Can landlord ask 5 months notice of intention to stay?

kinger101

hostie wrote: »

Ask yourself how easy it would be for the LL to find other people to take the property after October (when all the students are settled). This will give you your answer. If the answer is that it would be difficult because it is a flat with several rooms, possibly above market value, in a studenty area, then he may ask you to leave rather than risk having between October and May empty. The LL will be able to find students in August but after September it becomes more difficult and if you were to leave then it could cost 6 months rent.

If the University in question has a significant population of PhD students, it wouldn't in fact be all that difficult. But most LL who let to students are not aware of this. And some Universities have very few PhD students.

[Deleted User]

Whatever the LL's reasoning (and I've come across the many and varied reasons that change depending on the conversation lol) it can be a bit awkward to be asked in January where you want to live in 15 months time. You AREN'T a student, so this isn't helpful to you in your situation. If he's let this property to you, non students, I'm certain he can find other non students to let to if he needs to.

Anyway its a case of weighing up the risks. If you don't affirm you want to stay, he could start eviction proceedings in July (could take another two or three months to get a possession order, then get bailiffs appointed, but no guarantee). He could bluster a lot but let you stay on a periodic basis.

If you do find a property to buy, the biggest risk is if the buying process takes a lot longer than expected. You hear of this happening all the time (vendor withdrawing, vendor being slow proceeding, minor problem with documentation causing problems etc etc). So if you decide to not renew now, work out a back up plan as you could easily take six months or even more buying a property and might need somewhere else to live temporarily if the LL does decide to evict.

It would be silly for him to do this.., but if you have a LL like mine lol.., logic has nothing to do with it. Most aren't like this but just occasionally one is.

Guest101

Op why are you not just ignoring him ? Literally say nothing. You're safe until July.

If he gets funny, change the locks and just ignore him.

Pixie5740

In the words of Ronan Keating, "You say it best, when you say nothing at all."

(sorry that song popped into my head whilst reading this thread and it won't go away.)