Tenancy up today - LA closed until 2nd Jan

cwcw

Our tenancy ends today. We have already moved, it's all clean and empty, went to return the keys and it's closed until Thursday. We weren't warned about this and the letting agent has been very vague about the whole process. I didn't want to put the keys through the letterbox because our checkout isn't until Thursday either and the company doing it is meeting us there so we may still need a key. I wanted to clarify all this with the agent but they've been closed every time I ring. Can we be penalised for not returning keys on time when they are closed?

PS. Happy new year everyone.

malcolmffc

Put the keys through the letterbox. It's the LA's responsibility to make sure their cleaners have access.

theartfullodger

STRONGLY suggest you write (yes, WRITE!!!) a letter (calm & polite mind...), keep copy, to agents, copy landlord, confirming all the arrangements for leaving & that you were not advised office was shut today & you went to return keys, did not do so on account of not wanting to risk burglars etc etc .. and confirming the tenancy has ended. Stick through post-box (witnessed if possible..) also email .. just so there;s a record...

Cheers!

cwcw

Thanks for the replies, I think I'll go with the email and letter. To be clear, there are no new tenants lined up yet so it will remain vacant for a while, and the checkout on Thursday is not a cleaner, it's an inventory check by a 3rd party company which I'd like to be there for.

BitterAndTwisted

Ensure you send that letter dated on the very last day of your tenancy or you could risk the landlord insisting on yet another month's rent. Usually, the returning of the keys signifies confirmation of the formal end of the tenancy, so please don't be caught out.

cwcw

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

Ensure you send that letter dated on the very last day of your tenancy or you could risk the landlord insisting on yet another month's rent. Usually, the returning of the keys signifies confirmation of the formal end of the tenancy, so please don't be caught out.

Have done, plus the email is automatically dated today, but surely they can't get away with charging a full month's rent when they closed up shop without prior warning, on a working day, leaving nobody to return the keys to?! That would be extremely unfair, but would it be legal? We have confirmation from them in writing accepting our notice and the date of the end of the tenancy. They've been pretty ok with everything really.

BitterAndTwisted

Accepting your notice and acknowledging the intent to end the tenancy is one thing but actually ending it is another. As I said, returning the keys is the final, formal part.

I'm just flagging up a warning, so that you can be prepared. Where agents and landlords are concerned it's always wise to hope for the best but be prepared for the worst. Most especially when a landlord has no new tenancy's income to look forward to.

cwcw

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

Accepting your notice and acknowledging the intent to end the tenancy is one thing but actually ending it is another. As I said, returning the keys is the final, formal part.

I'm just flagging up a warning, so that you can be prepared. Where agents and landlords are concerned it's always wise to hope for the best but be prepared for the worst. Most especially when a landlord has no new tenancy's income to look forward to.

So, assuming they tried to make us pay an extra month for not being able to return the keys to them, do you know whether they could legally do this, or would we have covered ourselves sufficiently with the letter and the fact they were closed? Or should we put the keys through their letterbox instead? Basically, if they did try it on (which I do think is unlikely) would we be in the right if we contested in court?

BitterAndTwisted

Your letter should suffice if you date it today, you mention that you've been trying to contact them in order to arrange return of the keys AND that their office was shut today. Personally, I'd put the keys in an envelope with the property address on it, post them through the agent's letter-box and have a reliable witness watch you do it. Just to be on the safe side. Landlords with no incoming tenant, facing a void-period with no rent coming in can be tempted to be a bit opportunistic.

julieb1987

Maybe speak to Shelter for advice just to clarify. That last thing you need is to be charged rent for non-returning of keys, but I do understand the scurity element.

Thrugelmir

cwcw wrote: »

Our tenancy ends today. We have already moved, it's all clean and empty, went to return the keys and it's closed until Thursday.

2nd January is Wednesday not Thursday.