Check-out at 8am, but charging us rent.

greensalad

This might be incredibly petty but I am irritated that I am being asked to leave a property at 8am and have the full check-out completed yet also being asked to pay rent so that my old landlord can turn-key the property for new tenants arriving the following morning.

My tenancy is set to finish at 23:59 on the 4th, yet I am being asked to remove all items and hand back the keys before 9am. It doesn't seem reasonable to pay a whole day's rent when I have no access to the property. For a start I am not able to remove my last few belongings on Thursday evening and was hoping to move them out on Friday afternoon.

MSE opinions on this? Is this ridiculously petty? Personally I'd rather if they need the property for the 5th, they have us end the tenancy on the 3rd so they have a whole day to do whatever they like with it. Instead they're getting us out in the AM and then charging us a whole days rent (and on a not so cheap property!) so they can earn off us while we're not even allowed in there.

Miss_Samantha

Hi greensalad,

You can of course reply that you plan to clear the property during the day then propose a later time for the checkout.

greensalad

That's what I was hoping, but I expect they will be stubborn. I had this exact issue with another letting agent but at the start of my tenancy, where they wanted to do the check-in at 6pm on my first day of paying rent.

It just seems unfair to charge me for rent when I don't have access to the property.

I've requested a later check-out.

Guest101

greensalad wrote: »

This might be incredibly petty but I am irritated that I am being asked to leave a property at 8am and have the full check-out completed yet also being asked to pay rent so that my old landlord can turn-key the property for new tenants arriving the following morning.

My tenancy is set to finish at 23:59 on the 4th, yet I am being asked to remove all items and hand back the keys before 9am. It doesn't seem reasonable to pay a whole day's rent when I have no access to the property. For a start I am not able to remove my last few belongings on Thursday evening and was hoping to move them out on Friday afternoon.

MSE opinions on this? Is this ridiculously petty? Personally I'd rather if they need the property for the 5th, they have us end the tenancy on the 3rd so they have a whole day to do whatever they like with it. Instead they're getting us out in the AM and then charging us a whole days rent (and on a not so cheap property!) so they can earn off us while we're not even allowed in there.

So let them do their check-out as planned, then once you have a copy of the check-out report you have a whole day to make any amends for which they may try to charge you.


They cannot legally stop you entering or remaining in the property.

stator

What does the tenancy say about the last day? Some say checkout by 12pm, I've never heard of one that says 8am!

If it says nothing then you can say no.

If the LL wants to get the property ready for the next tenant you could always negotiate for him to have access whilst you are moving out. eg if he wants to repaint a room you could empty that room first.

greensalad

The tenancy agreement says nothing about check-out time or timings at the end of the tenancy, so therefore I assume my access ends at 23:59.

They want to perform the check-out and take the keys from us at the same time, hence me losing access.

Whereas I feel it's reasonable to do a check-out and take keys from someone at least in the late afternoon. They say they can't because new tenants need to move in the following morning which I've reminded them is not my problem.

marksoton

greensalad wrote: »

They say they can't because new tenants need to move in the following morning which I've reminded them is not my problem.

I don't really see what they gain then by insisting on 8am.

Anyway, simply refuse and negotiate a more favourable time.

theartfullodger

Guest101 wrote: »

So let them do their check-out as planned, then once you have a copy of the check-out report you have a whole day to make any amends for which they may try to charge you.


They cannot legally stop you entering or remaining in the property.

Completely agree: It's your home, your property until end of fixed term.

Keep us informed about what happens!

greensalad

marksoton wrote: »

I don't really see what they gain then by insisting on 8am

My thinking is that they know the carpets are old and think they can get in there and re-carpet the place in one day. Not saying we've damaged them, but they're 10 years old and looking rather worn. Walls could do with a repaint here and there. I don't expect they'd get that done in one day though.

Guest101

greensalad wrote: »

The tenancy agreement says nothing about check-out time or timings at the end of the tenancy, so therefore I assume my access ends at 23:59.

They want to perform the check-out and take the keys from us at the same time, hence me losing access.

Whereas I feel it's reasonable to do a check-out and take keys from someone at least in the late afternoon. They say they can't because new tenants need to move in the following morning which I've reminded them is not my problem.

To be technical your access ends when you move out and either 1: your notice expires or 2: your fixed term expires, or when bailiffs remove you.


So don't give them the keys?

fairy_lights

I'm amazed that they want you out so early, most letting agencies don't even open before 9 so to want you there for a checkout at 8am makes me think they've already got cleaners/carpet fitters booked in for that morning.
Which might give you extra bargaining power - if they want you out, they'll have to refund the days rent or cancel the cleaners.