A simple question for the landlord's

LottieLou · 23 April 2015 at 6:18PM

Firstly thanks to everyone who helped me on my last post. We are shocked because we had an offer accepted nearly 2 weeks ago (we went for a 3 bed - albeit not the 3 bed that didn't have any central heating amongst many other things).

I would like landlord/Landladys opinions on notice. Things are going smoothly (touch wood), we are FTB and they have no chain/ property is already vacant and they have already moved into a very very large detached (clearly too flush, they should have given us a discount :rotfl:)

Our tenancy is due to end in May, initially through a letting agent, but we deal with the landlady direct. We were asked if we would like to stay on a month or so ago and said yes - we never realistically expected to find somewhere.

Now we have been sent the new contracts to sign. Our mortgage is confirmed, valuation fee paid, holding out on the survey until we get a couple of outstanding documents from the sellers. But what would be best to do about the landlady?

We are thinking it would be sensible to wait for survey results come back to let her know what our plans are. But we don't want to mess her around (because she is actually a really nice landlady! - does anyone want to live here :rotfl:).

Or do we tell her out of courtesy now, but make it clear it could still all collapse, so it isn't us giving notice but jut keeping her informed?

What would you expect/want your tenant's to do? Our notice period is also slightly hazy, we will have gone over our contract so only have to give 1 months notice?...we gather, but have planned for 2 anyway.

In writing it seems more straightforward! but opinions welcome please.

nidO · 23 April 2015 at 6:38PM

If you're outside of your current fixed term and are therefore on a statutory periodic tenancy then you have a 1 month notice period.

If you've been sent a new fixed term contract having verbally agreed to sign a new one i'd just call your landlady, and tell her thanks for sending it, however you've unexpectedly found a place to buy much sooner than you'd expected so can't commit to a new fixed term, and will likely be giving notice in the relatively near future.

Then, after you've exchanged and got a completion date, give your notice (ensuring, obviously, that it expires after your completion date).

I'd prefer to have a straight-up message from my tenant about why the new contract hasn't been signed and returned having just sent it, rather than having to chase up whether they've not received it etc and only finding out when they hand in notice that they didn't have any intention of signing it.

questionss · 23 April 2015 at 6:42PM

nidO wrote: »

If you're outside of your current fixed term and are therefore on a statutory periodic tenancy then you have a 1 month notice period.

If you've been sent a new fixed term contract having verbally agreed to sign a new one i'd just call your landlady, and tell her thanks for sending it, however you've unexpectedly found a place to buy much sooner than you'd expected so can't commit to a new fixed term, and will likely be giving notice in the relatively near future.

Then, after you've exchanged and got a completion date, give your notice (ensuring, obviously, that it expires after your completion date).

I'd prefer to have a straight-up message from my tenant about why the new contract hasn't been signed and returned having just sent it, rather than having to chase up whether they've not received it etc and only finding out when they hand in notice that they didn't have any intention of signing it.

Exactly this

LottieLou · 23 April 2015 at 6:57PM

Thank you both, that's what we will do then. I feel absolutely terrible that she has gone to the trouble of sending us the contract, especially as she has given us a stamp to send it back to her! I hope this wont leave her out of pocket? She isnt expecting it back for a few weeks yet, but I will give her a ring tomorrow.