Giving counter notice to landlord? Ethical?

VickyA_2

Hi everyone,

Our landlord has just put the house that we rent on the market. Unfortunately, we're not in a position to be able to buy it. However, the agent has arranged for 7 individuals to view the property next weekend. :eek: So, it looks like we may well be moving out.....

Obviously, the landlord needs to give us 2 months notice which will probably be served a week on Monday....... :rolleyes: If we found another property to move into, would we still be able to give 1 month's notice so counteracting that 2 months notice, or would the 2 months notice still stand? Is it ethical to counteract a LL's 2 month notice with a tenant's one month notice?

NB We are now on a periodic tenancy

Many thanks

lynzpower

1st off Id say dont panic.

Ive been marketing properties with tenants in at work at the mo and there have been 2 scenarios present

1) the property is being sold to another LL with tenants in place, ie you wont have to leave the buyer is a LL and could take you on with the property ( a good bonus for investors if theres a tenant in place)

2) one LL i spoke with yesterday would serve notice on the day of exchange- and have 2 months to completion. As the people buying the place are FTB this works well as they have to give 2 months notice on thier rented place in any event

have you spoke to your LL about whether they intend to sell with you in place?

thesaint

There is nothing wrong or unethical in you giving your one months notice, a landlord would have no problem with it.

Barcode

Nope. We're doing it at the moment. LL gave us two months notice to get out of her house of horrors last week, it was the motivation we needed to find somewhere, that's now been done and it's a much nicer house, she'll get her notice sometime in the next week or two. It's not my problem if she has an empty house for a month or whatever. I wouldn't worry about it.

FleetFanatic

Indeed, how I interpret it is that the landlord is giving you a maximum of 2 months to get out.

By giving them the 1 month notice, you are doing as they have requested.

Gorgeous_George

lynzpower wrote:

2) one LL i spoke with yesterday would serve notice on the day of exchange- and have 2 months to completion. As the people buying the place are FTB this works well as they have to give 2 months notice on thier rented place in any event

I believe it's one month's notice.

Clearly, the LL would find it very difficult to recruit new tenants while the house was on the market. Equally, any prospective buyer may be put off by the house having tenants who may not leave when the notice period is completed.

Play it how the LL would prefer i.e., move out close to the completion date, but negotiate a rent reduction and prompt return of any deposit

or

Do as you suggest and give one month's notice. This gives your new LL an income sooner and secures your new home.



GG

VickyA_2

Firstly, thanks very much for all your advice. It has put my mind at rest, a little! (I'm the world's biggest panicker :rolleyes: )

lynzpower wrote:

have you spoke to your LL about whether they intend to sell with you in place?

We are dealing with it all through the letting agents, who have indicated that if the property were to sell as a buy to let then we may well be "sold on". Sounds like slavery to me. :rotfl:

We also know that there are some FTBs interested, who would wish to live here so the property would be sold with vacant possession if these were to buy it. Initially, the LL was intending/expecting a BTL to purchase the property but I imagine that he will want the best deal. Obviously, of the 7 that are viewing it next Saturday either a) all will decide it's not for them or b) offers will be put in place.