Flat renewal question

Quicklite

Hi guys,
Just got a quick question if that's okay. I've rented a flat and it's lovely. Have initially signed 6 month. The estate agent has emailed to ask if I'd like to let it fall to periodic tenancy / or renewal for a fixed term - there is no fee for either option for me as the tenant. Had initially paid £300 lettings fee.

Could I ask - from the landlord's perspective - is the fixed term usually preferable for a landlord? assuming the tenant is normal (the LL is a company I think / though the lettings have not dealt with them previously so don't know their preference).

(it's a lovely space in a small town / been wanting to move back to a bigger city - though I think another 6 month here is workable)

Thanks

AnotherJoe

If i was a landlord I'd prefer a tenant i knew would be there for the next 6 months as it gives me one less thing to worry about.
From your POV you'd need to be confident that you are happy to be locked into 6 months - "workable" doesn't fill me with confidence you are super keen on that commitment?

Cakeguts

I am a landlord and I have the kind of properties that have a queue of people wanting to rent one when one becomes available so it doesn't make any difference if the tenancy is periodic or not. Some of our tenants have been on periodic tenancies for over 10 years. We do what the tenant wants.

saajan_12

Honestly as a LL I'd want a minimum 12month fixed term first, so that I'm not reletting (so void, hassle of decorating/fixing/cleaning, advertising, paperwork etc within a few months). However after that, I'd rather it just go rolling rather than several 6/12month fixed terms.

- Tenant can just move out at the end of fixed term or stay and go rolling, without having to give me notice of their which doesn't give me notice to start looking for tenants, lining up agents, people to do minor repairs etc.
- One month’s notice is plenty to start looking for tenants etc, would start much earlier anyway.
- No need to reserve PI / worry about deposits after each 6/12months
- Easier to evict using Section 21 + court if tenant becomes difficult / late paying / damages / nuisance to neighbours without having to prove grounds of a Section 8 notice to evict mid term
- Fixed term doesn’t give LL much security anyway as if a tenant left mid term and stopped paying rent, it could be a long, expensive and likely fruitless process to sue and actually recover money for rent arrears without a forwarding address. Alternatively it would be a long process to formally end the tenancy via Section 8 and re rent the property to mitigate losses.