How much notice to give landlord with tenancy ending soon?

hypey2k

Hi,

I am wondering if anyone can help me - our tenancy is due for renewal on the 30th of September but we are looking to move (which will mean we've been here for 3 years)

We signed a new 12 month contract last year which gave us another year until 30th September 2015.

In the tenancy agreement it does not say anything about the notice we must give the landlord if we do not wish to renew the tenancy.

Does anyone know when we would need to notify the landlord of our intentions? What penalties could the landlord impose? If they said we must give them 3 months but it's not in the agreement, is this legal?

Thanks

BitterAndTwisted

Strictly, you don't need to give any notice at all to move out at the end of your fixed-term AST. That's what "fixed" bit means.

It's generally good manners to inform the landlord in writing giving at least one complete rental-period if your contract doesn't require you to give two. That's if you don't want to go all round the houses in order to get your deposit back.

The only "penalty" the landlord could impose is to demand that you continue to pay the rent until a formal and correct surrender of the property has taken place. They won't get away with saying you owe them a grand for not giving enough notice or for any other reason. Well, not one that would stand up in court anyway.

In any case, you'll need to make arrangements for the check-out inspection to be carried out and the return of the keys.

hypey2k

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

Strictly, you don't need to give any notice at all to move out at the end of your fixed-term AST. That's what "fixed" bit means.

It's generally good manners to inform the landlord in writing giving at least one complete rental-period if your contract doesn't require you to give two. That's if you don't want to go all round the houses in order to get your deposit back.

The only "penalty" the landlord could impose is to demand that you continue to pay the rent until a formal and correct surrender of the property has taken place. They won't get away with saying you owe them a grand for not giving enough notice or for any other reason. Well, not one that would stand up in court anyway.

In any case, you'll need to make arrangements for the check-out inspection to be carried out and the return of the keys.

Many thanks for the reply, very helpful.

Please can you explain what you mean by this - could this be a whole months rent or a few days until we've given the keys back? (If this is what you mean by surrendering)

mrginge

They cant impose any penalty if you leave by the end of your fixed term

G_M

This is not like you Bitter...

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

Strictly, you don't need to give any notice at all to move out at the end of your fixed-term AST. That's what "fixed" bit means.correct

It's generally good manners to inform the landlord in writing giving at least one months notice? complete rental-period the 'complete rental period' is 12 months!if your contract doesn't require you to give two. :eek::eek::eek:
That's if you don't want to go all round the houses in order to get your deposit back.
If OP leaves without notice at the end of the fixed term the LL would have NO valid grounds to withold the deposit.

The only "penalty" the landlord could impose is ..... zero[STRIKE]to demand that you continue to pay the rent until a formal and correct surrender of the property has taken place. They won't get away with saying you owe them a grand for not giving enough notice or for any other reason. Well, not one that would stand up in court anyway.[/STRIKE]

In any case, you'll need to make arrangements for the check-out inspection to be carried out and the return of the keys.

Correct. though strictly speaking it's not up to the tenant to make arrangements. He simply hands back the keys. Check out inspection is up to the LL.

It is only if the tenant has stayed beyond 30th Sept (end of the fixed term) that notice is then required.

Read:

* 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?

Rambosmum

I've always written to the landlord a month before the end date to say 'thanks, have enjoyed living in the property but it's time to move on and we will be not renewing our tenancy on xxx and will vacate the property on xxx please contact us to arrange a chek out visit number is xxx

G_M

Rambosmum wrote: »

I've always written to the landlord a month before the end date to say 'thanks, have enjoyed living in the property but it's time to move on and we will be not renewing our tenancy on xxx and will vacate the property on xxx please contact us to arrange a chek out visit number is xxx

Which is obviously sensible. Polite. Helpful.

The 'right' thing to do.

But not legally required, so if you don't do it, there is no penalty.

rexmedorum

This is why I don't understand that quite a lot of landlords don't want to let the contract go rolling. Ys a fixed term contract gives more security for a few months but tenants could just post the keys through the letter box and disappear at the end without any notice.