Confusion over notice period for lodger (me)

GoodnessGraciousMe

Sorry, I can't quote.

I agree with you booksur; a month's notice in this case should run from 4th of June to 3 July. However, my landlords think my notice should include the remainder of June and the WHOLE month of July, I.e. to 31 July, as I pay my rent on the 1st of each month and have "missed" giving notice on the 1st June.

I think it's ludicrous and don't agree. They will be getting one months notice from me only.

bris

GoodnessGraciousMe wrote: »

However, my landlords think my notice should include the remainder of June and the WHOLE month of July, I.e. to 31 July, as I pay my rent on the 1st of each month and have "missed" giving notice on the 1st June.

I think it's ludicrous and don't agree. They will be getting one months notice from me only.

That's the way it works (in Scotland at least anyway) when we give two months notice it has to be before the start date of the lease, so it can in actual fact be nearly 3 months if your a day out in the lease.


This is for a short assured tenancy, in your case for a lodger I would tell them to bolt and take the email as it's written and give them a month from when you want, ie 15th to 14th. Their email is not clear so they would fail to enforce this. In the SAT it's clearly written what the notice period is so there is no confusion.

G_M

GoodnessGraciousMe wrote: »

It's not a contract.
Yes there is. You pay rent and in return receive accomodation. Therefore there is a contractual arrangement.
There is no signed written agreement.
Then the contract is formed either verbally via your discussions (eg "You need to pay me £100 pm and in return you can live in my spare room") and/or via some written communication (eg one or more emails) on which you each based your understanding of the terms of the contract.
I am a lodger.
OK.
It was all done very informally.
Still legally binding - just harder to prove who said what.
All there is is an email where I ask how much notice I need to give to leave and she says "you need to give only one months notice to leave". That's it!

Providing the email was sent before you agreed to move in, it clearly forms part of your understanding (and the landlord's understanding) of the contract.

"only one months notice" - This means a calender month, unless it expressly states "Lunar month' or 'Astronomical month', or (as the landlord is here claiming) 'rental [or agreement/contract] period'.

If the landlord had meant your notice must run from 1st to last day of the month, or from 15th to 14th, then his email should have specified 'rental period' or contract period' etc.

martindow

GoodnessGraciousMe wrote: »

They are two sisters who are friends of friends.

How important are the friendships involved? If you don't want to lose these friends I don't think you want to leave saying take me to court if you wish to chase the money you think I owe you.

Is there scope for agreeing to split the difference between what your LL and you think is the situation? G_M recommends home-made cake.