Tenancy extension query, please advise

Snoopinggoose

Me and my fiancee are currently renting from an agency and our tenancy agreement expires on August the 10th this year then according to the tenancy agreement goes onto a Statutory Periodic tenancy, my query is has anyone who rents through an agency approached them to get another fixed term contract for a further 6 months? And what's the likelihood they'd charge us an admin fee for a new tenancy agreement?

I ask because even though a Periodic tenancy is flexible for us and them (they haven't given us notice to quit on 10th August might I add) but my fiancee is pregnant (due date 6th December) and I've been diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease so need to attend hospital fairly regularly, so a 6 month actual contract would benefit us because it would give us security over christmas and the new year due to the babies due date being very close to christmas, we wouldn't want to think for whatever reason the agency would give us 2 months notice at any point either before or after August this year might I add.

Thanks for reading.

Kynthia

Most letting agents actively encourage tenants to sign up for a new fixed term because they get an admin/renewal fee. You can ask them what it is and you can ask for longer than 6 months as long as the LL agrees.

AlexMac

I don't know this agency but I assume that they are not themselves the landlord, but are managing the rental on behalf of a landlord who pays them both an initial finding/checking/set-up fee plus an on-going management charge usually based on a % of rent so as not to have to get involved.

Agents who I've used are often keen to issue a new agreement, as this allows them to charge the landlord again- as in my experience the agent's fee is realted to the tenancy period; the longer the initial period the bigger the fee. But as a landlord myself, I prefer the cheaper option of the tenancy rolling on as a 'statutory periodic ' without fees (although one agent did try to get more out of me for such an automatic extension, so it may depend what contract your landlord signed; and the agent may even try to stick you with a new admin fee even though they obviously do not have to carry out fresh employer, bank, landlord or credit checks). From your landlord's perspective an automatic roll-on is a good idea, and if you're a regular payer and not trashing the place, he'd be daft to give you 2-month's notice, lose a reliable tenant and face both loss of rent during a void period and a new fees usually equivalnet to a month's rent. The only downside is that you bear the risk of less security, if , for example the landlord plans to sell or wishes to jack the rent a lot higher; both unlikely in the current housing market?

You can ask the agent what the landlords intentions are; I always come clean with my tenants, but you might not get a straight or impartial answer from the agent
sorry- I've not really helped, have I!

tbs624

OP - you may want to remove the LA's name ( which is a franchise) from your post so as to avoid your thread becoming personally identifiable.

LAs do "ego search" their own firm's name from time to time to keep up with any poor publicity.

On your specific query, talk direct to the LL: you are legally entitled to have his name and address.

Whilst appreciating your concerns, many Ts and LLs do continue on an SPT for a number of years. The LA having to probably run new checks and type in some new dates,re-enter yours and the LLs names onto a proforma TA and then hit print, plus their office time when you call into sign will trigger a renewals fee, with a similar one usually also levied on the LL. Depending on which tenancy deposit scheme is being used there may also be a charge levied on the LA/LL for re-registering the deposit if a new FT is signed up for

Snoopinggoose

tbs624 wrote: »

On your specific query, talk direct to the LL: you are legally entitled to have his name and address.

Well regarding that I requested the landlords 'actual' name and address and he/the agent REFUSED to give it! I also rang the agents head office and they simply said they can't do anything about it! I also rang Shelter and they said the same thing! I don't suppose I can do anything about it either, if they won't give it then that's it I guess!?

Also when I requested the landlords 'actual' name and address, the agent responded on the 21st day... With their franchise branch address NOT the landlords address...