Tenancy Ending on Sunday

LondonKate88

Hi all,

Forum newbie here (although I have read and enjoyed them for years).

This may seem like a daft question, but I'm soon to be moving out of a rented flat and my tenancy technically ends on the Sunday, but the check out given by the letting agency is the Saturday. That would be fine except the time they've given to hand back the keys is earlier than we are able to move into the new place, with neither of them willing to budge. This makes us homeless for about 2 hours! I've no idea what do do with all our stuff in that time, other than leaving it in the van, which we are renting along with the man to drive it, so that will work out quite expensive.

Given that I have paid to rent the flat at least right up until the end of the day on Saturday, how firm can I be about insisting that they push back the check-out? Do I still have the right to be there or are they allowed to kick me out at any time they want?

Any advice appreciated!

Pixie5740

What do you mean by your tenancy technically ends on Sunday? Does it or does it not end on Sunday? If Sunday is the day that your tenancy ends then you can remain in the property until then. The letting agent can't insist you hand back the keys earlier because that's what suits them.

LondonKate88

I say technically because it's not a business day, so I wondered if that meant that it would automatically be end of Saturday rather than actually Sunday.

Rambosmum

LondonKate88 wrote: »

I say technically because it's not a business day, so I wondered if that meant that it would automatically be end of Saturday rather than actually Sunday.

No. It ends on the day specified, not a working day near to that date. You don't have to move out until the time specified on the contract on the Sunday. If you don't hand the keys back at their preferred time on the Saturday there isn't much they can do about it.

I'd arrange with the either to drop them at the letting agents on the Sunday, leave them in the house/ post them through the letter box or drop them off on the Monday- for that you'd need there ok though, or you risk them changing the locks and charging you for it.

Pixie5740

Saturday isn't a business day either. If your tenancy ends 22nd January then that's when it ends regardless of what day of the week it falls on.

If the letting agent want to conduct the check-out before you have moved out then that's their lookout. Don't let the agent force you out earlier just because it suits them. Why should you stand out on the street with your belongings for 2 hours just because the landlord or an agent acting on his behalf isn't equipped to deal with tenancies ending on a Sunday.

AnotherJoe

LondonKate88 wrote: »

Hi all,

Forum newbie here (although I have read and enjoyed them for years).

This may seem like a daft question, but I'm soon to be moving out of a rented flat and my tenancy technically ends on the Sunday, but the check out given by the letting agency is the Saturday. That would be fine except the time they've given to hand back the keys is earlier than we are able to move into the new place, with neither of them willing to budge. This makes us homeless for about 2 hours! I've no idea what do do with all our stuff in that time, other than leaving it in the van, which we are renting along with the man to drive it, so that will work out quite expensive.

Given that I have paid to rent the flat at least right up until the end of the day on Saturday, how firm can I be about insisting that they push back the check-out? Do I still have the right to be there or are they allowed to kick me out at any time they want?

Any advice appreciated!

Only if you accept that. Tell them you'll be checking out on time <x> Saturday which suits you. Their problem if it doesn't suit them. Ask them where they would like the keys returned, or do they want them left in the flat.

LondonKate88

Thank you! This all sounds obvious I know, but this whole process has stressed me out so much that I think I've lost my sense of perspective on it. Ugh!

elverson

Just say "As per the contract, I will return the keys to your office on the last day of the tenancy which is Sunday xxx." Don't write the address on the envelope just in case.

tim123456789

elverson wrote: »

Just say "As per the contract, I will return the keys to your office on the last day of the tenancy which is Sunday xxx." Don't write the address on the envelope just in case.

would you believe that the one person that I saw break this somewhat obvious rule,


was a solicitor