Agent wants to renew tenancy with fixed term contract! Feel trapped!

mrginge

Taucher wrote: »

Ha! Landlord yourself, are you? Yes, I think it is unethical to try and force someone into a fixed 7 month (minimum) contract at the end of 2 years renting.

But as you well know, they can't force you.
They are perfectly entitled to ask you to commit to a new fixed term.
They are also perfectly entitleled to begin eviction proceedings if you decline.

You can fluff it all up with emotional language if you want, but that is the reality. One would expect that in 15 years of renting you are aware of such unethical games and intelligent enough to see through them.

I think it is unethical of the letting agent to present it as the only option so that they can extract more money from me (£100 'admin' fee for the new contract), especially as the letting agent does not, and has never, provided a service to me.

I agree.
What does this have to do with your predicament?

The letting agent has made it clear that the Landlord has instructed them to offer a minimum of a 7 month fixed contract. The letting agent has told me that they will re-market the property for rent in the middle of November if we do not sign the 7 month extension.

So they have stated their position. Have you stated yours?
What was the outcome?
Did you speak to the agent or the landlord?

A rolling contract with a notice period for EITHER landlord or tenant seems like the best option for all parties.

In your opinion.
Once again, have you explained your position to the agent or landlord?

Or should we do everything in our power to make life easier for landlords and who cares about tenants?

If you want to just rant then fine. If you want to moan about the ethics and tactics of agents then fine.
If you want someone to tell you that you should start kicking off, changing locks, withholding rent, etc, then talk to guest101.

If however, you wish to resolve the issue like an adult then you need to negotiate. I asked you three questions in my previous post. Your reply above answers none of them.

Taucher

Guest101 wrote: »

No, you should look after number 1, no-one else is going to.

Sorry I realise now I must bow down in front of such an alpha male. Yeah there is no place for ethics in business!

And no, the letting agent has provided no service to me. They are managing the property on behalf of the landlord. Any checks they have carried out, any repairs they have done, are all for the benefit of the landlord and, as tenant, are not my responsibility unless I caused the damage, which I never have.

A rolling contract with a notice period for EITHER landlord or tenant seems like the best option for all parties. - In your opinion.

Yes. And my opinion is right. Instead of ending up with disgruntled tenants who may not move out when the landlord wants they could have had tenants who were happy to help with the whole process. There is a huge shortage of rental properties were I live - they would have found new tenants immediately.

His_Dudeness

The first few replies covered it pretty well before it descended into the usual repetitions and useless arguments...

Guest101

mrginge wrote: »

But as you well know, they can't force you.
They are perfectly entitled to ask you to commit to a new fixed term.
They are also perfectly entitleled to begin eviction proceedings if you decline.

You can fluff it all up with emotional language if you want, but that is the reality. One would expect that in 15 years of renting you are aware of such unethical games and intelligent enough to see through them.



I agree.
What does this have to do with your predicament?



So they have stated their position. Have you stated yours?
What was the outcome?
Did you speak to the agent or the landlord?



In your opinion.
Once again, have you explained your position to the agent or landlord?



If you want to just rant then fine. If you want to moan about the ethics and tactics of agents then fine.
If you want someone to tell you that you should start kicking off, changing locks, withholding rent, etc, then talk to guest101.

If however, you wish to resolve the issue like an adult then you need to negotiate. I asked you three questions in my previous post. Your reply above answers none of them.

Slanderous MrG, I never tell anyone to withhold rent or to 'kick off'.


I would always recommend tenants change the locks. At the end of the day the valuables inside the property are the tenants'.

Guest101

Taucher wrote: »

Sorry I realise now I must bow down in front of such an alpha male. Yeah there is no place for ethics in business! - Not at all. Your morals and ethics will likely not match those of others, and expecting to conduct a business on the basis of morals and ethics doesn't work. You can rant about it to help, but then it needs to be dealt with from a neutral stand point, not clouded by what you perceive to be right or fair.

And no, the letting agent has provided no service to me. - Did they do any checks on you when you applied for the house? They are managing the property on behalf of the landlord. Any checks they have carried out (are for your benefit, so you can get the house), any repairs they have done, are all for the benefit of the landlord and, as tenant, are not my responsibility unless I caused the damage, which I never have.

A rolling contract with a notice period for EITHER landlord or tenant seems like the best option for all parties. - In your opinion.

Yes. And my opinion is right. - Is it? I mean clearly the LL doesn't feel the same. Instead of ending up with disgruntled tenants who may not move out when the landlord wants - All LLs should know the procedure for this and be prepared for it.
they could have had tenants who were happy to help with the whole process. - Not necessary as you go on to say there is a shortage and demand outweighs supply.
There is a huge shortage of rental properties were I live - they would have found new tenants immediately.

But that's just my opinion

[Deleted User]

Ask for a break clause to be added to the agreement. I've always done this to give myself extra flexibility.

AndyBSG

So the reason they gave for insisting on a new AST was because they don't want the property empty for several weeks.

Well, if you refuse to allow viewings to be conducted while you are still in the property, which is your legal right, then that is exactly what will happen as they won't be able to market it properly until after your AST ends.

AFAIK the address of your LL should be listed in your tenancy agreement so i'd suggest writing to them as it simply sounds like the Letting Agency is trying to squeeze you for another fee and chances are your LL won't have been told your happy to go onto a rolling tenancy which guarantee's him/her continued rent until you serve notice.