landlord agrees to let, and the tenant agrees to take, the demised premise for a further period of TWELVE
MONTHS at a rental of £700.00 (SEVEN HUNDRED POUNDS) per MONTH expiring on the 27TH October
2012 with the provision for either party to give TWO MONTHS notice, in writing to the other party of their
intention to determine this agreement which is to expire on the rent due date and with all other terms and
conditions laid down in the said agreement to be considered continuing and binding on both parties."

It's not clear t me that this constitutes a break clause, so I would assume it does not.
Have you agreed to that?

Flibsey

no we've not agreed to this as it's different paperwork than that which was sent to us in august.
our original contract was for 6 months fixed term, with a 2 months break clause. then it went to 12 months fixed with two months break clause and since then it's been the same as far as I can tell....so that's 3 and a half years.