short term tenancy

AlexMac

Being realistic, it can take 4-6 months to buy a home, especially if you get into a chain, so unless you have already done your research, identified a property, chosen a solicitor, applied for a mortgage.... blah, blah... you may be identifying a non-problem. In fact although you might fear having to pay rent for an overlap period if you take a 6 month AST in the new area, you can look at this more creatively; move into rented, take your time choosing, and play hardball on offers as you're not in a desperate hurry; you may well save the £1k or so 'wasted rental fees' if you buy well?

The holiday let route is cost-effective off season; our kids did just that for two months in January 2012 due to a combination of legal delays on the new place and the need to start school , although they knew that had bought. By the time you factor in no-Council tax, energy bills etc, off-season holiday let rates are not as bad as they seem... but they would be if the let ran for more than 2-3 months so you'd be cost neutral ina 6 month AST...?

Either way, good luck with the new job/home/town...

JamesN

Voyager2002 wrote: »

You have two options...

You (alone) could move to the new area and rent a room in a shared house. Meanwhile, the rest of the family remain in the old home and are responsible for selling it for the best possible price, while you seek to buy a suitable new property.

Sorry to clarify i'm currently renting so there is only a 1 month notice period I need to give my landlord, no requirement to sell my property.

G_M wrote: »

I've never understood this use of the term 'private landlord'. It seems to be used to describe landlords who manage their own lettings.

Renting a property via a letting agent is no guarantee that either that agent, or the landlord, will be good.

I don't believe the risk is greater either way.

Very good point, I guess you just hear all these issues such as landlords unfairly claiming the deposits or not fulfilling their duties. I guess once you are in the property though the risk is the same whether you went through an EA or other means. It all depends on the strength of the contract.

princeofpounds wrote: »

ASTs can be as short as you like. But LLs are barred from using the Section 21 process to terminate the tenancy in the first six months (the standard, 'no fault' eviction procedure).

So they are often cautious to award tenancies shorter than six months as the terms on giving notice become rather unbalanced.

This often leads to the misunderstanding that tenancies cannot be shorter than six months, which is not true. It is simply very hard (or almost impossible in most circumstances) for a LL to terminate one within six months.

Plus of course it is often not worth their while to do a shorter letting. Particularly as agents often demand the first month's rent as tenant finding fee, or similar. And then things like insurance may require minimum tenancy lengths.

Thank you for the clarification, I did wonder where the 6 month term came from.

JamesN

buglawton wrote: »

There is some rare serviced accommodation around where 1 or 2 weeks notice can be given e.g. In Berkshire:
http://www.hitchamburymanor.co.uk
Cities often offer this sort of thing too.
I've used this type of accom between houses. Expect to pay about double of typical rents - but all bills and council tax is included.

Without knowing which locality OP is searching in, we can't offer local tips on this.

Warwickshire area, around Junction 3 on M42 to Junction 11 on M40

JamesN

AlexMac wrote: »

Being realistic, it can take 4-6 months to buy a home, especially if you get into a chain, so unless you have already done your research, identified a property, chosen a solicitor, applied for a mortgage.... blah, blah... you may be identifying a non-problem. In fact although you might fear having to pay rent for an overlap period if you take a 6 month AST in the new area, you can look at this more creatively; move into rented, take your time choosing, and play hardball on offers as you're not in a desperate hurry; you may well save the £1k or so 'wasted rental fees' if you buy well?

The holiday let route is cost-effective off season; our kids did just that for two months in January 2012 due to a combination of legal delays on the new place and the need to start school , although they knew that had bought. By the time you factor in no-Council tax, energy bills etc, off-season holiday let rates are not as bad as they seem... but they would be if the let ran for more than 2-3 months so you'd be cost neutral ina 6 month AST...?

Either way, good luck with the new job/home/town...

You make a good point. I think we would probably need 3 months as a minimum anyway so an extra 3 months rent could mean we drive down the prices to compensate.

Is there much option for tenants to leave before the end of the 6 month period. I've read the other comments but a bit confused if i'm being honest. Would it just depend on the landlord or is it a case that the AST means you have a liability of paying 6 months rent regardless of when you leave?

Many thanks to all for the helpful comments.

oldbaldman

OP - if you are absolutely certain that you can complete and move in within your predicted timescale there is nothing to stop you approaching a prospective LL with a proposition along the lines of "Let me rent for 1/2/3/4 months at X (insert realistic monthly rental amount) amount and if I do not move out within that time I will pay you 2/3/4 x RMRA for the time after that I/We are in occupation".

If I were your targeted prospective LL I might take a punt at that deal?

Just a thought.

obm

JamesN

oldbaldman wrote: »

OP - if you are absolutely certain that you can complete and move in within your predicted timescale there is nothing to stop you approaching a prospective LL with a proposition along the lines of "Let me rent for 1/2/3/4 months at X (insert realistic monthly rental amount) amount and if I do not move out within that time I will pay you 2/3/4 x RMRA for the time after that I/We are in occupation".

If I were your targeted prospective LL I might take a punt at that deal?

Just a thought.

obm

I had a similar thought in that if I found a house to buy they may allow us to move in once the offer was made (assuming there was no chain) with an agreement that we stay there unless the deal were to fall through. Risky I know, but If I can get them to an advanced stage and the buyer was keen to sell it might be an option.

dimbo61

Sorry but no vendor or solicitor would allow that.
You would become a tenant and the seller/vendor would become your Landlord.
You just need to time exchange/ completion for the end of the 6 months AST.

JamesN

Thought that might be the case. If we were that close we could just get some holiday accommodation anyway.