Tenant advice neeeded

Londoncheesecake

Hi all
I hope somebody could give me some insight as to whether or not I have a leg to stand on with regards to changing or breaking a newly signed fixed contact with no break clause through a well known agent without being greatly penalised. (I'm not holding out much hope as I know these things are like signing your life away!)

I have been already living in the said 3 bed managed property in London for over 18 months and the contract was due to expire in November. Due to my daughter starting secondary school in the area I enquired last month about renewing the lease to give me some stability and this was arranged, although with a 10% increase. I signed the contract and emailed it back to them last month and have heard nothing more. Contract stated to start Nov 2016 to Nov 2017 no break clause.
Fast forward to now, basically circumstances have changed I am pregnant will be on maternity next year and where I am now isn't going to be affordable.
Is there an option still to ask for a 6 month contract instead of 12! Or is it too late? I didn't just want to enquire as didn't want to come across as an unreliable tenant especially as it was me that asked for the contract to strat with :-/. ( I'm reliable honest! I have rented privately 10 years with no late payments).
Sorry for the essay
Any advice greatly welcome
Thanks :-)

Cakeguts

The only person who is going to know the answer to this question is your landlord.

bris

Whilst is not good news for you as they will very likely hold you to the contract you can ask for them to remarket it at your expense. You need to weigh up the cost of this to what you will save.

Londoncheesecake

My worry is if I explain my situation could it backfire and they cancel my new contract for November as whilst I signed my part I never received the landlords signed part?

G_M

Talk to the landlod/agent.

Why should they cancel the contract - unless you want and/or ask them to?

If you want and/or ask - they might/might not agree. If you don't ask, you won't know.

Londoncheesecake

Thanks all for your comments
I think I'm just going to have to speak to Foxtons like you all say, I just hope they have a little compassion to actually ask the landlord to adjust the up and coming contract rather than just tell me about the commissions I will owe them if I attempt to break the contract!
Fingers crossed

silvercar

I'd try to make direct contact with the landlord. Letting agents are often more concerned about their commissions.

G_M

Ooops! Foxtons...........

thesaint

You can ask for a 6 month contract, they can say no.

What you need to know from yourself what you will do if they say no.
You can then inform them (now)that you will be leaving at the end of your current fixed term, and then can claim whatever amount they say your decision has cost them.

In reality, it has cost them extremely little.

If they wanted more certainty, they could've started a new fixed term last month to expire Nov 2017.