Interrupting the renting contract

christianb

Hello MSE helpers,
I'm leaving my flat sooner than agreed in my rent contract. I will have to continue to pay for my flat until 21 January, and the agent has agreed this is fine except they've said the following:

We can approach your landlord to discuss an early termination procedure if required under the below outlined conditions. In order for this to proceed you must compensate the owner for their remarketing invoice totalling £354.00, payable only following the securing of a new occupier.

Further to this you will remain under contract and liable for the tenancy/rent until the day a new tenancy commences replacing yours, if a new applicant is not secured by your requested termination date then you will remain liable for your tenancy until your fixed term agreement expires.

You will also remain liable through a 7 day void period beyond your requested vacating date which is required to conduct any required works and complete our checkout procedures.

Please be advised that these conditions are fixed an non-negotiable, should a tenant not be secured then the invoice will not be payable, and your original contract will stand.

Is this standard practice? What I was the one to secure a tenant rather than them? £353 seems abusive!

hazyjo

To be fair, they are doing you a favour... they could have just said no. You'll have to ask re what would happen if you found a tenant. I am guessing they would still have to 'vet' them which costs time at least.

Annie35

Seems to be saying it's one or the other.

So if they find a new tenant & they move in you pay upto their move in date (min 7 days payment) + the £353 payment, then you're released from the contract.. otherwise you'll pay till Jan.

If you have someone to take over you could ask for a reduction in the £353 but they may well say no.

AdrianC

It's going to cost the landlord £353 for the agents to find a new tenant. Why do you think it's unreasonable for the landlord to ask you to cover that, given that you want out of a contractual obligation that you previously freely agreed to?


Most of that cost will be in the referencing, not the advertising - so you finding a tenant won't make a big saving.

Comms69

I suppose it depends on how much the rent is?


You have 3 months of rent weighted up against the chance of them finding someone - the issue I have with such offers is that they have zero incentive to find someone early

G_M

Just to play devil's advocate - everything is negotiable.If the agent won't negotiate, try negotiating with the landlord. It's ultimately his decision.


but I agree with others - the terms are not outrageous given you are requesting to leave early..



Balance the Early Surrender costs against the saving in rent.