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struggling nhs worker needs advice for residential housing contract!
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[Deleted User]
Posts: 0 Newbie
If anyone can help????
So on 14-02-20 i agreed with my rental agency for an early release of my rental contract with homes4u manchester. The tenancy was supposed to end on 7-11-20. However, my housemate and I wanted to leave early due to issues. The terms of my contract is for early release we have to continue to pay the rent until new tenants sign a contract and take on the contract. We obtained consent from the landlord to exit the contract early on the conditions that 1. new tenants could sign a contract to take on the remainder of the tenancy 2. to pay an exit fee of £380 which would cover new tenants references/ new contracts etc.
We have done everything that was asked and we personally found new tenants who were ready to sign the contract on the 20-03-20, we paid the exit fee in February, we cleaned the flat and vacated the flat on the 13-03-20 and we handed the keys back to the agency on the 17-03-30. We have not had access to the property since.
So all that was needed to be done to finish the process was for an inventory and for the new tenants to obtain the keys for the property and sign the contract.
On the 01-04-20 we received an email from the agency saying that they are putting the process on hold until COVID19 has ended. Their reasons were because they can not do an inventory or exchange keys with the new tenants meaning they can not sign the contract. They said their reasons were because of government advice and that they have skeleton staff. Their actions have caused the new tenants to be made possibly homeless. I thought government advice for rentals was that any ongoing move ins should be finished if the tenants would be made homeless? The new tenants and myself have pleaded with the agency to enable the move in but their response was "we are unable to carry out any move ins... this is my final stance on the matter". They then went on to say that we would have to carry on paying the rent for a proprty we do not have keys for until COVID19 has ended. I am a struggling nhs worker working on the front line in a really stressful time. I can not afford to pay this rent for a flat i cant live in and access. It is causing me financial and emotional stress. I have informed the agency of this and they didn't care.
In addition, homes4u Manchester are still advertising for move ins for new properties on their website. So on the 9-04-20 my friend rang the agency to enquire about moving into one of their listed properties. My friend specifically asked if they could do inventories and key exchange even during COVID19. The agency responded with yes they can still do this. We have a written email as proof of this. I am upset as the agency are refusing to finish our process and let the new tenants move in, however they are taking on new work. Especially as the new tenants will be made homeless which the agency are aware of.
I feel that the agency have frustrated the process and our agreement. I have fulfilled everything in the agreement. Can someone please help me?
Thanks a struggling nhs worker
So on 14-02-20 i agreed with my rental agency for an early release of my rental contract with homes4u manchester. The tenancy was supposed to end on 7-11-20. However, my housemate and I wanted to leave early due to issues. The terms of my contract is for early release we have to continue to pay the rent until new tenants sign a contract and take on the contract. We obtained consent from the landlord to exit the contract early on the conditions that 1. new tenants could sign a contract to take on the remainder of the tenancy 2. to pay an exit fee of £380 which would cover new tenants references/ new contracts etc.
We have done everything that was asked and we personally found new tenants who were ready to sign the contract on the 20-03-20, we paid the exit fee in February, we cleaned the flat and vacated the flat on the 13-03-20 and we handed the keys back to the agency on the 17-03-30. We have not had access to the property since.
So all that was needed to be done to finish the process was for an inventory and for the new tenants to obtain the keys for the property and sign the contract.
On the 01-04-20 we received an email from the agency saying that they are putting the process on hold until COVID19 has ended. Their reasons were because they can not do an inventory or exchange keys with the new tenants meaning they can not sign the contract. They said their reasons were because of government advice and that they have skeleton staff. Their actions have caused the new tenants to be made possibly homeless. I thought government advice for rentals was that any ongoing move ins should be finished if the tenants would be made homeless? The new tenants and myself have pleaded with the agency to enable the move in but their response was "we are unable to carry out any move ins... this is my final stance on the matter". They then went on to say that we would have to carry on paying the rent for a proprty we do not have keys for until COVID19 has ended. I am a struggling nhs worker working on the front line in a really stressful time. I can not afford to pay this rent for a flat i cant live in and access. It is causing me financial and emotional stress. I have informed the agency of this and they didn't care.
