End of long tenancy

Davidk

We have rented a house for 10 years, and the landlord wants to re-decorate and re-carpet. We have moved out and thoroughly cleaned the place and are still within the notice period. The landlord wants the maintenance work to take place within the time of our tenancy. I said they have to either wait until the end of the tenancy or cut short the notice period. They already have new tenant agreed and want 'back to back' tenancies.  Is there a precedent for this sort of thing ? 

NinjaTune

Why does this bother you if you have already moved out?  It's not going to interfere with your daily life.

Davidk

Because it would save some rent to end the tenancy early. Also I don't want to be responsible for clearing up after the decorators as the end of tenancy inspection has not taken place yet. 

NinjaTune

You could agree to the work if they reduce the rent for the remaining period of the tenancy.  Also, request an inspection prior to the work being done.

Other than that, just refuse to let them do the work until your tenancy ends.

AskAsk

Davidk said:

Because it would save some rent to end the tenancy early. Also I don't want to be responsible for clearing up after the decorators as the end of tenancy inspection has not taken place yet. 

ask the landlord to do the inventory check before they do the work.

greatcrested

You do not have to agree to them doing the work before your tenancy ends, but it might help if you do. I would ask the LL to confirm in writing

a) that your early surrender of the tenancy would be agreed, and rent charged pro rata upt to that date (and refunded if already paid), so that the work would not be done during your tenancy

b) that the final inspection would be done before work commenced and your deposit returned. Note that after 10 years,most issues are likely to be 'fair wear and tear' which do not justify deductions.

A_Lert

You can be a stick in the mud about this if you want. But if your relationship with your landlord has been good and you've moved out early of your own choice anyway, why end on a sour note (and spoil things for the new tenant)?

Now if your LL has been rubbish, if you've been asking them to redecorate for years and they always refused, that kind of thing, then I can understand why you would be disinclined to do them a favour.

I agree with ensuring inventory is taken before the redecoration.

Fi433322

It would make things neater for both sides if the LL ended your tenancy early and refunded that portion of the rent and return your deposit.  I'm cynical and think you raise a fair point in saying you don't want to be liable for any mess or damaged caused by the builders.  It's 'nice to be nice' but I would want an agreement in writing if any changes are made to the original tenancy agreement.

Grumpy_chap

I totally agree with the OP - if the LL wants to redecorate (reasonable after a 10-year tenancy) then the OP should not have to pay rent for that period.  Also, the OP should get all the deposit back as any minor issues will be resolved through the redecoration that is being done regardless.

The LL has been very fortunate to have a 10-year unbroken spell of income and now needs to take the rough side of running a rental business for a short period.  Fortunate again for the LL as they have the next tenant lined up, so no risk of an extended void period.

steampowered

I'm not sure you should be paying full rent while the house is in the middle of being re-decorated, particularly if you can't use it (e.g. because there is drying paint everywhere). 

I think you do have a case for reduced rent for the day or two while the property is being redecorated.

The other way of looking at it, is to agree to what the landlord wants, if the landlord confirms he is happy with the condition of the property and agrees that the deposit will immediately be refunded in full at the end of the tenancy? 

Davidk

Thanks for all comments. Of course this is all being done through a rental agent, so its difficult to tell whether it it is them inisting on back to back tenancies rather than the landlord. I will continue to push for an early inventory check and termination of tenancy giving them a week or so for decorating/recarpeting, which should result in a refund of £300 or so, from your comments above this doesn't seem unreasonable and I don't see how it would affect the next tennants.