Sign new Tenancy Agreement or benefits will be suspended?

Pixie5740

If the letting agent comes back to you ask her which law makes it a legal requirement.

Mr_Gnu

OK just had a call from the new landlord,he said that I must sign a new AST because of the change of landlord and they need to show it to the council as no one is paying rent at this address.

He said they won't hold me to the 6 months AST.

So he wants me to sign but says he won't hold me to it,I just need to give notice when I get a date from the HA.

Said he doesn't want to evict me by court order.

I said under section 5 of the housing act 1988 I don't need to sign a new AST which seemed to throw him, but it was quite amicable.

We agreed I'll call him back on Monday.

Any Thoughts welcome.

Pixie5740

You could suggest drawing up a new AST as a contractual periodic tenancy that gives you the same notice periods on both sides that you currently have with your (I assume) statutory periodic tenancy rather than signing a fixed term contract. Alternatively you could sign a 6 month fixed term contract that has a break clause. Then again you could just not sign any new contract. The world is your oyster.

Mr_Gnu

Pixie5740 wrote: »

You could suggest drawing up a new AST as a contractual periodic tenancy that gives you the same notice periods on both sides that you currently have with your (I assume) statutory periodic tenancy rather than signing a fixed term contract. Alternatively you could sign a 6 month fixed term contract that has a break clause. Then again you could just not sign any new contract. The world is your oyster.

I suppose he could have offered me those terms if he knows about them.

Getting evicted wouldn't be the end of the world as long as the HA get the flat they said I could have, sorted.The housing officer won't be back until a week on Monday.
.

AdrianC

Mr_Gnu wrote: »

OK just had a call from the new landlord,he said that I must sign a new AST because of the change of landlord

You don't HAVE to. Your existing statutory periodic tenancy carries forward.

and they need to show it to the council as no one is paying rent at this address.

That's probably very true. The council are still paying your rent to the old agent.

theartfullodger

Just do nothing. You are better off that way.

Slithery

You think that the OP will be better off if their benefits are stopped?

Mr_Gnu

How can I get the HB paid to new landlord without signing a new AST?

I'll go to the HA today to see if they can give me a date to move in so I can give notice. Unlikely though.

If I were to be evicted I presume I would have to pay the rent myself eventually?

AdrianC

Do you have anything from either the new or old agent, stating they've taken over your tenancy, and giving the new payment details? Ideally, something from each.


More importantly, what do the council want as proof, in order to change the payee?

Mr_Gnu

AdrianC wrote: »

Do you have anything from either the new or old agent, stating they've taken over your tenancy, and giving the new payment details? Ideally, something from each.


More importantly, what do the council want as proof, in order to change the payee?

Yes, I have a letter from both,but the new agents letter has no address or sort code / payment details.just telling me to sign the new AST.

The new LL said on the phone that the council will want the new AST as proof.Maybe that's why there's no address on the letter,so I can't use it as proof.

http://www.manchester.gov.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=1572&pageNumber=5

Letter from Landlord should do as proof but he wants the AST signing.