Moving into rented accommodation

mansemum66

hi, my son was due to move from the south west to Manchester next week and has paid the deposit and signed the tenancy agreement for a flat. He works with vulnerable adults but had an interview next week for similar work which has now been cancelled. At a push, he could continue to live with us and pay his rent until he can move to Manchester but he really wants to defer the tenancy until this is all over. He rang the estate agent today and was told that the government is still allowing people to move and they will not consider a deferment. Can anyone please advise?

7Phil

Yes, people can still move (as per advice as of today). This type of activity is in the small percentage of population and considered essential enough that people need to carry on with their lives. He would need to do it in a way that doesn't let him come in close to contact with others and so on and so forth.
The tenancy is a legal agreement albeit can be negotiated if both parties are OK, but the LL are within their rights to continue to enforce the agreement. He is already liable for rent, council taxes and utilities from the start date of the agreement as it has been signed.
Your choice may have to be between moving now, or paying rent on the empty property and moving later. Sadly the virus is to blame for the cause of this loss.

The LL will be worried they will not get rent payments for a number of months while your son decides when it is safe to move up. If you wanted to try cancel the agreement and recover the deposit then the LL may be more lenient if they can still find a tenant but this again is not something you would be entitled to. Regardless, you will probably be subject to agency fees as well.

mansemum66

thanks, sadly he is key worker and due to illness, he would leave his employer very short staffed if he left now. I think he will have to start paying rent. 

mwarby

Has he said that to the agent ? I’d hope a significant number of landlords would make an exception for key workers especially if it falls under the nhs

mansemum66

I’m trying to hold back from taking over! But I would appeal to his better nature in this. He does come under the NHS and, as others have, he’s been caught up in a whole lot of strange circumstances.

7Phil

It is worth writing a nice email and laying out his case. The LL may even meet him half-way but the LL may have a reality of their own on their side and be dependent on their flat being rented too.

mansemum66

he has now emailed again saying that he is a key worker and is really needed here at the moment. I’ve suggested that if he says no, and he has every right to, he asks to pay a partial rent until he moves in. I’d understand more if this was a small landlord but the flats are an old hotel that has been redesigned.