Help with previous landlord

alotofcoffee

Hi

Hopefully someone can point me in the right direction.

I was renting a room from someone (so I was a lodger), the person was renting the flat from an agency with a no sub-letting clause in the contract.

I never signed any agreement with the person I was renting from nor was any agreement offered. I did not pay a deposit for the room and just paid for the time I was there for example: Pay rent on the 1st September and then again on the 1st October etc for the month I used.

There is now an issue as I have left the property giving a weeks notice and moving out before the next months rent was due. I am now being told I will be taken to court for not paying the next months rent even though I will not be using the property.

Because there was never any contract nor any discussions on notice period I am just looking for some advice. Am I expected to pay rent for the month even though I am not there. What stops this person then saying it was an even longer notice to get me to pay more money.

Any advice would be great.

Pixie5740

You were a lodger which means you had few rights but that cuts both ways. You just need to give reasonable notice, for example 1 week so I think your ex-LL is just trying it on.

pmlindyloo

As a lodger you are classed as an excluded occupier.

In the event of no contract or agreement then you have to give reasonable notice. There is no set definition of reasonable but if you pay weekly then usually it is one week's notice and if it is monthly rent then 4 weeks notice.

http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/sharing_and_subletting/excluded_occupiers

Have you been paying rent in advance or in arrears? (sorry, not clear from your post)

alotofcoffee

I was paying in advance, so only paying for the days I was there.