Tenancy rent arrears? - Please help

G_M

You cannot just move out whenever you want.

You cannot chop and change. Either you give Notice or you don't.

I tried to contact the estate agents to say that we did not want to renew the tenancy anymore.

I wrote a letter to the estate agents saying that we were moving out

What date did you write? What date did you give for ending the tenancy? (Plus all the previous questions about dates.

Since you stayed beyond your Fixed Term (4th? 5th? whatever Dec), you created a monthly Periodic Tenancy. You therefore had o give a full months clear tenancy period notice (ie 5th Jan to 4th Feb or similar).

Therefore the landlord /agent can charge rent for this period.

The agent changing the lock alters things though, and probobly constitutes either
1) acceptance of Early Surrender of your tenancy (so no rent chargeable from that date) or
2) illegal eviction - which is a criminal offence

Werdnal

G_M wrote: »

The agent changing the lock alters things though, and probobly constitutes either
1) acceptance of Early Surrender of your tenancy (so no rent chargeable from that date) or
2) illegal eviction - which is a criminal offence

GM, I don't think agents have changed locks, just locked the deadbolt on the door, so perhaps not altered the situation. If keys have apparently gone missing between T and LA, perhaps LA just ensuring property is secure.

However, OP suggested they had posted keys back to agent, and now say they want to go back to live there (as they are still liable for the rent), but cannot get in due to deadbolt. If OP no longer have the keys, how were they going to get back in anyway?

rentergirl

This very tricky. tenancies can usually roll over, but letting agents disrupt this perfectly reasonable process by asking for a renewal and a fee (even in Scotland where fees are illegal.) I note that the letting agnet, when it suits them, has assumed that the tenancy has rolled over. You sent a letter. Go to the CAB/Council tenancy relations officer and take a copy of the letter you sent. And always keep a copy, and always used recorded delivery or deliver by hand and ask for a receipt. These people just want to take your money.

BitterAndTwisted

No-one assumes the tenancy has rolled over, it is an actual fact. Last day of AST, tenants don't move out or arrange a check-out inspection, periodic tenancy arises on the next day.

Recorded delivery is the very last despatch method I would use for something so important.

These people don't just want to take the money, they could be fully entitled to is. At the very least the rent to the beginning of February. If it can be proven that this alleged letter was sent, possibly not the rent from Feb to March.

This is bolting the stable door territory. Wish the OP had posted well before the end of November