Artist's Studio - advice welcome!

AzureBlue

Two weeks ago I made a potentially stupid and unusually spontaneous decision to rent out a very small art studio a few minutes walk away from where I live. I'm considering giving it up because of the new month-long lockdown (as I won't be able to visit and getting deliveries at home is more expensive, so I would definitely benefit from the money) but could do with some advice first, especially as the creative studios in question ask for a month's notice (to vacate).

My main reasons for renting the studio space was to avoid heavy building works during the day in my residential building, start a new hobby and potentially a new career in the future and also being able to escape to a brand new environment after having practically shielded for months during the pandemic, which was making me feel extremely depressed.

I agreed to take the studio space exactly two weeks ago today, paid the deposit and first month's rent upfront (from 26th October 2020) then couldn't "move in" due to Covid-19 symptoms last week, so the space is still completely empty. I haven't even been given the door code or taken the "fire regs tutorial" by the caretaker. Do you think it's unreasonable to just request a full refund of the month I haven't been able to use, given I haven't properly used the space? Or should I cut my losses pay for six weeks rent and get my deposit back? Any advice is welcome :-)

The situation is quite different to renting property in the private rented sector, so I'm flummoxed.

AzureBlue

davidmcn

You can ask for whatever you like, it's unlikely you're going to be entitled to anything though. There's no "cooling off" period or similar for leases of commercial property.

2bFrank

Think you will need to cut your losses on this. Its not the landlords fault that you had covid symptoms and couldn't use the facilities previously. Lockdown is a separate issue, but again not the landlords fault so to speak, the space is still available, and you can store stuff in the space, however they maybe open to negotiation as the lockdown isn't your fault either.

My best advice is to do what you are saying, hand in your notice and simply ask how much you owe and is there anything you can do in regards to a discount due to the lockdown, they might not be able too but you can always ask.

AzureBlue

Thanks for your responses, Davidmcn and 2bFrank. It's a shame about the lack of cooling off period - but that seems to be the reality of the situation. Guess, as you say my best bet is to try negotiation instead.

AzureBlue

Update: I now have a slightly new situation with the studio, which has turned out to be a pain. I handed in my notice (one month) last week after renting it for one month. Effectively, I have paid two months rent up until Boxing Day.

The guy who is liaising with me said he would ask the directors for a refund for the rent, as I haven't been able to use the studio. The directors refused this saying the studio has been available to use - which is fair enough. However, after one week the £98.00 deposit still hadn't been returned to my account. I called them up and asked if I could use the space for two weeks in December as the deposit was not yet returned and I had paid the month in advanced.

Apparently, the second I handed in notice, they immediately gave it to someone else for immediate use and signed paperwork with them, whilst not having returned my deposit yet and despite the fact I am technically still renting it.

This entire thing has made me really mad because I now feel they are genuinely being unethical charging two people for the same month for one studio space.

If they don't return the deposit do you think a claim through the small claims court would be worthwhile?