How to get out of rent contract early??

houghy_1

Hi, I'd really appreciate some help and advice.
Last weekend our house was burgled while we were away for the weekend,all entertainment equipment was taken and also personal things from our bedroom.Naturally my fianc!e is devastated and distraught, she wants to move out asap and I'm not happy leaving her, my 2 1/2 year old and 6 month baby alone at night,I work nights.
What can I do to get out of our contract early? We are private renting by the way.

aggypanthus

Very sorry this has happened, its a dreadful feeling. Some of my family went through this last year. I cant see a quick solution really, would you easily find another rental place suitable? It all takes time and depends on your current lease. I am no expert, you will get proper advice from some who know best. Didnt want to leave you with no replies so late at night.

[Deleted User]

The short answer: probably nothing unless you pay. You're liable for the tenancy for as long as agreed unless the landlord agrees to end the tenancy, most won't do this unless you pay for the remainder of the tenancy or if they're super nice they'll let you do it if you pay for finding a new tenant.

The long answer will require information from you: What type of tenancy are you in, fixed term or periodic?

theartfullodger

Difficult. Either pay all rent due to end of tenancy or negotiate with landlord.

Is there a "break" clause in the tenancy permitting early end - sorry can't read it from here.

Would you all feel the same if you owned the place & thus sell up with consequential large legal costs?

penthouse89

My previous rental was a sixth floor riverside penthouse apartment - which was burgled twice in the space of three months.

After the first burglary, and someone was arrested, I reluctantly stayed in the flat. After the second time, I wanted out. I was slap bang in the middle of a 12 month AST.

The LA were actually really good and said I could leave if they found a new tenant to move into the apartment, which of course meant being flexible about viewings and I even took them a set of photographs showing the flat and its fantastic views.

They found me a tenant and I was able to leave five months before the end of my AST, and didn't charge me anything other than the rent for the months I was actually living there, returned my deposit in full barring a dubious £40 charge for cleaning the oven, but £40 on a £800 deposit wasn't worth challenging for.

You might find your LL/LA are as flexible and helpful as mine, but the more I read these forums, the more it seems LAs and LLs aren't as helpful as my former one.

I know what an awful feeling it is to have someone going through your possessions, and it was months later when I noticed some things had been taken.

Hope you find a resolution to this one.

http://www.newsrt.co.uk/news/serial-burglar-back-in-jail-after-another-sunderland-home-raid-743370.html

hazyjo

Sorry to hear - know it can be very unsettling.

BUT... it's very common! As much as she wants to move, try to convince her that home security is the answer. There is NO guarantee you won't be burgled again elsewhere. Two of my homes have been broken into before, my parents were done twice, and since losing my dad last July, my mum's had the shed contents nicked, and a few months later, they smashed a French door into the kitchen (and scarpered when the alarm went straight off without taking anything).

Try to make it more secure. LOTS of tips on the internet. Google burglary prevention. Friend of mine has a webcam set up - he did get burgled but unfortunately it only got half a photo of the burglar. Am sure there are some good preventative measures on the market.

Good luck.

Jx

ruggedtoast

Burglary is one of the most personally invasive and upsetting crimes. Makes me mad to think of that idiotic magistrate praising burglary as courageous before letting a burglar off.

Better_Days

I do sympathise. My Dad's flat was burgled after he passed away and even though it wasn't my home it was horrible going back in to tidy up and establish what had been taken. They even stole the toilet rolls, toilet roll holder (but kindly screwed the screw back into the wall) and the washing up liquid.

The police were nice and victim support even rang me up to see if I needed any help. Could your partner contact the local crime prevention officer to see if anything can be done to make the property more secure (with the agreement of your LL) while you are sorting out what to do?

As you have been advised by others a lot will depend on your LL, but if you can offer to keep the place looking good and be flexible about viewings, and pay extra costs LL incurs then s/he may agree to an early end to the tenancy.

19lottie82

OP, the only thing you can do is appeal to you LL's better nature and offer to pay the costs associated with re letting the property, BUT he/she, can still refuse.

As HazyJo has stated, I would doubt you have any less chance of being burgled again, in a new property, so is it really worth the hassle (and expense) of moving, where it will have no real benefit? Try making the property more secure. Burglers look for properties that have security "weak spots", if you install visible (and also non visible) security measures, this should deter any future would be burglers, and also make you feel safer.

dodger1

I appreciate it's difficult at the moment but try not to worry about leaving your family at night. The vast majority of break ins are when nobody is home, most burglars don't want confrontation, they want in and out without hassle. The home invasion types are normally in millionaire's mansions.

I_have_spoken

Naturally my fianc!e is devastated and distraught

Maybe worth speaking to GP, get a prescription to help calm nerves, Citalopran etc.