Paid 2 months rent upfront and deposit

greatcrested

You are paying 2 months in advance each month.

* On 23rd Oct you are paying for the period 23/10/20 - 22/12/20

* On 23rd Nov you are paying for the period 23/12/21 - 22/1/21

* On 23rd Jan you are paying for the period 23/1/21 - 22/2/21

etc

The effect of this is that you will not have to pay the final 2 months rent when you leave, since these will already have been paid in advance.

continue to pay from 5th September 2020

this makes no sense and I suspect is a typo/admin error, and should read '23rd September 2020'

I trust you have receipts, or bank transfer evidence of the payments for both rent and deposit?

My posts 3 & 4 may also be useful

Post 3: Deposits: Payment, Protection and Return.

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?

pinkteapot

greatcrested said:

You are paying 2 months in advance each month.

* On 23rd Oct you are paying for the period 23/10/20 - 22/12/20

* On 23rd Nov you are paying for the period 23/12/21 - 22/1/21

* On 23rd Jan you are paying for the period 23/1/21 - 22/2/21

etc

The effect of this is that you will not have to pay the final 2 months rent when you leave, since these will already have been paid in advance.

If it were me, I would ask LL to confirm that's what's happening, and that no rent will be due in the last two months. All the time I've rented it's never been administered like that (I might have just been lucky!).  

greatcrested

pinkteapot said:

greatcrested said:

You are paying 2 months in advance each month.

* On 23rd Oct you are paying for the period 23/10/20 - 22/12/20

* On 23rd Nov you are paying for the period 23/12/21 - 22/1/21

* On 23rd Jan you are paying for the period 23/1/21 - 22/2/21

etc

The effect of this is that you will not have to pay the final 2 months rent when you leave, since these will already have been paid in advance.

If it were me, I would ask LL to confirm that's what's happening, and that no rent will be due in the last two months. All the time I've rented it's never been administered like that (I might have just been lucky!).  

It's not a common arrangement, and it's not what a 'good' landlord would do. Often it's used as a way to confuse 'rent' with 'deposit' and avoid the deposit registration rules. Though in this case it seems a deposit is being taken as well.

It's important to always remain clear what period each payment covers, and ideally to remember NOT to pay the final two months - though that can be a problem if serving notice after paying for the penultimate month.

bella2555

greatcrested said:

pinkteapot said:

greatcrested said:

You are paying 2 months in advance each month.

* On 23rd Oct you are paying for the period 23/10/20 - 22/12/20

* On 23rd Nov you are paying for the period 23/12/21 - 22/1/21

* On 23rd Jan you are paying for the period 23/1/21 - 22/2/21

etc

The effect of this is that you will not have to pay the final 2 months rent when you leave, since these will already have been paid in advance.

If it were me, I would ask LL to confirm that's what's happening, and that no rent will be due in the last two months. All the time I've rented it's never been administered like that (I might have just been lucky!).  

It's not a common arrangement, and it's not what a 'good' landlord would do. Often it's used as a way to confuse 'rent' with 'deposit' and avoid the deposit registration rules. Though in this case it seems a deposit is being taken as well.

It's important to always remain clear what period each payment covers, and ideally to remember NOT to pay the final two months - though that can be a problem if serving notice after paying for the penultimate month.

I agree, but I know this LL has trust issues as her last tenant never paid the rent, so I can tell I am paying for price for her actions. 

So 2 months before I hand in my notice would I be able to not pay for the remaining time? (2months) 
Also worried this isn't in written and I don't want to keep assuming things 
Many thanks 

sammyjammy

Do you have a receipt?  Did you do a bank transfer?  How much of the £3.6k is the deposit?  Its in your contract that you have to pay the two months so as long as you can prove you paid it  I wouldn't worry that its not specifically written down.

greatcrested

bella2555 said:

greatcrested said:

pinkteapot said:

greatcrested said:

You are paying 2 months in advance each month.

* On 23rd Oct you are paying for the period 23/10/20 - 22/12/20

* On 23rd Nov you are paying for the period 23/12/21 - 22/1/21

* On 23rd Jan you are paying for the period 23/1/21 - 22/2/21

etc

The effect of this is that you will not have to pay the final 2 months rent when you leave, since these will already have been paid in advance.

If it were me, I would ask LL to confirm that's what's happening, and that no rent will be due in the last two months. All the time I've rented it's never been administered like that (I might have just been lucky!).  

It's not a common arrangement, and it's not what a 'good' landlord would do. Often it's used as a way to confuse 'rent' with 'deposit' and avoid the deposit registration rules. Though in this case it seems a deposit is being taken as well.

It's important to always remain clear what period each payment covers, and ideally to remember NOT to pay the final two months - though that can be a problem if serving notice after paying for the penultimate month.

So 2 months before I hand in my notice would I be able to not pay for the remaining time? (2months) 
Also worried this isn't in written and I don't want to keep assuming things 
Many thanks 

Since you will already have paid those last 2 months rent, no, obviously you do not need to pay them again!

But that's why it's important to have a clear record of what you've paid and covering what periods.

You do not need a written statement that "the final 2 months rent does not need paying " (though that might make it clear), you simly need tobe able to prove (if necessary) that you've paid rent covering the entire period of your tenancy.

bella2555

sammyjammy said:

Do you have a receipt?  Did you do a bank transfer?  How much of the £3.6k is the deposit?  Its in your contract that you have to pay the two months so as long as you can prove you paid it  I wouldn't worry that its not specifically written down.

Luckily I did bank transfer so I have proof of the £3.600 to her name and bank account and the deposit is £1200. 

Comms69

People keep saying it's the last two months, it's clearly not. 

£3600

£1200 deposit
£1200 rent Oct-Nov
£1200 rent at some point in the future

saajan_12

You'd have to pay the first months rent at the start of the month (23Oct) anyway, so its just one extra lot of rent paid in advance. Basically you're paying
on 23 Oct covering 23Oct-22Nov AND 23Nov-22Dec
on 23 Nov covering 23Dec-22Jan
on 23 Dec covering 23Jan-22Feb
on 23 Jan covering 23Feb-22Mar
on 23 Feb covering 23Mar-22Apr
on 23 Mar nothing as you've already 6x rent
This is assuming you will be leaving on 22 Apr 2021, if not then you keep paying and just make sure you don't pay the last payment one month before you leave. 

As long as you follow this, you don't really need anything in writing from the LL. Until the last month there are no months you haven't paid, and in the last month, you can show you've paid the full term so have nothing further to pay. 

dimbo61

I would say nothing right now and wait and see if the LL registers the deposit within 30 days.
Check with the various deposit schemes at the very end of November to see if the deposit has been registered.
Again don't say a word if the LL has failed to do this.
You should receive the deposit registration certificate and prescribed information by email or post or both 
Have you got a Gas Safe Certificate ? an EICR to say the electrics are safe ?
Did the LL or LA carry out a inventory which you have seen and signed ?