Landlord wants decision 6 months early about moving out

Lady_K

Daughter in private student house with 4 others on joint contract that ends in July. She moved in with her friend, there was 1 guy already in and the landlord got another girl in before getting them to sign the contract together.

The place was burgled just after new year. Three of the rooms were broken into, all but the girls room the landlord got in that no one knew.

The landlord rang that girl asking her if the other 3 were staying next year she told him yes they are all definitely staying. He told this girl that if the other 3 move out she has to move out too as she was on the same contract. None of them like the girl anyway shes been trouble all the way through and it was rather strange that her room was untouched in the burglary. Non the less it's still pretty shocking to know that the landlord can do this.

He then rang my daughters friend and asked her the same, she said she wasnt sure what they were doing. Then he rang my daughter and asked her she said the same. They havent had time to look for another place yet they are student nurses and have really full courses and lots of work so it seems hard to say they are going this early when they have nowhere to move to yet. They had originally planned to stay till the end of thier course in 2008 but they have had so many probs with the girl the landlord got in and then the burglary they do want to move now.

The landlord said he wants to advertize the house on the university website this time, he hasnt before so he wants to know. He is sending lots of people round checking the elec and gas and other safety things so it will pass to go on the website.

Is it reasonable that he should expect them to let him know now even though the contract ends in 6 months? How much notice should they really be expected to give? They have paid a deposit plus a month in advance. He has told them that there will be people coming to view the place from now on. Is this right that he should be letting people view the place when they havent even given notice that they are moving out yet?

After the burglary the landlord was useless, he left my daughter without a door on at all to her room for 3 days and he still hasn't put the front door properly right its been glued, the police commented on how bad that was. The only reason they would stay is if they couldnt find anywhere else but could he put the rent up if that happened?

Gingernutmeg

I'm not sure about the other issues (sorry) but it is fairly typical for student landlords to be advertising their properties about now. It's about this time that the universities release their lists of properties and there's a big rush of people thinking that they have to commit to somewhere *now* or they won't find anywhere to live ... The general assumption in student houses is that students will move every year (at least that's been my experience), and so it's really seen as 'normal' for landlords to start re-advertising their properties as soon as possible. From reading your post it sounds like the landlord is covering his back, and assuming that your daughter and her friends aren't going to renew their contract. In an ideal situation he really should wait until your daughter and her friends have decided what to do, but, like I said, there's an assumption that a house that isn't rented now is going to be empty in September. Tbh, going off what you've written about the landlord though maybe your daughter might be better off looking for somewhere else with a group of friends, rather than getting stuck with a stranger again.

Benny24

When I was at university it was around this time of year we all started looking for a next place to live, if we happened to be unhappy with our current place. Best thing Your daughter can do is if her and her friends are happy without this other girl, then I suggest they start looking for a place now that will take the numbers she has. She will also hopefully find nicer properties/landlords etc.
Your daughter should also ask around other friends/ students in years above who might be moving out of houses, to get an idea of empty houses to let.

The sooner they get onto this the better.

thesaint

You do not say what contract they have signed, but it is possible that they do not have to let anybody view the rooms. It may make the landlord difficult though. You don't say whether the other girl wants to stay or not.

As a compromise, get your daughter to tell the landlord what days/times are convenient for viewing and this will minimise the disruption.

The landlord can put up the rent if he chooses.

Guy_Montag

Option 1: Get out with her two friends into a place for just the three of them. Shouldn't be too hard to find somewhere

Option 2: Find someone to replace the odd girl, tell her the three are moving out, she goes off & does her own thing, the three + 1 new stay on as a happy family.

I'd go for option 1, the landlord sounds like hard work.

Lady_K

Yes I thought about the option 2 one aswell about the 3 of them staying and not telling the girl so she moves out but it could cause problems because its the landlord that may have to sort any probs out after shes gone and finds out they are still there, she would still be going to that street to visit others and would find out easy.

All I know is they signed a contract with all of thier names on so it must be joint contract. They are looking now but don't have too much time to do it but they have to find somewhere, asking around people in the year above is a good idea too as that would also come with an idea of what the landlords like etc. My daughter has a car though and getting a property that also has somewhere reasonably safe to park is another problem on top but hopefully they can find a solution. She needs it for her nursing placements at different hospitals and getting back and forth to home as I dont drive

People viewing the house is a concern for her because shes worried about letting people in and looking round the house. After being burgled its made her nervous. Does she have a right to refuse them into her room? Also if shes on placement she could be on nights and wouldnt want people coming to view at inconvenient times. I don't want her to have to let anyone in when shes on her own anyway as the burglary was very violently done and its really unerved her. The police have also told them that there are burglaries happening in the area now when people are actually in the property and they confront them which is worrying. The people viewing could be anyone who knows thier intentions.

They did pay a deposit though so they wouldn't want to cause any probs with getting that back too

morg_monster

Although the landlord sounds like a bit of an idiot, he should at least have the good grace to agree times in advance when a person can come round to have a look. Then your daughter can make sure there are at least a couple of them in the house when they come over. Does she have any other friends in houses nearby who could come over at short notice just to be there with her?

when 4 of us were looking for a new student house, sometimes the landlord would be there to show us round, sometimes we would just be shown round by the tenants (they knew when we were coming). The landlord SHOULD arrange specific times. If it is being let thru the uni website, I'm sure the uni accomodation people will be interested to hear if he is just telling people to turn up whenever and might give him a talking to. Also maybe your daughter and her mates should go to the uni and tell them abot the bad experiences they've had with the landlord, unis tend to only put places they know are decent on their 'books'.

As for not letting them in her room - well these people will be looking to see if they want to move in and they can't really do that without seeing the rooms, sorry thats my opinion!

amboy

Lady K, I think I remember you expressing concern before your daughter even moved in the summer re LL etc.

Tell her to find another property with just the 3 people she actually knows.

As previous posts have said it is the time of year when students start looking for houses, HOWEVER your daughter does have the right to be given at least 24 hours notice of anyone wishing to view.

She can then make a point of being in the house if she is worried.

HTH

thesaint

When I said you did not say what type of contract, I mean what type, not simply a 'joint' contract. Is it an Assured Shorthold Tenancy(AST).
What does the contract say what happens in the event of one of the tenants leaving?

Lady_K

I dont know if its a shorthold or assurred tenancy but I could ask my daughter to check. It was for 12 months and they each needed a guarantor

About giving him notice: Athough they can't really say for sure until they have found somewhere else of course when they find somewhere they will tell him straight away but what if it takes them a while? It looks like hes going to be putting the pressure on. Really shouldnt he need a months notice at the latest? Then say if they cant find anywhere and have to stay could he choose not to renew thier contract and make them leave anyway?

What if people ask them why they are moving out? Do you think they should say anything about the burglary?

thesaint

Depending on the tenancy, it is possible that they do not need to give any notice at all, that's why it is important to check the agreement.

Giving advice without knowing is premature.

They can mention the burglary if they want, why not.