Inventory when selling

Gavin83

Hello everyone,

I'm currently living in a rental flat which the landlord has decided to sell. I have two questions relating to this:

1) We have an email via the letting agent confirming we are allowed to vacate the property a month earlier than our contract states. Does this constitute a contract amendment or could he go back on this in the future? Essentially I wish to know if this email is sufficent that he can't go back on the agreement.

2) Is an inventory check still conducted when the property is sold? We've kept the flat in a good condition and I'm not really concerned as such, I'm just curious if it's standard practice to still do so when being sold. I'm receiving mixed opinions.

Thanks very much.

G_M

The landlord selling the property makes only one difference to the tenancy - a new landlord to pay rent to. So your question 2: yes, an inventory check-out still applies if/when your tenancy ends.

If the agent has made an offer in writing, and you acept that offer (do it in writing to avoid doubt) then yes, that is binding. Make sure in your reply that you clarify the terms of the offer eg

* exact date the teancy is to end
* that rent is to be paid pro rata to that date (otherwise rent may still be due.......!)
* whether you will receive any compensation for agreeing to end the tenancy early at the LL's request, and if so how much (consider what you want).
* that the LL/agent will not charge you any fee for ending the tenancy early (he shouldn't, but confirm that!)

Remember that you are under no obligation to agree to leave early unless you wish to. If the LL sells, your tenancy continues as normal and the new owner becomes your LL.

Gavin83

Sorry let me clear a few points up. Firstly the landlord is selling to a private buyer so therefore there is no new landlord. We will keep this landlord until we leave the property.

Secondly it was us that requested to leave early. Essentially we would have had to leave early October but we're actually out the country most of September/early October so we requested to leave before this. Currently all we have is an email from out letting agent to confirm the landlord has agreed to this. What would I need to make this legally binding?

Most of the above points have already been covered but I'll raise the rest. Thanks for your help.

G_M

I don't see that anything in your 2nd post alters the advice in my 1st post.....

The legal principle is unchanged. The practical arrangement gets reversed.