End of tenancy and Coronavirus - can't move out belongings

Vaticinator

My daughter currently rents a room in a shared house but is currently self-isolating with us in a different part of the country. Her Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement ends this month and she does not want to renew it. She has informed the landlord of her intention not to renew but that because of the Covid19 lockdown she cannot collect her belongings, but has undertaken to do so at the first legal and safe opportunity. The landlord says that as the room has not been vacated the contract will renew but has offered a 50% reduction in rent for the time of the lockdown. I think driving to move possesions out of a room is not an essential journey and the other occupants of the house will not be happy to let us in.

Can my daughter refuse to renew the contract and leave her belongings in the room until movement restrictions are lifted?

Comms69

Sorry but it's not good enough. Moving house is an exemption. There's no legal reason why she cant move her things (unless she is actually suffering with COVID-19)

The 50% off offer is fantastic and you should bite his hand off, the reality is that 100% is owed until the room is vacated (and valid notice served) which in effect means 2 more months of full rent.

xylophone

Would her fellow tenants pack up the room for her and store her belongings in their rooms for the time being?

[Deleted User]

This is a situation where there has to be a judgement call.  Your daughter has to move her stuff out of her room or pay £50% rent.  The room is called inhabited if her stuff is there.  Unless she is planning to have multiple parties while doing this, risks will be minimal. Social distancing can be observed. She has to move so the drive is 'allowed'.

Chandler85

Are you actually self-isolating or living together because of the outbreak they are two totally different things.

If your household is self-isolating due to the illness and you have others delivering food and medicine etc to your house, then the landlord has been very reasonable offering a month half price, presumably so the isolation ends and you can collect the stuff.

If you are just living together due to the virus, have no illness, no symptoms then you aren't actually isolating at all.  So she can go get her belongings, it's essential travel.

If you are shielding, then their i a question as to why someone who was shielding had someone else move into their property after the lockdown had started.

davidmcn

In any event, there's no reason why she can't arrange for somebody else to move her stuff out for her.

Flugelhorn

Chandler85 said:

Are you actually self-isolating or living together because of the outbreak they are two totally different things.

If you are shielding, then their i a question as to why someone who was shielding had someone else move into their property after the lockdown had started.

Good points - lot of people describe themselves as "self isolating" when in  fact they could go out / do the shopping. SI should only describe when there has been someone in the house with symptoms,

Vaticinator

Sounds like on this feedback we will be driving to pick up her stuff. Thanks for the replies.

greatcrested

Unless her belongs are removed, the tenancy continues. If that happens, the LL's 50% discount is very generous.

Self-isolating is for those who either have the virus, or are in the vulnerable category, in which case leaving the house is not permitted.  Others should only leave the house for essential reasons, work, shopping, excercise etc - but moving house is permitted.

An alternative would be to ask, or pay, someone to pack and store her things, either the house-mates, the landlord, or a removals company possibly.

kazwookie

Go and pick up her stuff, take empty car, seats down ready, plenty of packing boxes / suitcases / black sacks / cleaning stuff/ gloves.

Get there get in, get packed up, someone to pack the car / some one to clean the room / mutual area if required / take photos of clean empty room and other areas/ return key to LL.

Vaticinator

Thanks for all your help and suggestions. It turns out another housemate is moving out tomorrow too so we will have to coordinate.