New rental contract - termination notice surprising

arthurfowler

Hello, so I received a new contract from my property manager about renewing our contract. We were intially on a 12 month term, then have been periodic for the last 12 months.

They want to renew. In the contract under point 8, it says the tenant may give notice to expire no sooner than 2 months from the commencement of this term. See image attached.



This is great, but am a little surprised they would allow this. Have I read this correctly in that we are able to terminate the contract giving two month's notice? I guess this gives them slightly more security than on a periodic.

Can you help me understand if I have read this correctly and sorry if this is a stupid question. Just want to confirm before i sign

G_M

Is there a Term? 6 months? 12? 24?

Or is this a Contractual Periodic Tenancy (monthly) requiring 2 months notice at any time?

Since I assume you are currently on a Statutory Periodic Tenancy, requiring 1 tenancy period notice, you could just ignore this and stay as you are.

Are you being charged a fee for this contract?


Have you read:
* Ending/renewing an AST: what happens when a fixed term ends? How can a LL or tenant end a tenancy? What is a periodic tenancy?

brentcloning

Looks like you need to give two months notice, but the notice can't be handed in before the commencement date. Basically you can't move out before two months have passed.

arthurfowler

Sorry, yes it is a 12 month term.

G_M, we are not being charged a fee, but the property manager says that the landlord would just rather have a contract in place. I don't know why. We have asked to stay on periodic, but if they give us the option to terminate with 2 months notice (after the first two months), I would do it just not to cause any drama.

G_M

But there IS a "contract in place". It is a SPT, the terms of which are identical to your original written contract.



The LL may 'rather have' a contract (by which I assume is meant a fixed term - meaningless given the clause you quote!), but he cannot force it on you against your will.



He could, of coursee, serve a S21 and evict you, but why would he take on the trouble and expense of that?


Having said that, if maintaining a good relationship with him is worth tying you to 2 months notice, then sign.

arthurfowler

G_M wrote: »

But there IS a "contract in place". It is a SPT, the terms of which are identical to your original written contract.



The LL may 'rather have' a contract (by which I assume is meant a fixed term - meaningless given the clause you quote!), but he cannot force it on you against your will.



He could, of coursee, serve a S21 and evict you, but why would he take on the trouble and expense of that?


Having said that, if maintaining a good relationship with him is worth tying you to 2 months notice, then sign.

I guess they may have made a mistake and included that 2 months by accident, where it should have said 12.

If we sign it where it says 2 months, can they then say 'oops we made a mistake, please re-sign the new contract'?