Tenancy Renewal - Don't want to ruin landlord relationship

Legacy_user

Hello!

I signed a 12 month AST in March ’16 (was 6 months but I asked for 12, for security for personal reasons) I asked my LL recently if he’d consider me breaking my AST 3 months early if I helped find a tenant at my own cost. He said no, I said I appreciate legally he has no obligation to release me from my contract and my friend found somebody else. End of story.

Yesterday I was informed (through means I won’t expand on) my LL told my letting agency (they do not manage the property, just vet tenants and provide the AST’s) unless I sign another 12 month AST with no break clause next March they are not to renew my tenancy. I always pay my rent on time and am house-proud so the place is spotless and well maintained. I don’t want to move to an interim private rental as it’d be expensive & I don’t have the money for fees and new soft furnishings (curtains etc. do add up!), I was only considering moving in with a friend to save and there were no fees and far less in rent/bills per month, it made financial sense to at least ask my landlord.

My boyfriend and I anticipate I’ll move in with him during the 12 month period between March 2017- March 2018, he owns his home and there are a lot of things to consider before I make that move, he has a lodger who would need to move out and the timing needs to be right. I naively assumed I would renew my flat tenancy for 6 months as that is the default AST my letting agent offer (or even go on to a rolling contract as I’ve proven myself as a good tenant). So what I am asking is, if you were me, would you negotiate with the letting agent/landlord and state you will happily renew for 6 months under the knowledge you know you can’t break early? Or will I be pushing my luck too much and back myself in to a corner. Landlords, I’m interested to hear how you would feel if I were your tenant.

Please be kind, I work in mortgages, not rentals so I don’t know what the norm is!

Guest101

I would say nothing and simply let it become monthly. Eviction takes 3-5 months, which would tidility put you into your move in date - if they really evict at all.

System

Guest101 wrote: »

I would say nothing and simply let it become monthly. Eviction takes 3-5 months, which would tidility put you into your move in date - if they really evict at all.

Thank you, I assume the letting agent will contact me to renew the tenancy though so I'm not sure what I should then do?

Pixie5740

You don't get credit for things you're supposed to do like paying your rent on time. Presumably you don't want to live in a midden so you keep your home nice for your benefit as much as anyone else's.

Your landlord doesn't have to renew your tenancy agreement. What I mean by that is that he doesn't have to offer you a new fixed term contract. However, the day after your current fixed term ends you will automatically start a periodic tenancy. Either than will be a contractual periodic tenancy (check your current tenancy agreement) or a statutory periodic tenancy (statutory law).

They are not your letting agency, you have no contract with them. The letting agent has a contract with and works for the landlord.

See Ending/renewing and AST for further information.

Guest101

sauceoclock wrote: »

Thank you, I assume the letting agent will contact me to renew the tenancy though so I'm not sure what I should then do?

Say nothing

System

Pixie5740 wrote: »

You don't get credit for things you're supposed to do like paying your rent on time. Presumably you don't want to live in a midden so you keep your home nice for your benefit as much as anyone else's.

Your landlord doesn't have to renew your tenancy agreement. What I mean by that is that he doesn't have to offer you a new fixed term contract. However, the day after your current fixed term ends you will automatically start a periodic tenancy. Either than will be a contractual periodic tenancy (check your current tenancy agreement) or a statutory periodic tenancy (statutory law).

They are not your letting agency, you have no contract with them. The letting agent has a contract with and works for the landlord.

See Ending/renewing and AST for further information.

Thank you. I have a contact at the letting agency but they obviously have to do whatever my LL wishes and I understand that.

Don't want credit for keeping the flat clean and paying my rent but was demonstrating I am a good tenant and not an absolute nightmare. I'm reasonable!

System

Thanks for the helpful replies. Wasn't sure why I would need to sign another AST in the first place but appears my LL is insisting on it. My previous LL did the same thing but he let me give notice and leave after 2.5 years of 12 month agreements.

Guest101

sauceoclock wrote: »

Thanks for the helpful replies. Wasn't sure why I would need to sign another AST in the first place but appears my LL is insisting on it. My previous LL did the same thing but he let me give notice and leave after 2.5 years of 12 month agreements.

Without being funny, both me and pixie have said - your tenancy automatically becomes monthly rolling the day after the fixed term, there is nothing the LL can do about this. (short of holding a gun to your head)

itchyfeet123

sauceoclock wrote: »

Yesterday I was informed (through means I won’t expand on) my LL told my letting agency (they do not manage the property, just vet tenants and provide the AST’s) unless I sign another 12 month AST with no break clause next March they are not to renew my tenancy.

Was it someone at the letting agent? Does the letting agent charge resigning fees? I would be not at all surprised if they were blatantly lying to you. Think about the incentives -- LL can almost guarantee you'll sign with a 6 month break clause and there's a possibility you'll stay longer, vs there's a good chance s/he'll have to get someone new at the end of the current term.

sauceoclock wrote: »

Thank you, I assume the letting agent will contact me to renew the tenancy though so I'm not sure what I should then do?

Guest101 wrote: »

Say nothing

Really? Why would the OP ignoring contact be better than replying saying she wants to go to a periodic tenancy? If the letting agent then starts insisting on a new contract, fine, ignore them, but I don't see the harm in letting them know her plans initially.

Guest101

itchyfeet123 wrote: »

Was it someone at the letting agent? Does the letting agent charge resigning fees? I would be not at all surprised if they were blatantly lying to you. Think about the incentives -- LL can almost guarantee you'll sign with a 6 month break clause and there's a possibility you'll stay longer, vs there's a good chance s/he'll have to get someone new at the end of the current term.




Really? Why would the OP ignoring contact be better than replying saying she wants to go to a periodic tenancy? If the letting agent then starts insisting on a new contract, fine, ignore them, but I don't see the harm in letting them know her plans initially.

Probably because, if you read the actual question the OP has been informed that the LL will insist on a 12 month renewal with no break clause. So clearly doesn't want to go monthly. Engaging with the agent will have no positive outcome.

Pixie5740

itchyfeet123 wrote: »

Really? Why would the OP ignoring contact be better than replying saying she wants to go to a periodic tenancy? If the letting agent then starts insisting on a new contract, fine, ignore them, but I don't see the harm in letting them know her plans initially.

Yes it would be. What's the point of getting into a bun fight with the landlord and/or letting agent about something that neither of them can prevent from happening? Some landlords and letting agents are totally ignorant when it comes to periodic tenancies and genuinely believe that tenants can only have fixed term contracts.