notice to vacate

remorseless

Just would like some advice ... After 12 months in our flat we didn't want to sign another 12 months lease so our agent on behalf of the landlord served us with a Notice to Vacate paper.
We want to move somewhere bigger so it's great. We have no rent arrears and sideways paid in time etc.

Will this notice to vacate have any impact on our credit score or finding a new flat?
Thanks

rochja

Not at all. It is merely a legal precaution to make it easier to get rid of you if you squat. As a standard practice it has no bearing on your credit worthiness and does not act as a detriment to finding a new landlord

Guest101

rochja wrote: »

Not at all. It is merely a legal precaution to make it easier to get rid of you if you squat. As a standard practice it has no bearing on your credit worthiness and does not act as a detriment to finding a new landlord

Half right. This has no bearing on your credit score.

But tenants cannot be squatters. OP is it a section 21 notice ( does it say that?)

A section 21 informs you that in two months the LL can start court proceedings to evict you. It does not legally end your tenancy or your liability to pay rent.

Only a court or a tenant can end a tenancy.

theartfullodger

So has the initial fixed term (12 months?)??

If periodic after a fixed term the notice (now...) probably doesn't have to say "Section 21"...

rochja

Sorry, I used the word squat for ease of understanding not in its technical sense - but it is still only a formality unless it is acted upon and as such has no bearing on your acceptability as a tenant elsewhere.

jjlandlord

Using incorrect terms certainly does not ease understanding...

remorseless

Yes something section 12... Yes I plan to vacate by the date and keep paying rent... I simply didn't want to renew the lease for another 12 months!!!

remorseless

Do I need to respond in writing that I will vacate by that date?

BitterAndTwisted

The agent is most likely playing a game with you. They get to charge the tenant a fee for signing a new fixed-term tenancy. If you choose to move out, they get to charge the landlord another tenant-finding fee which is likely to be greater than the re-signing charge. Either way, they win.

If you choose to vacate on or before the last day of your fixed-term you do not have to inform them formally. However, you still need to arrange for the check-out inspection and formal hand-over of the keys, so it won't be coming as much of a surprise to either the agent or landlord.

remorseless

Yes I get they are playing games! They sent me an email few days before and when I called them up they were not overly interested in keeping the lease. As I said we are not bad tenants. The landlord wanted to keep us and at the same rent, we just want something bigger...

We plan to play by the books with dates, vacating, paying, cleaning, etc also cause I'd like to get my deposit back!!!

So long this is not detrimental to my credit score and ability to rent in the future it came at the best time ever!!!

G_M

1) you can leave on/before the last day of the fixed term without giving any notice. The S21 notice has no affect on this

2) It is sensible to give notice so you can discuss returning th keys, check-out inspection, return of deposit.

3) it is polite to give notice, as it helps the landlord plan

4) The S21 Notice will have no impact on your credit record, or any other record

5) You must pay rent till the last day of the fixed term even if you leave earlier

6) if you stay beyond the fixed term you will not be a squatter! (but should pay rent as normal)

see also

Ending/Renewing an AST (what happens when the Fixed Term ends?)(What is a Periodic Tenancy?)(How can a LL remove a tenant?)(How can a tenant end a tenancy?)