To not want to give the keys back early

[mumof2and4]

Will try to make this as straight forward as possible:

I am renting a property and the tenancy ends at the end of sept. I have already moved out as due to COVID I needed to relocate sooner than I had planned. I have told the landlord this and they provided me a reference for my new house. I still have some items left at the property and have been contacted by the estate agent marketing it to ask about conducting viewings.

I have looked on rightmove and seen the property is being advertised as available from 1/09/2020 however I have already paid the landlord up until 30/09/2020 so technically the property is mine until then. The estate agent has asked if I can give the keys back in the first week of August when I am coming to remove the rest of the items. I have asked the estate agent to hold off on viewings until I have been able to remove my remaining items from the property but they are reluctant to hold off. I feel like as the landlord has essentially got an extra month of rent if they rent it from 1st September they can be a bit flexible with viewing times. Aibu to now hold on to the keys until 30/09/2020 which is the last day of my tenancy?

Say you're happy to give the keys back early in August for a return of some of the rent, say dated from 1st Sept.

They either refund your rent from 1 September or you keep the keys until the lease ends - give them the choice and go from there.

As above, tell them you are keeping the keys until the end of September or they can pay you a months rent for that month and you will give them back sooner. Specify they if you continue to pay rent, you may stay there on occasion.

Tell them you’re using the property for storage and may stay there occasionally, so they cannot do viewings until your tenancy ends. You have no obligation to allow viewings whatever your contract says.

Then suggest that if they want to terminate the tenancy early and return your rent of course you’ll remove your stuff and return the keys.

I would ask for a refund of that month, not unreasonable if they are advertising it being available from the 1st when you have paid until the end of that month, if not I would not hand the keys over as long as you still have insurance in place until the end of the tenancy

Thanks, I was actually happy to accept losing a months rent from them renting it from the 1st, all I want in return is for the estate agent to hold off until I've removed my items on 3rd August so will try and use points above as leverage for that

If they want the keys back in the first week of August they need to refund your rent from them onwards (pro rata August and all of September). This isn’t you choosing to do it early for your convenience, they are asking for it.

Give them the keys early for your months rent back. No rent, no keys. It’s yours until end September cos you paid for it. Small claims court would rule in your favour...

@Starbuggy

If they want the keys back in the first week of August they need to refund your rent from them onwards (pro rata August and all of September). This isn’t you choosing to do it early for your convenience, they are asking for it.

Exactly this.

This shouldn’t make any difference (since they intend to relet and cover LLs costs) but have you relocated far away - do the estate agent think they’re doing you a favour by suggesting you drop off the keys in Aug so you don’t have to go back?

What about your deposit? Read your contract carefully and ensure that you leave the flat check-out ready' and take photos and video of the whole property as you leave. I usually try to hand back the keys at the property so that they can't claim to see damage that is not there. Get out your inventory and ask the person to sign it that everything is ok.

As above, agree to return the keys on 3rd or 4th August in exchange for them ending your contract at that point - this would include you not paying rent. Otherwise, no keys returned!

They either refund your rent from 1 September or you keep the keys until the lease ends - give them the choice and go from there.

Simple choice really. If you've paid to be there until end of September, then it's yours until then.

I’d keep the keys and say no unless they give you rent back.

I would definitely ask for a refund of the rent if they want the keys early.

It would be doing me a favour to hand them back early than end of sept, but I'm only happy to do that if they old of viewings until I've moved my stuff. I'm going to put that to them in the morning

I would be very wary of giving the keys back without being released from the tenancy (and refunded). You are still liable as the tenant until then and subject to the provisions of the lease including any liabilities.

Sounds good. As others mentioned, also make sure you get inventory and property condition checks done with handing back keys, just be really clear with them that you don't want dirty footprints from viewers taken off your deposit, so it has to all be finalised at once.

They can have the keys back if they give your money back. They're taking the piss.

So after you give the keys back they're expecting you to pay rent for an extra seven weeks where you have no way to gain access to the property you're renting?!

And notify the utilities companies of the exact day you hand the keys back or you might end up with someone else's bills.