Negotiating shorter notice period

Squirtle17

Hi all,

I will try not to get too bogged down in the details, but basically my partner and I are close to exchanging on our first home. We currently rent on a rolling contract, and have to give one months notice to end our tenancy. Our tenancy can only end at the end of a rental period (the day our rent is due, which is the 15th of each month).

As a result, we were really hoping to exchange by Friday at the latest and complete on the following Friday. This would give us an overlap of our current rental and new house of about three weeks.

Unfortunately, there has been a delay (on the seller's side), and it now looks as though exchange will not be happening this week, although the seller has assured us it should still be able to happen next week and complete on the Friday as planned.

The issue is that, as we are reluctant to give notice on our rental until we exchange (just in case something either massively delays the move or god forbid it falls through entirely and we end up homeless), we will now be missing the deadline to give notice to end our tenancy on 15th October as planned, and will have to keep paying rent on the flat until mid-November, which wastes a lot of money.

We were thinking of contacting our letting agency to explain the situation and try and negotiating a shorter notice period with them. I'm just a little worried they'll turn around and say no and then serve notice on us as a result as they know we plan to leave soon. This probably won't matter, as they have to give two months notice, but would still put yet more pressure on us that we could do without. Just wondering if anyone can think of any downsides to making them aware of our situation, and if any landlords could let me know if they'd be willing to consider this given the circumstances?

Obviously I am aware this is reliant on the landlord and letting agent's goodwill, and nobody can perfectly predict the outcome.

Thanks for your help

SmashedAvacado

Is your seller in a chain?

Squirtle17

Nope, no chain either side. Should have been really simple but has already been delayed several times for stupid reasons. It has been 15 weeks since our offer was accepted now.

SmashedAvacado

Just ask for a 2 month completion with the option to bring it forward by you on one weeks notice.

G_M

Speak to the landlord. a) it's his decision not the agent's an b) he's more likely to agree than an agent which is bound by rules


Or ask for a longer gap between Exchange and Completion.


But don't give notice till you Exchange.

Squirtle17

Thanks, I might try going direct to the landlord.

Pushing for a longer gap between exchange and completion is an option, but a disappointing one as we just want to hurry up and get this over and done with. I know the seller will be reluctant to do this too as part of the reason they're moving is because they can't really afford her mortgage anymore, and it has already dragged out much longer than anyone seriously anticipated.

SmashedAvacado

the landlord doesnt have to agree and will probably want money or say no - and the agent will want something

the seller does have to agree if they want a deal

going to the landlord might work, but if they say no, then asking the seller to agree to a longer completion that you can bring forward on notice will get you where you want to be.

Pixie5740

Squirtle17 wrote: »

Hi all,

I will try not to get too bogged down in the details, but basically my partner and I are close to exchanging on our first home. We currently rent on a rolling contract, and have to give one months notice to end our tenancy. Our tenancy can only end at the end of a rental period (the day our rent is due, which is the 15th of each month).

Tenancy periods are based on the date your tenancy started not the rent due date although sometimes these dates align.