Ending periodic tenancy mid-month

LauraLi

Hi

I'm on a monthly periodic tenancy contract. The termination clause stipulates that 'One months notice is required by the Licensee on the 1st day of the closing month to terminate the license. If notice is not given, the License will be extended for a further one month'. I've given my landlord notice on 17th March that I will be moving out on 18th April (i.e. a month's notice) but he claims that I'm still liable to pay the rent until 30th April.

Am I actually required by law to pay the rent until 30th April even though I won't be living in the property after 18th and have given a month's notice? What can I do about it?

Thank you!

stator

I'm afraid your LL is right. Unless the property is re-let before 30th april then you have to pay the rent up to that point.

G_M

* Ending/renewing an AST: what happens when a fixed term ends? How can a LL or tenant end a tenancy? What is a periodic tenancy?

jamie11

^^^^ Agreed, you are renting by the month not by the day. Each rental period is discrete. However you do not tell us when you moved into this property (exact date) each rental period in a statutory periodic tenancy will start on this date of any month (February excepted if it was after28th))

LauraLi

Thank you for your replies!

Now I told my LL I'd move out on 18th April but clearly the contract terminates only on 30th April..so does that mean that I can move out anytime after 18th but before 30th April without giving any further notice to my LL? As in I'm under no obligation to inform him when I will actually move out?

LateStarter

You are under no obligation to actually occupy the property - you can move out anytime you want to.

You are however, obliged to pay rent until the end of the stipulated notice period (30th April), and arrange handover of keys and checkout at that point. You can try to arrange checkout earlier, but your LL may not agree if you're responsible for utilities until the end the tenancy period (final meter readings etc).

LauraLi

Yes but my LL thinks that I will move out on 18th April, so am I under an obligation to inform that it will be later than that (but before 30th April, which is until when I pay my rent and when the contract actually terminates). Utilities is not an issue here as they are included in the rent.

LateStarter

In which case something along the lines of "I'll be out by the 30th, I can't say exactly when" shoud suffice. As you're paying rent until the 30th, you (and your belongings) have every right to be there until that date.

Rollinghills

You still have to hand over the keys and it is common curtesy to arrange the checkout / key handover day a few days in advance

45002

LauraLi wrote:

Hi

I'm on a monthly periodic tenancy contract. The termination clause stipulates that 'One months notice is required by the Licensee on the 1st day of the closing month to terminate the license. If notice is not given, the License will be extended for a further one month'. I've given my landlord notice on 17th March that I will be moving out on 18th April (i.e. a month's notice) but he claims that I'm still liable to pay the rent until 30th April.

Am I actually required by law to pay the rent until 30th April even though I won't be living in the property after 18th and have given a month's notice? What can I do about it?

Thank you!

For Reference http://www.landlordzone.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?67177-Ending-periodic-tenancy