Being on 2 AST contracts at the same time

bluejam1970

Hi all

Circumstances have arisen where I may need to move out of my current property. Tenancy ends in 6 months. My name is on the contract as is the other party.

The LL and the other party (who are unrelated!) feel that there is no need to do a new contract for the remaining time. Presume this is a costs issue. The other party has stated they will prepare a statement that I am not responsible for any bills / rental payment for the current property from the day I move

However, apart from the fact I am uneasy about my name being on the contract post move, if I move (current thinking within 2 months) will there be an issue of me being on 2 AST's? I presume when they do credit checks and affordability this may be an issue?

thanks

theartfullodger

What do you mean please by ""My name is on the contract as is the other party."" ?? Do you mean you are named as tenant?


You can be on as many tenancy agreements as you like - e.g. 17 different flats in 17 different cities. But you will only be permanently primarily resident in one, and thus that is the only one that will be an AST. All the other ones will be common-law tenancies: Yes I know the paperwork will say AST: Just ignore that. Key things - dates, names, rent, property - are still applicable,

bluejam1970

theartfullodger wrote: »

What do you mean please by ""My name is on the contract as is the other party."" ?? Do you mean you are named as tenant?


You can be on as many tenancy agreements as you like - e.g. 17 different flats in 17 different cities. But you will only be permanently primarily resident in one, and thus that is the only one that will be an AST. All the other ones will be common-law tenancies: Yes I know the paperwork will say AST: Just ignore that. Key things - dates, names, rent, property - are still applicable,

Thanks

Yep, I am named on the current tenancy as a tenant.

What I am trying to say (badly probably!!) is that I am concerned that I will be liable for any potential arrears or outstanding bills at tenancy end and whether the LL and other parties statement saying "I wont be liable" is sufficient to exclude me from being chased for the bills

Id rather my name is off the current contract when I move out in other words!

Retired_Mortgage_Adviser

OP, is there an agent involved? There's no cost involved in a tenancy contract itself.

Yes, there is a bit of inconvenience to the LL (returning+reprotecting deposit, deciding what to do about inventory, etc) but nothing overly onerous.

Will your half of the deposit be returned?

G_M

So you are a joint tenant?


There is no legal reason not to have more than one AST at once. The problem is that you remain legally liable for rent, damage etc at the property you've left. Not wise.

However, if the current AST is fixed for 6 months there's nothing you can do without the consent of your joint tenant and landlord. The options are

1) assign the current tenancy to the sole name of your joint tenant
2) surrender the current tenancy, an LL creates a new one in your joint tenant's sole name
3) remain a joint tenant for 6 months.