Renting and job being relocated - dilemma

sussexchick

RAS wrote: »

I would contact the local Council,, they may agree to let you not pay CT.

One thing to point out to the LL is that CT will only grant a 6 month exemption in any financial year, and if the LL does not have tenant in October, he will have to pay CT ont he empty flat.

Thank you for letting me know - thats a bit worrying as I am sure that will be a significant factor for the LL - I'm not too worried by the distance of travelling every Friday and Sunday evening, but since I don't have close family around here anyway, think I'd rather just move and be done with it.

sussexchick

getmore4less wrote: »

Tell him you are being made redundant and will have to apply for benifits etc.

You could say your mum says you can move back home so does he want to get someone else.

Don't mention the new job make it look as bad as possible.

Oh how I would love to use that one :cool: ... but alas, I'd only end up tying myself in knots with the fibs and dropping myself in it !

getmore4less

OK how about finding someone to sublet, call them your new partner(probalby helps if they are opposite sex unless LL thinks you are gay), that is moving in and can you modify the lease to include them.

Then you just stop living there.

Risk is you are still liable for the rent.


I guess if you can't pull off the lost job this would be even harder.

Tottyshouse

getmore4less wrote: »

Tell him you are being made redundant and will have to apply for benifits etc.

You could say your mum says you can move back home so does he want to get someone else.

Don't mention the new job make it look as bad as possible.

Or you could be honest and negotiate. The OP signed a legally binding contract that ties him to pay the rent on his property for 12 months. You can go in from a position of honesty and make a financially attractive offer to the son. If he isn't the type of person to take a financial offer in his favour then he is hardly likely to "let off" the tenant on the basis of some unsubstantiated sob story. I am a landlord and before that many years ago I worked in social housing. I have heard every excuse going (and then some). I believe nothing if it does not come with documented proof - the reason I do this is because as you suggested - people lie. If someone lied and then I found out about it - I would be inclined to stick to the letter of the law and leave the tenant to pay for the whole 12 months. A landlord is under no obligation to mitigate his losses in this situation. The OP is basically asking for a favour from the landlords's son. If the shoe was on the other foot and the landlord said they wanted you out a couple of months into a 12 month lease - would you happily go through the aggravation of finding a new property/ paying fees up front months before you were expecting to have to do it without recompense?

sussexchick

Tottyshouse wrote: »

Or you could be honest and negotiate. The OP signed a legally binding contract that ties him to pay the rent on his property for 12 months. You can go in from a position of honesty and make a financially attractive offer to the son. If he isn't the type of person to take a financial offer in his favour then he is hardly likely to "let off" the tenant on the basis of some unsubstantiated sob story. I am a landlord and before that many years ago I worked in social housing. I have heard every excuse going (and then some). I believe nothing if it does not come with documented proof - the reason I do this is because as you suggested - people lie. If someone lied and then I found out about it - I would be inclined to stick to the letter of the law and leave the tenant to pay for the whole 12 months. A landlord is under no obligation to mitigate his losses in this situation. The OP is basically asking for a favour from the landlords's son. If the shoe was on the other foot and the landlord said they wanted you out a couple of months into a 12 month lease - would you happily go through the aggravation of finding a new property/ paying fees up front months before you were expecting to have to do it without recompense?

Hi Totty - yes I agree with your comments and hence the reason why I could not 'flex and bend the thruth' - I may also need a reference from the landlord so need to keep everything above board and legal. I am hoping more than anything that he sees this for what it is, I am about to lose my job ! - in this current market I have no choice but to go where the work is.

moneyistooshorttomention

No need to lie at all.

Just tell it to him straight that you wish to take this new job - but, if he prevents you from taking it by refusing to renegotiate on the terms of the remaining lease period, then you won't be able to take the job (and its HIS fault you cant - put as tactfully as possible) and point out that YOU will be this HB tenant he doesnt want if he prevents you from taking the job.

If its a message he doesnt want to hear - and it sounds like he doesnt - you will have to find a way of telling him it that is both tactful and straightforward (ie about the consequences of his actions on HIM if he prevents you taking the job).

I would be prepared to ensure he doesnt lose any money by your renegotiation - ie by paying to cover a fair period of time until he finds a new tenant (say 4 weeks) and the cost of getting a replacement tenant (eg advertising) - but beyond that he would get reminded again that he himself doesnt want an HB tenant, so he had better not turn you into one by insisting that the original lease be stuck to.

sussexchick

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

No need to lie at all.

Just tell it to him straight that you wish to take this new job - but, if he prevents you from taking it by refusing to renegotiate on the terms of the remaining lease period, then you won't be able to take the job (and its HIS fault you cant - put as tactfully as possible) and point out that YOU will be this HB tenant he doesnt want if he prevents you from taking the job.

If its a message he doesnt want to hear - and it sounds like he doesnt - you will have to find a way of telling him it that is both tactful and straightforward (ie about the consequences of his actions on HIM if he prevents you taking the job).

I would be prepared to ensure he doesnt lose any money by your renegotiation - ie by paying to cover a fair period of time until he finds a new tenant (say 4 weeks) and the cost of getting a replacement tenant (eg advertising) - but beyond that he would get reminded again that he himself doesnt want an HB tenant, so he had better not turn you into one by insisting that the original lease be stuck to.

Thank you for your brilliant post - I am desperately trying to type a letter to this effect, using diplomacy and tact ! (not one of my strongest points !)

I am worried about placing the responsibility of this on his shoulders when clearly its not his fault. But I do want him to understand the consequences and massive financial implications if he won't release me from the tenancy.

I suppose I just need some help trying to draft a letter together.

What a nightmare !

newsgroup_monkey

Can I also point out that his buildings insurance may well be void if there is no occupier for more than 30 days...... So it's in his interest to have someone in situ.

sussexchick

So far I have written .....................

Due to unforseen employment circumstances, I am appealing to you to release me from the current tenancy agreement. Of course, I would continue to pay the agreed rent of £xxx until a replacement tenant could be found. (should anything further be added here ??? ) However, this would ultimately mean that your property would not be lived in.

I have also written ........................

Should you decide not to release me from the tenancy agreement, I will not be able to start my new job and this could have massive financial implications, potentially forcing me to claim housing benefit.

and now I am stuck !

sussexchick

newsgroup_monkey wrote: »

Can I also point out that his buildings insurance may well be void if there is no occupier for more than 30 days...... So it's in his interest to have someone in situ.

I never knew that either ! - thank you

I shall somehow attempt to incorporate that into the letter too