In addition, homes4u Manchester are still advertising for move ins for new properties on their website. So on the 9-04-20 my friend rang the agency to enquire about moving into one of their listed properties. My friend specifically asked if they could do inventories and key exchange even during COVID19. The agency responded with yes they can still do this. We have a written email as proof of this. I am upset as the agency are refusing to finish our process and let the new tenants move in, however they are taking on new work. Especially as the new tenants will be made homeless which the agency are aware of.
I feel that the agency have frustrated the process and our agreement. I have fulfilled everything in the agreement. Can someone please help me?
Thanks a struggling nhs worker
0
Comments
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Call Shelter 0808 800 4444 for expert advice0
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I would be inclined to write to them and state that you have fulfilled all your obligations as per the agreement and therefore your tenancy is terminated. Do not pay them any more.
Have you spoken with the Landlord and explained the Agent actions to them? Are you out of pocket for deposit? If so claim from the relevant scheme.
In this case the "struggling nhs worker" is not really relevant. You are in the same situation as many others and you are not seeking special treatment, just for the agent to abide by the termination agreement.
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Hi as for the reference of struggling nhs worker i meant that the stress of work on the frontline is not helping the situation. I am not asking for special treatment can you please highlight where i am asking for special treatment?anselld said:I would be inclined to write to them and state that you have fulfilled all your obligations as per the agreement and therefore your tenancy is terminated. Do not pay them any more.
Have you spoken with the Landlord and explained the Agent actions to them? Are you out of pocket for deposit, if so claim from the relevant scheme.
In this case the "struggling nhs worker" is not really relevant. You are in the same situation as many others and you are not seeking special treatment, just for the agent to abide by the termination agreement.1 -
" I am a struggling nhs worker working on the front line in a really stressful time. I can not afford to pay this rent for a flat i cant live in and access. It is causing me financial and emotional stress. I have informed the agency of this and they didn't care. "nhssonog123 said:Hi as for the reference of struggling nhs worker i meant that the stress of work on the frontline is not helping the situation. I am not asking for special treatment can you please highlight where i am asking for special treatment?
Please don't take it the wrong way, I am just saying you have a strong case having done everything correctly so there should be no need to play the sympathy card with the Agent/Landlord.
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I am not playing the sympathy card I am just expressing my situation as it is an extremely stressful time and anyones well being should be taken inconsideration. Thanks for your help anyway1
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You have completed your side of the agreement.
I would write to the agent stating that as per the agreement, you have paid the relevant fees, found new tenants, cleaned and vacated the flat and returned the keys on <date>, so will no longer be liable for rent.
State that it is unfortunate that they cannot find a way to check in their new tenants, but as your own tenancy has now ended then this is their issue and not yours.
I would also send a copy to the landlord as well as the agent so that (s)he knows what was agreed.Should've = Should HAVE (not 'of')
Would've = Would HAVE (not 'of')
No, I am not perfect, but yes I do judge people on their use of basic English language. If you didn't know the above, then learn it! (If English is your second language, then you are forgiven!)3 -
"The terms of my contract is for early release we have to continue to pay the rent until new tenants sign a contract and take on the contract"
Unfortunately you have no leg to stand on in my opinion. That's like me, who was days away from exchange on the sale of my house before the lockdown came into force, having beef with my solicitor! Unfortunately nothing I can do. Equally, nothing you can do. If the agency say no and your terms say you pick up the rent - then that's the way it is. Harsh. But true.
(Fellow NHS employee... no special treatment here!)0 -
Your deal with the LL was to continue paying until the new tenants had signed a contract. Unfortunately for you this hasn't happened yet...1
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The OP states that the new tenants were ready to sign on 20th March. Given lockdown didn’t happen until 23rd March, then it is the actions of the agency that has caused the issue, not that of the OP.Slithery said:Your deal with the LL was to continue paying until the new tenants had signed a contract. Unfortunately for you this hasn't happened yet...
the keys were handed back on the 17th March, so this was more than enough time for the agency to do a check in inventory on their own.
The OP did their bit, the new tenants attempted to do their bit, but the agent (who could have done their bit) didn’t.Should've = Should HAVE (not 'of')
Would've = Would HAVE (not 'of')
No, I am not perfect, but yes I do judge people on their use of basic English language. If you didn't know the above, then learn it! (If English is your second language, then you are forgiven!)1
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