Ending a tenancy agreement

kated123

HI
I really could do with some advice. I have been privately renting a flat for 2 years we had a 6 month agreement which has not been updated so I guess its just rolling. I want to move out soon and Im not sure how much notice i have to give, In the agreement it only says a reasonable amount of notice?! also my landlady has moved so i dont have her new address we only found this out because a neighbour has told us! she is always so hard to get hold of and never answers the phone.

what do you suggest we do - can we do it verbally and how long should we give - we would like to give as little as possible really.

Thanks

marliepanda

Technically a month corresponding with a rental period. Writing is always better.

Legally you must have an address for the landlady, without it she cannot charge rent.

Do you have an address for a letting agent who works for your landlady?
if you have an address for her (regardless of what the neighbour says, thats just gossip and doesnt mean anything), send your notice, in writing, get proof of posting from the post office, and make sure you send it well within the time to give a months notice (ie if you need to give notice on the 23rd, send it a week before etc.

If she doesnt receive it because she hasnt updated her contact details with you, thats her own fault.

kated123

Thanks. No it is not through an agent just direct through her. So if we give notice from 13th June will it be 4 weeks or until 13th July? (we pay our rent from 26 of each month in advance. thanks

marliepanda

Did you move in on the 26th?

If so, you need to give notice before 25th June to move out before 25th July (you can give more notice, of course, to cover yourself)

If you pay per calendar month then it is a calendar months notice, not 4 weeks.

kated123

yes we moved in 26th of the month. Can we not give 1 month from the date of notice does it have to be from the date the rent is paid?

marliepanda

kated123 wrote: »

yes we moved in 26th of the month. Can we not give 1 month from the date of notice does it have to be from the date the rent is paid?

It has to correspond to your rental period. That is not always when you pay your rent, but in your case it is (ie you moved in on the 26th, pay rent on the 26th)

So yes currently you are looking at closer to 2 months.

You can always try and negotiate with your landlord, but if you give one rental periods notice then there is nothing that can be argued legally.

G_M

Full explanation of timescales required, with an example, are in this post here.

Do it in writing - letter, NOT text/email.