Student house - no contract!

Collino

Hi all....

Just wondering what my position is with my landlord and fellow tenants.

Basically, I returned to uni in Sept 06 and had to find a house last minute. I managed to find a room in a 9 bed shared house, the other 8 rooms were taken, however at the last minute the 9th person went travelling - I took his place. I contacted the other 8 tenants directly through a student forum.

As far as I'm aware the guy who's place i took (Sam) paid his deposit a few months earlier (june 06 at a guess) and signed contracts etc - along with the other 8 tenants. Now when I moved in, I didn't even see a contract, let alone sign one or get a copy for myself - nor did I pay a deposit, either directly to the landlord nor to Sam.

The rental period ends 30th June this year, however I wont require the room past the end of May as I plan to move elsewhere. What I want to know is, if i don't pay for this final month, what will happen? Who will be liable to pay for the final month, and will it affect the other tenants in any way?

I know this isn't very moral of me, but I'd rather have the £270 in my back pocket than wasted on a room I wont be needing.

All the rooms have individual locks, so i take it they are let as separate rooms, however having never seen a contract I couldnt tell you.

Any advice on this would be most welcome, as right now I'm budgeting around actually having the £270 in my funds come the start of June.

Many thanks,

Collino

airforce_beret

the lad who was going to rent would surely have paid a deposit? is it not worth just !!!!!!ing off and losing the deposit? like you say...not very moral but hey it's extra money for you and the landlord shouldn't lose anything as he has the first lads deposit. I'd get in touch with your landlord and ask if the guy paid a deposit. you don't get if you don't ask I think they normally split the rooms down seperately as the students don't necessarily know each other

Collino

Im thinking exactly the same, however I don't want it to affect my housemates getting their deposits back as they are a nice bunch.

I've not even spoken to this other guy who's place i took so i couldnt give 2 sh1ts if he loses his deposit.

I've already cancelled the standing order on my account and will be paying by cheque for May

airforce_beret

to be honest it shouldn't affect your housemates. at the end of the day they don't pay your bill. you doing one shouldn't make a difference to their payments as the charge will be for the room. theres a uni round here and most of the houseshares charge by room. I'd just do one hehe

silvercar

By the fact that the other tenants filled the missing room, it may be that they would be jointly liable for the rent on the whole house. So it may be that your last months rent would come out of their deposits.