Rent In Advance.

Niklas33

Hi.

I'd like to pay a years rent in advance (my portion is just under £4000) which i'd like to pay immediately.

I want to do this for security reasons such as if myself and my partner break up etc, i am paid up and can simply leave.

Do you think landlords will be accepting of this? and is it commonly done?
Thanks.

BrassicWoman

this is a terrible reason to pay it in advance. tuck it in the bank and have it to hand if required. You would still continue to be liable for the other half of the rent, as liability is joint and several, so advance payment will not protect you from that.

If you think you may break up, don't live together!

Niklas33

What? my share of the rent is £279.50 per month.

So if i pay the £3570 which would be my half i'd be responsible for his half as well?

Owain_Moneysaver

Yes, it is usual for everyone on the tenancy agreement to have joint and several liability. This means the landlord can come after you for all debts incurred by any of the tenants.

You would be responsible for not just his half of the rent as well as your own, but also all additional charges if he trashes the property after you've left.

McKneff

If you split up and they cant find him, then yes they would come after you for it. That is what 'joint and several liability' means

Niklas33

Is there anyway to get around that?

Separate Tenancy agreements?

There's no way i want to be responsible for his portion as well if it goes wrong.

Owain_Moneysaver

You'd only get separate tenancy agreements if you lived in separate houses.

Niklas33

I'm a full time student and he's full time employed.

Would this have any impact on the type of rent agreement we would get?

There's no way i could afford £7000 on my own if he decided to leave.

agrinnall

Given the reservations you are expressing here I think you should think very carefully about whether renting together is a good idea at all.

Niklas33

It's our first time renting and the Estate Agent hasn't given us any information on what type of agreement we have we have a login page and it simply states our names and the share of the rent which both of us have which is £297.50

theartfullodger

(Not trying to upset anyone...) but amongst landlords, being offered 6 or 12 month's rent in advance is considered a warning sign for cannabis farms or brothels.... (I did have a neighbour of one of my rental houses tell me there was a brothel in the front room......)

So if you make the offer, explain your reasoning and evidence of who you are/why you are doing it....