Landlord contact details

Brackenfield

I'm guarantor for a friend who is renting in an HMO.

 She is a foreign national and has returned home so her room is empty. 

 It may be completely futile but she wanted to have a conversation with the landlord about a possible reduction in rent ( the lease appears valid and we know I'll have to pay if she doesn't)however she cant get past the letting agent and annoyingly the landlords address is not noted and the legal notices section has the letting agents address.

Reading the contract it seems all official notices can be served to the landlord at the letting agents address but is there any way to force the letting agent to give landlords actual contact details ?

anselld

Address possibly on the title deeds downloadable from Land Registry.

Write to the Agent requesting Landlord details as per Section 1 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 (it is a criminal offence not to comply).

Possibly get address details from the Council if it is a licensed HMO.

Any of these may yeild an address where you can write but not telephone or other contact details.

moneysavinghero

Under section 1 of the Landlord & Tenant Act 1985 if a tenant asks in writing for the address details of the landlord then the letting agent has to provide that information within 21 days.

Brackenfield

Thank you both, that's great to know. 

One more small question, can I as guarantor ask for the details or must it be the tenant?
(Shes a lot younger and I feel they are palming her off as shes young, abroad and english isn't her first language....)

anselld

Section 1 request must come from the Tenant in writing.

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1985/70

Grumpy_chap

There is never any harm in asking, but it is not clear from the OP what your friend is actually asking for.  
Is the room empty for s short period and she would like a reduction in that period but will then return to the room?
OR, has she left for good and serving notice, but asking for a reduction until the end of the notice period?
Either way, what is in it for the LL to agree the request?

Brackenfield

Grumpy_chap said:

There is never any harm in asking, but it is not clear from the OP what your friend is actually asking for.  
Is the room empty for s short period and she would like a reduction in that period but will then return to the room?
OR, has she left for good and serving notice, but asking for a reduction until the end of the notice period?
Either way, what is in it for the LL to agree the request?

She wont return to the room.... she was here for a short uni course which has now ended and intended reletting her room with permission on returning home.  Due to covid, chances are slim to none.   Apologies if I was unclear.

There is absolutely nothing in it for the landlord and as such I expect him to refuse. 
However my friend wants to ask and I've seen an email where the letting agent said she'd ask for my friend then didnt know what she was talking about when she asked what the outcome was....🤔

I'll get my friend to do a written request herself, thanks to everyone for responding 🥰🥰🥰

MovingForwards

If she isn't returning to it, she should serve notice to end the tenancy.

Grumpy_chap

So, your friend has left the room and gone to another country to live.
She has now given the LL notice (I assume) but wants to ask whether there is a chance of a discount for that period when the room is empty.  
Is there a deposit to be returned?
There is not much in it for the LL, but they can decorate the room (if they wish) and not incur void and can re-market the room for "available immediately".  A fair LL may give something back if they can re-let in the notice period.  OR, may give a discount for payment of the remaining amount upfront (if your friend can afford that).  If the LL has the money in the bank and can then do what they like, the LL has no risk on the friend simply absconding.

Brackenfield

Not sure how to multi quote....

Movingforwards, it's a fixed term so am I correct in thinking it naturally expires?

Grumpychap (love the name!) She has returned home to her parents home.  Yes there is a deposit I believe. 

Her parents are actually pushing for her to just not pay the rent..... as a guarantor, you may imagine how unimpressed I am at that idea....

anselld

Another thing to consider is that many Guarantor agreements are not valid.  Was it signed as deed?  Was it witnessed?  Did you have full visibility of the contract prior to signing?