Rent renewal, renewal fee

robs81burns

Hi,
We are currently renting a property through a letting agent. Our contract runs until 9th May.
Last year we were advised that the landlord wanted to renew, I confirmed back the same day that we were happy to proceed. I had to chase up for the contract to be sent across for signing. The document didn't come across until 4th June, we signed a couple of days later.
Fast forward to this year and we've had the renewal through now but it's been drawn to my attention that rental renewal fees no longer apply. 
Basically, my question is, I've read up and seen that the new rules apply to tenancy agreements signed after 1st June 2019. Should I be paying another renewal fee this year, being that I didn't sign last year's contract until after 1st June? I'm sort of lost.
Thanks in advance!
Rob

Comms69

Why do you need to renew? You can just carry on living there. 80-90% of tenancies roll on monthly, and many of those last for years.

robs81burns

The letting agents have said the owner is insisting on a contract. They said, if it rolls over, that the landlord isn't happy with us being able to only give a month's notice, as opposed to the 2 months under the terms of the contract. 

Lokolo

If you are happy to renew, then just say that you are happy to renew without the fee, otherwise you will let it roll over.

robs81burns

Lokolo said:

If you are happy to renew, then just say that you are happy to renew without the fee, otherwise you will let it roll over.

They're insisting on the fee based on the fact that last year's agreement was drawn up in advance of the 1/6/19 cut off. Therefore we're due to pay again this year.

Comms69

robs81burns said:

The letting agents have said the owner is insisting on a contract. They said, if it rolls over, that the landlord isn't happy with us being able to only give a month's notice, as opposed to the 2 months under the terms of the contract. 

And? 

I didnt realise you were responsible for his happiness.

The LL cant do anything about it

robs81burns

Comms69 said:

robs81burns said:

The letting agents have said the owner is insisting on a contract. They said, if it rolls over, that the landlord isn't happy with us being able to only give a month's notice, as opposed to the 2 months under the terms of the contract. 

And? 

I didnt realise you were responsible for his happiness.

The LL cant do anything about it

Well the implication is they may look for a tenant who is willing to sign long term I guess. Throw the current climate and an anxious wife into the arena and these things are never crystal clear.

Comms69

robs81burns said:

Comms69 said:

robs81burns said:

The letting agents have said the owner is insisting on a contract. They said, if it rolls over, that the landlord isn't happy with us being able to only give a month's notice, as opposed to the 2 months under the terms of the contract. 

And? 

I didnt realise you were responsible for his happiness.

The LL cant do anything about it

Well the implication is they may look for a tenant who is willing to sign long term I guess. Throw the current climate and an anxious wife into the arena and these things are never crystal clear.

They can look, but as evictions take 6-9 months normally, double it now, the landlord would have to be an idiot to go down that route. 

Literally if you wanted you would be there in 12 months time with absolutely no issues

greatcrested

Read

Post 4: Ending/renewing an AST: what happens when a fixed term ends? How can a LL or tenant end a tenancy? What is a periodic tenancy?

Let it become periodic. No sensible landlord will attempt to evict a reliably paying tenant at this time. To start with, a S21 Notice requires 3 months notice. Then a wait for a court date- likely to be months at this time. Then, assuming he is successful (not guaranteed) if you still remain, a wait for bailiffs - again likely to be months

All this costs the LL time, effort and money.

And then if he finally succeeds in evicting, he has a void - weeks or months with no rent + the cost of finding a new tenant. Who might turn out to be a nightmare compared to you!

All because he wants 2 months notice not 1 tenancy period notice (which could be between 1 and 2 months anyway!)

As for the fee:

* what were the start/end dates of the last contract you signed?

* what date did you sign it (and did you date it when you signed)?

martindow

robs81burns said:

The letting agents have said the owner is insisting on a contract. They said, if it rolls over, that the landlord isn't happy with us being able to only give a month's notice, as opposed to the 2 months under the terms of the contract. 

Possibly, but it is quite likely that the agent is instigating this so they can collect fees.  Have you contacted the LL directly?  T

Sensory

robs81burns said:

Lokolo said:

If you are happy to renew, then just say that you are happy to renew without the fee, otherwise you will let it roll over.

They're insisting on the fee based on the fact that last year's agreement was drawn up in advance of the 1/6/19 cut off. Therefore we're due to pay again this year.

If your current agreement ends on 9th May 2020, you shouldn't have to pay any fees for a new agreement (if you choose to sign one).